Meet the 2022
Mushers
Blake Freking
Finland, MN
Blake Freking is a two-time Beargrease Marathon Champion and is a veteran of the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, Hudson Bay Quest, UP 200, Can-Am 250, Race to the Sky and other races. Blake and Jennifer Freking own Manitou Crossing Kennels near Finland, MN, where they raise and train their Siberian Huskies for competition in long distance sled dog races. Blake has also been training a team of Alaskan Huskies for Nature’s Kennel of MI for the last couple of seasons. Their daughters, Elena and Nicole, share their passion for sled dogs and enjoy training, racing, and caring for their dogs. Blake is an Engineer and Air Tanker Base Manager for the USFS.
Thanks to our Beargrease sponsor:
WHAT OTHER RACES HAVE YOU COMPLETED TO QUALIFY FOR THE MARATHON?
Iditarod and Beargrease Champion 2004 and 2019.
HOW MANY LEAD DOGS IN YOUR TEAM?
12
WHO ARE YOUR DOG HANDLERS?
Michaela Jutewicz
WHAT IS YOUR AGE AS OF JANUARY 25, 2020?
47
KENNEL NAME?
Manitou Crossing Kennel
HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
Manitou Crossing Kennels or http://www.racingsiberians.com
RIG SIZE?
45’
WHO ARE YOUR SPONSORS?
Howling Dog Alaska, Wintergreen Northern Wear
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START RUNNING SLED DOGS AND HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED?
The history of sled dogs got me interested originally.
The “goodest” dogs
Need your help
What a sled dog looks forward to most after a long day of racing is a nice bed of straw! But guess what happened at last year’s race? Someone stole all our straw right before the race start! Thankfully, great fans like you helped us out during the final hour to provide this vital supply for our amazing dogs.
These dogs simply are the best – and we want to be able to continue treating them that way! Donations from fans like you make that possible. Would you find it in your heart to help us out? No amount is too small in sled dog world!