I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona but spent all my summers in the U.P. and read every dog sled story I could get my hands on. Naturally, I went to NMU for school. After graduating, I bought my first dog. Getting behind the runners instead of just volunteering for the UP200 was a way to curb the destruction and escape artistry of my 18-month-old Tamaskan Zephyr.

I fell in love and have been working to prove this young rare breed’s workability ever since. I own 5, but with all dreams, they take time. Two of my dogs, including my first Tamaskan, are retired from racing. So being short of my own six dog team, Liza Dietzen of Team Evergreen has allowed me to run 3 of her Alaskan huskies in combination with my Tamaskan dogs.