#24 — Richard Beck from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.
#23 – Tommy Bird-Archive 2019
#23 — Tommy Bird from Southend, Saskatchewan, Canada.
#22 – Rachel Courtney-Archive 2019
#22 — Rachel Courtney from Caliento, Manitoba, Canada.
#21 – Anny Malo-Archive 2019
#21 — Anny Malo from Quebec, Canada.
#20 – David Torgerson-Archive 2019
#20 — David Torgerson from Red Lodge, Montana.
#19 – Dennis LaBoda-Archive 2019
#19 — Dennis Laboda from Hovland , MN
#18 – Emilie Entrikin-Archive 2019
#18 — Emilie Entrikin from Fairbanks, Alaska.
#17 – Lina Streeper-Archive 2019
#17 — Lina Streeper from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada.
#16 – Katherine Scheck-Archive 2019
#16 — Katherine Scheck from Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, Canada.
#15 – Erick Laforce-Archive 2019
#15 — Erick Laforce from Lanoraie, Quebec, Canada.
Monica Magnusson
8-DOG CLASSIC LINEUP #12 — Monica Magnusson from NOVI, MICHIGAN.
Jeff Adkins
8-DOG CLASSIC LINEUP Jeff Adkins from SAND COULEE, MONTANA.
Around the age of 5, Jeff started mushing with his grandfather Terry Adkins’ dogs. “My Dad then got a few dogs of his own and eventually we started giving dog sled tours from Montana to Utah. In other words, he’s been mushing most of his life. And when he’s not running dogs or working, Jeff enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and camping. “Anything outdoors,” he adds. “I have another enjoyable group of puppies this year and am looking forward to putting them through the great experience!”
# 14 Greta Thurston-Archive 2019
#14 — Greta Thurston from Oak Creek, Colorado.
#13 Bruce Magnusson-Archive 2019
#13 — Bruce Magnusson from Manchester, Michigan.
2019 marks Bruce’s 14th consecutive Stage Stop Race — more consecutive races than any other competitor in the 24-year history of our event! Bruce’s father trained black labs for national competitive field trials and, fatefully, met a professional sled dog racer, Lloyd Gilbertson. That’s when Dad brought home a pair of dogs. Bruce and his wife Monica (see Monica’s bio; she is a competitor this year) went to a race to “see what Dad was up to” and “got hooked.” Although he grew up playing sports, Bruce says that for him no other sport compares to the thrill of sled dog racing. “It’s so surreal out there when it’s quiet, and you watch these amazing animals do what they can do.”
#12 Allan Berge-Archive 2019
#12 — Allan Berge from Glenrock, Wyoming.
#11 Jeff Conn-Archive 2019
#11 — Jeff Conn from Ester, Alaska.
Jeff is a retired USDA research scientist who began mushing in 1983. Sled dog racing was a part-time venture for Jeff while employed, but after he retired in 2012 he became a fulltime participant, determined to compete in the Wyoming Stage Stop. Jeff has run in each consecutive Stage Stop since 2013 and has steadily improved in the standings. Last year he finished in a respectable fifth place. From racing three-dog sprint class, Jeff has progressed through five-, eight-, and ten-dog classes, and has won two ISDRA gold medals.
#10 Chris Adkins-Archive 2019
#10 — Chris Adkins from Sand Coulee, Montana.
Chris is a lumberyard worker and dispatcher who began running dogs as a four-year-old working with his dad’s team. As a boy he competed in dog races in Alaska. Since then, he’s entered the Iditarod which he describes as his “great accomplishment so far,” especially seeing the trail that his dad, Race Marshall Terry Adkins, had told him so much about. The Race to the Sky, which he’s entered “12 or 13 times,” resulted in his favorite award—in 2010 he received the Best Kept Team honor. He’s also received the sportsmanship award numerous times.
# 9 Laura Daugereau-Archive 2019
#9 —Laura Daugereau from Port Gamble, Washington.
Laura’s interest in sled dogs started when she got her first dog as a ten year old. She’s been hooked ever since. This led to a life of working summers in Washington state for my family’s construction company, then relocating dogs and myself to Montana for fall and winter training. Laura has run the Stage Stop the last three years, Race to the Sky “lots of times,” the Iditarod in 2008 and 2009, and four coast-to-coast race circuits. She’s received multiple Best Cared For Team and Sportsmanship Awards.
#8 Fernando Ramirez-Archive 2019
#8 — Fernando Ramirez from Peoa, Utah
Fernando Ramirez has been running dogs since his elementary school days and says that his love for sled dogs has not faded in all the years since. He and his wife Dana own and operate a sled dog touring operation, Rancho Luna Lobos, on their rancho just minutes from Park City, Utah. Their two boys — Gabirel, age 7, and Noah, age 6 — currently race in the two-dog class. Fernando raced in the 2018 Eukenuba 8-Dog Classic where he placed fifth and says that he’s “looking forward to stepping up to the full Stage Stop Race this year.”
#7 JR Anderson-Archive 2019
#7 — JR Anderson from Buyck, Minnesota
A native Minnesotan, JR Anderson has dedicated over 20 years to the sport of endurance canines. Through research, extensive training, and competitive racing, he’s developed a keen knowledge of the canine’s ability to perform at accelerated levels. He and wife, Anna ‘Chapman’ Anderson, own River Rock Kennel in Buyck, Minnesota. When not racing dogs, JR can be found playing with his daughter Sara and son Eli.