16 — Christina Gibson from Carlton, Washington.

Age 20.

Christina decided she wanted to run and win the Iditarod after seeing the animated movie “Balto,”. She ran a dog for the first time at the age of twelve and started building her own team a year later. Christina now owns Whiteout Racing Kennel, a professional race team based in Washington state’s Methow Valley.

She’s a dog trainer and social media marketer living in the North Cascades of Washington. Christina ran the 2019 Eukanuba 8-Dog Classic and finished 3rd Place. “I’m excited to come back to Wyoming and learn from some of the best at this year’s Stage Stop.”

15 — Laura Bontrager from Newberry, Michigan.

Age 27.

Laura started running dogs 22 years ago with a 4H group started by Jan & Bob Shaw, and their kennel Arctic Wind Racing Sled Dogs. Jan and Bob became like grandparents, and she was fortunate to train and race at Arctic Wind competitively throughout high school and college. Laura now co-manages a kennel with Bruce Magnusson and gets to run the same trails she grew up on. She’s been a handler at the Stage Stop the past four years. “I’m looking forward to getting out on the trail and having fun with 14 of my best friends.”

14 — Lina Streeper from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada.

Age 36.

Lina grew up in a small community in northern Sweden and became fascinated with sled dogs at a young age. After moving to Canada in 2007, she focused on professional sled dog racing, and has become an integral part of Streeper Kennels. She and husband, Buddy Streeper, own and operate Streeper Kennels in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. They have two wonderful daughters, Alva and Clara. “I love dogs, and I love Wyoming. I’m proud to be returning to this year’s Stage Stop Race. I wish all my Stage Stop family a safe and successful event!”

12 — Jake Robinson from Bemidji, Minnesota.

Age 30.

Robinson Racing Sled Dogs is a 36-dog kennel in Bemidji, Minnesota. Jake has been actively racing for over 15 years, as far east as Quebec, west to British Columbia, north to the Arctic Circle, and everywhere in between. Jake and the Robinson Racing crew focus on bringing a team of happy, healthy athletes to the premier open class and 10-dog sprint and stage races in North America. “We’re thrilled for the opportunity to bring to the 2022 Stage Stop what we learned in 2021!”

11 — Diane Marquis from St Medard, Québec, Canada.

Age 67.

Diane is retired from a long career of cattle farming. She enjoys fishing, hunting, and anything which lets her be outside, and that’s one of the main reasons she started dog sledding 20 years ago. Her first team was Siberian Huskies, but it wasn’t long before her competitive nature brought her into the Alaskan Husky world. She has competed in both Trapper festivals in The Pas and Cross Lake, Manitoba. In 2009, Diane won the silver medal at the Daaquam River Dog Sled International in St-Juste-de-Bretenières. She is also the founder of the Basque Challenge.

10 — Anny Malo from St-Zenon, Quebec, Canada.

Age 51.

2021 Pedigree Stage Stop Race winner. She’s a biologist who owns her company with husband Marco. “I began mushing in 1995 when I met Marco. He was just 18 years old, and already had his own kennel and was competing in the mid-distance circuit in Québec. We made a trip to Alaska in 1998 as handlers for Joe Redington’s kennel and that was the ultimate launching pad for the rest of my mushing career. We’ve traveled with our two sons for over 16 years to participate in the mid-distance circuit in Canada and USA. That’s the best life ever!!!”

9 — Érick Laforce from Lanoraie, Quebec, Canada.

Age 55.

Érick is a retired firefighter who has always been in the dog world starting as a Labrador dog trainer. He began mushing in 1992, raced and won all over America, Canada, the Northwest Territories, and Alaska. His love for the dogs is what makes him such a great musher. Dog care is the most important thing when he talks about how to become a good musher. “Wyoming is such a nice race. I’m really looking forward to 2022!”

8 — Alix Crittenden from Bondurant, Wyoming.

Age 34. 

2021 Stage Stop 6th place. Alix began mushing in 2009 as a guide for Frank Teasley’s JHI Sled Dog Tours. Her addiction to the dogs quickly grew, and for the last six years she has managed JHI’s racing program. Alix has raced in many of the western states, as well as Canada and Alaska. She and her husband Sam own and operate Sleeping Indian Outfitters, offering horseback riding and hunting trips. “Thanks to Pedigree and the Mars family for continuing to support this race and our way of life.”

7 — Chris Adkins from Sand Coulee, Montana.

Age 53.

Chris’ dad, Terry Adkins, was the only veterinarian on the first Iditarod, and raced it the following year. “I grew up running dogs. Ran my first distance race, the Race To The Sky 500, at 21. If memory serves, I came in fifth, and was the only rookie to finish that year. I tried the stage race in 2010 as a training run for Iditarod and fell in love with the trails of Wyoming. I’ve been coming back whenever I can. In addition, I’ve run races in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Michigan and Alaska. My wife, Shannon and I, with the help of family and friends, operate Mo Betta Sled Dog Racing, a 49-dog kennel on the outskirts of Sand Coulee, Montana. This year, I would like to dedicate my race to my good friend Frank Moe.”

6 — Ryan Beaber from Lily, Wisconsin.

Age 48.

2021 Stage Stop finisher Rookie year. Ryan began running dogs 20 years ago as a hobby which turned into racing when his daughters started competing. “As we started racing, we decided stage racing is our favorite style. We love traveling with the dogs, and the time we get to spend in Wyoming in the winter. We also race the Copper Dog 150 and enjoy a few dry land races in Wisconsin and Michigan. Our goals are to hit Canada and Alaska open class style racing, also.”

5 — Gwenn Bogart from Boulder, Wyoming.

Age 64.

Gwenn began mushing in October 2012 working with various Iditarod mushers in her home of Wasilla/Willow, Alaska. Her only previous animal handling experience had been training horses and competing in three-day event and dressage. Gwenn’s desire to do the Iditarod consumed her fall and winter days, and she qualified for it by finishing two Copper Basin 300’s, Sheep Mountain 150, and the Northern Lights 300. After moving from Alaska to Boulder, Wyoming, she competed twice in the Eagle Cap Extreme 200, twice in West Yellowstone Rodeo Run, and once in the Big Horn Rush Classic. This will be Gwenn’s second Stage Stop.

4 — Thad McCracken from Mosier, Oregon.

Age 48.

Thad is a software engineer in Portland who had no plans to get into mushing until his wife Colleen bought a rescue dog, Berny, who had excellent pulling abilities. Their first race, a skijor, resulted in a last place finish but totally hooked Thad and Colleen into the sport. In the thirteen or so years since that less than stellar beginning, Thad and his Mosier Misfits team have travelled all over North America making amazing friends along the way. This will be Thad’s second year at “the big race”. He raced the Eukanuba 8-Dog Classic twice, and, last year in his rookie run, finished the big race.

3 — Austin Forney from Leadville, Colorado.

Age 40.

Austin was born and raised on a cattle ranch in western Nebraska, and now lives and trains at 10,152 feet in Leadville, Colorado. Fourteen years ago, he switched from cattle and horses to sled dogs, and has been chasing his mushing dreams ever since. He, Rich and Ben, his veteran handlers, are “excited to spend another year in Wyoming with all of the amazing people and dogs of the Pedigree Stage Stop Race.” He also wants to send huge thanks to his family and friends for their continued love and support. This marks Austin’s seventh consecutive year at the Stage Stop Race.

2 — Tim Thiessen from Leadville, Colorado.

Age 38.

Tim’s passion for dog sledding began in 2003 when he worked for a Breckenridge, Colorado dog sled tour company. He soon put together his own team and began competing in the local race circuit. Then he caught the “Stage Race Bug” in 2018. This will be Tim’s fourth Stage Stop. He and his partner, the extraordinaire Natalie, share their high-altitude homestead in the Mosquito Range of central Colorado with 24 dogs, two cats, and bunch of ducks and chicken. “I look forward to the challenges of training for this race, and I’m excited to take part in this esteemed event.”

1 —Bruce Magnusson from Newberry, Michigan.

Age 58.

This will be Bruce’s seventeenth consecutive Stage Stop — more than any other competitor in the 27-year history of our event — and his 19th year of mushing. He now lives and trains in Newberry in the upper peninsula of Michigan. “The Stage Stop is always the primary focus of our race season, and I can’t imagine not being a part of this race and the Stage Stop family.”

24  — Ben Barrett from Middlebury, Vermont.
Age 22.

In a normal year Ben would be attending his college graduation in February, but instead he’s coming back to Wyoming to compete in his second Pedigree Stage Stop Race. Ben learned to mush straight out of high school when he was 18, and has been working with Doug Butler in Middlebury, Vermont, for four years now. He manages Cobble Hill Kennel, a dog sled tour company which he helped found, and races their second dog team. Ben is excited to race in Wyoming again and is ready to improve on last year’s time!

23 — Ryan Beaber from Lily, Wisconsin.
Age 47.

Ryan is a custom home builder who started running dogs as a hobby, and then turned to competitive racing in 2016. It was a good way to build strong bonds with his children who have travelled to races in Tahquamenon Falls, Apostle Islands, Bear Grease, Gunflint, Midnight run and Copperdog.  Now, all three daughters race, too. Finally, a year ago he found 63 acres attached to many more thousands of acres to train and run the dogs. “Several mentors including Bruce Magnusson and Lloyd Gilbertson have taught us so much about training, feeding, care, racing and the responsibilities sled dog racing entails. I have been told by several mushers this race is a must and a great learning experience and I am looking forward to enjoying every minute of it.”

22— Guy Girard from Saint-Thomas de Joliette, Canada P.Quebec.
Age 67.

Guy is retired, and since 1977 has followed this sport to compete in many states. He lives on the south shore in Quebec, near Montreal where the weather is too warm, and the lack of trails make it difficult to train his dogs. For the last two years, his main goal has been to race in Alaska. His friends Marco and Annie Rivest said many nice things about the Stage Stop, and he decided it would be a new challenge. “For me, being surrounded by dogs is what I enjoy the most.”

21 — Érick Laforce from Lanoraie, Quebec, Canada.
Age 54.

Érick is a Montreal firefighter who grew up in a small town at the edge of the country. He spent his teenage years in Montreal where a husky he later named Max came to him in the school yard one day. He says that the magic of that moment created the spark that made him the passionate musher he is today. Érick placed first in the 2018 The Pas World Championship, and first in all three 2017 Cross Lake Trappers Festival Races in Manitoba, Kamba Carnival, and western Canadian races. He and his three boys still live on the same street where he started his first kennel.

20 — Doug Butler from Middlebury, Vermont.
Age 66.

One of the most notorious mushers on the Northeast circuit, Doug Butler is back for the 2021 Stage Stop Race! Doug has a well-earned reputation over his 45 years of mushing for his ability to party both on and off the race course. A former dairy farmer, Doug now raises beef cattle at his family farm in Vermont, and operates Cobble Hill Kennel. Two years ago he brought his infectious love for the sport to the world stage when he competed in the Open North American Championship in Fairbanks, Alaska. It may be a ragtag outfit, but Doug is a fan favorite and excited to come back to Wyoming!