Friday, November 04, 2005 GREENVILLE -- The Natural Resource Education Center is sponsoring two programs in anticipation of the winter sled dog races that take place over the 100 miles course from Greenville to Brownville. On Thursday, Nov. 10, Fred Stott, a sled dog racing enthusiast and photographer who has participated in the famed Alaskan Iditarod, will present a slideshow about the grueling 1100-mile race from Anchorage to Nome. On Saturday, Nov. 12, sled dog racers Amy Dugan and John Osmond of Mountain Ridge in Shirley will hold a hands-on program and demonstration about sled dogs as four-footed athletes and how to handle them at the starting lines.
The Complete Iditarod Story takes place at The Depot, Greenville Junction on Thursday at 7 p.m.. Sled Dogs & Sled Dog Racing will meet on Saturday at 10 a.m. at The Depot before moving to a nearby trail for the demonstration.
The Complete Iditarod Story developed as a result of Fred Stott's interest in following Judy Currier, the first New Hampshire woman to enter the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. His program will feature the experiences of premier mushers like Jeff King, DeeDee Jonrowe, and Martin Buser. The narrated slide presentation covers the start, finish, and a dozen checkpoints in between, and features Fred's race photography as well as some special shots by Jeff Schultz, the official photographer for the Iditarod.
"Sled dog racing is the one sport I know in which it's a level playing field for women and men, for the best in the world and the not-the-best. It takes skill, courage, and stamina for both dog and musher. Less than 500 men and women have completed the race. I love sharing this tale with schools, recreation and outdoor groups, dog clubs, civic and church groups - the curious of all ages," said Stott. This program is sponsored by the NREC with support from the Appalachian Mountain Club.
John Osmond and Amy Dugan started learning about how to run sled dogs over 17 years ago, but it didn't take long before mushing became a way of life, not just a hobby. The couple focuses on long distance sled dog races and ended up moving to Maine in 1994, where they say they have found the best training grounds in New England and the best distance races found outside of Alaska. Their sled dogs train for three big races: the Eagle Lake 100 in January, the 100 Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race in February, and finish with the Fort Kent Can-Am 250 in March.
At the Saturday program, all are invited to come learn about the Alaskan huskies as powerhouse athletes, at their finest doing in anticipation of doing what they love to do best -- race. Dugan and Osmond will introduce participants to the exciting world of sled dogs and sled dog racing, how to volunteer at a race, and how to handle sled dogs as they prepare to line up for a race. The mushers will also introduce and demonstrate the equipment and terminology that goes along with the art of sled dog racing.
Both programs offer a fascinating glimpse into the breathtaking world of sled dogs and sled dog racing.
For more information about the Iditarod program contact Susan Crippen at 207-997-3706; for the Sled Dog program, contact Suzanne AuClair, 534-7715.
NREC is a non-profit education organization from the Moosehead region. Its mission is to educate and inform people about the Moosehead region's natural resources of the past, present and future, and to be the primary source that people rely on to understand the culture, natural history, and uses of the North Woods. To learn more about NREC, go to www.naturalresourceeducationcenter.org.