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 This is a copy of an interview conducted by Donna Quante following the first ever Taiga Spring Break 300 sled dog race.
1. How do you think the race went? Are you happy with the outcome?
John here......
>>>>>I believe the race went pretty well, all things considered. We do need more help with trails on the Lake Louise end. As the race progressed, I was able to touch base with a few more of the local guys over there and am confident that we will be able to round up more trail help next spring.
>>>>>There are a few issues with the start and finish
that need to be solved. There are definite time conflicts with the
snowmobile traffic over that way. Zoya was pleased with the trail and
the response she had from her team. ....pretty tough to stop at her
kennel and have the dogs sleeping out on the River, and then ask them
to go again.
2. What will you do differently next year?
>>>>>The race format will likely be mostly the same.
The trail will stay the same other than a tentative add-on of about 4
miles on the first leg---so to include a fun hospitality
checkpoint---we are looking to incorporate a poker run on that leg.
Raise funds for a purse. We will be actively seeking help with the
promotional end of things. Help with the start and finish. Trail
help. One more veterinarian. Dropped dog transport out of Maclaren.
3. Were the mushers who participated happy with the outcome?
>>>>>Very much. We had a pretty long post-race meeting
with all of the mushers and had a good suggestion of changing around
the mandatory layovers a bit to get more night running. Change the
wording on the dog death rule. The surprise to me was that the mushers
did not want to even consider a food drop at Maclaren. (which I did
not do because of logistics....I was the only snowmobile working the
trail and felt I could not haul supplies that far efficiently)
Participants liked having to figure out the logistics of the 250 mile
run without re-supply.
4. When will you announce next year's race?
>>>>>We will be announcing the race almost immediately.
Our race organization, the Gin Gin Race Organization, will be making a
spring announcement that includes both the Taiga 300 and the Gin Gin
120. Zoya's intention is to move the Gin Gin date to around New Years'
day and make it an Iditarod and Yukon Quest qualifying 200 mile race.
5. Did the race meet your expectations to offer an alternative to the Kobuk?
>>>>>Yes and no. Yes, in that it offers a qualifying
option to the prohibitably expensive Kobuk. Several of the teams
indicated that was why they came. No, because both the Quest and the
Iditarod are so very possessive of their qualifying races.
6. Can you tell me a little about the trail conditions and the lodges that were checkpoints.
>>>>>Trail conditions were superior. I ran the entire
trail twice by snowmobile after the trail was set. The Lake Louise end
was snowmobiled to death, but the marking was good and no-one had any
problems finding the trail at any point. Once we got the teams off of
the Lake Louise system, the trail became more of a dog trail---3-4'
wide. I had groomed it all of the way so even moose were able to walk
on it without punching thru. The Maclaren River and the Lower Tyone
River had some minor icy areas, in only one instance more than a team
length. There was one wet overflow about 30' long and an inch deep.
Not too bad for a 300+ mile trail. The mountain loop out of Maclaren
had a 1200' climb and was groomed by Maclaren Lodge. 10 miles of this
30 mile loop was on the Denali Highway.
Wolverene Lodge< (start and finish) is basically a snowmobile
Lodge. They are also a checkpoint for the Copper Basin 300. They are
very supportive of dog racing events. We had the race during the week
to avoid their spring poker run. We utilized the same trails. Tree
and Kathy Farmer are the owners. They are excited about the potential
of the Taiga and want to incorporate it into a spring program that runs
for weeks instead of days.
Maclaren River Lodge, owned by Alan and Susie Echols, is one of the
most supportive Lodges in the State when it comes to running dogs.
They are a checkpoint for the Gin Gin, the Cantwell Classic, and the
Taiga 300. They have numerous dog teams overnighting from Paxson and
Cantwell throughout the winter. There are also a few dog tour
businesses that utilize the Lodge and their groomed trails. Alan is
basically the moving force on the upper trail system.
7. What other races are you planning for next year?
The Gin Gin Organization will try to tie the Gin Gin 200 and the Taiga
300 together, both for potential sponsors, and racers. We will try to
hold our races in time slots that are not otherwise utilized---because
we have good early and late snow and to allow kennels to race more of a
circuit instead of trying to decide between competing races.
Zoya will be hosting the Gin Gin and I will do my best to free up some
of her time by taking some of the organizational duties. She will be
racing the CB300 for sure, probably the Tustemena 200 the Iditarod,
and likely whatever else she can fit in.
Feel free to ask any questions you still may have. We will be sending out race notices by the end of May.
Thanks, John Schandelmeier and Zoya DeNure
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