TO: All media
FROM: Pam Beckstrom
DATE: February 16, 2010, 5:00 p.m.
RELEASE: Immediately
Four more mushers have crossed the finish line for Race to the Sky 350 mile race. Rick Larson finished at 1:03 with 12 dogs, Jarle Halsnes finished at 1:45 today, Laura Daugereau finished at 2:13, Chris Adkins finished at 3:04 with 12 dogs, Ryne Olson finished this afternoon at 3:22 p.m. Also to finish was Cindy Gallea at 4:10 p.m. with 12 dogs and Lachlan Clarke to finish at 4:20 p.m. with 10 dogs.
On the way to the finish line next will be Steve Madsen, who left Seeley Lake checkpoint at 6:45 a.m. with 11 dogs and is expected to finish.
The next group of mushers to leave Seeley Lake checkpoint after their 6 hour mandatory and on the way to the finish line at Hi Country Snack Foods are:
Kris Hoffman, leaving at 12:38 with 11 dogs
Mark Ibsen, leaving at 1:59 with 11 dogs
Doug Wurzelbacher, leaving at 2:10 with 11 dogs
James Bardoner, leaving at 2:15 with 12 dogs
Megan Routley, leaving at 3:26 with 6 dogs
We should have finishers coming in until early morning Wednesday.
Don’t forget the awards ceremony, 25th silver anniversary on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Community Center, Lincoln, Montana. The public is invited to attend and hear trail stories and listen to the mushers talking about their dogs after dinner.
For more information, please e-mail info@racetothesky.org
FIRST PLACE FINISHER EXPECTED AROUND 11:00 THIS MORNING!
DATE: February 16, 9:30 a.m.
A winner of the 2010 Race to the Sky 350 mile race is predicted around 11:00 a.m. today. Jarle Halsnes left Seeley Lake at 4:13 a.m. to head to the finish line with 10 dogs. All seven mushers finished a 6 hour mandatory layover before heading to the finish line.
Next in line is Rick Larson at 4:19 with 12 dogs, Laura Daugereau at 4:41 with 8 dogs. Then Chris Adkins at 5:04, Ryne Olson at 6:16, Cindy Gallea at 6:52, Steve Madsen at 6:45 and Lachlan Clarke at 7:36.
Still at Seeley Lake checkpoint doing the mandatory layover is Megan Routley, James Bardoner, Kris Hoffman, Mark Ibsen and Doug Wurzelbacher. They will leave once their layovers are completed.
Join them at the finish line for interviews. Awards ceremony is open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 at the Lincoln Community Hall in Lincoln, Montana.
Eight mushers for the 2010 Race to the Sky 25th anniversary race are heading to Seeley Lake checkpoint to take a six hour mandatory rest before leaving for the finish line at Hi Country Snack Foods. Chris Adkins of Sand Coulee, Montana was the first to leave the Condon Wilderness Checkpoint at 5:00 p.m. , followed by Laura Daugereau of Port Gamble, Washington eight minutes later and Jarle Halsnes of Steamboat Springs, Colorado at 5:11 p.m. Next was Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, Montana, Steve Madsen of Cougar, Washington, Ryne Olson of McMillan, Michigan, Cindy Gallea of Seeley Lake, Montana, and Lachlan Clarke of Buena Vista, Colorado at 8:20 p.m. Chris Adkins is expected to reach Seeley Lake around midnight.
Mushers resting at the Condon Wilderness Checkpoint are: Kris Hoffman of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Doug Wurzelbacher of Chilcoot, California, Megan Routley of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, Mark Ibsen of Helena, Montana, and James Bardoner of Signal Mountain, Tennessee at 10:13 p.m. All are expected to leave during the early morning hours for Seeley Lake.
Once the mushers arrive at Seeley Lake, they will be required to take a six hour rest before heading to the finish line which is about 72 miles from there.
Depending on the weather conditions on Tuesday, we may see a finisher mid-afternoon. If the temperatures reach the 40s, it may be early evening before there is a first place finisher. The dogs love to run at night when the temperatures are cooler.
The first Junior Race to the Sky finished in the early morning hours of February 15 at the Seeley Lake Trailhead, just outside Seeley Lake, Montana. Five junior racers started out on Sunday, February 14th , at 10:00 a.m. to race 100 continuous miles.
Winning the first-time-ever event was Justin Fink from Gladwin, Michigan crossing the finish line at 1:05 a.m. Monday morning. Next was Jenny Greger of Bozeman, Montana 29 minutes later. Lacey Hart of Livingston, Montana, finished just 10 minutes after Jenny Greger at 2:14 a.m. In fourth place was Eimanne El Zein (Emunn) of Edmonds, Washington and finally Aiyana Ferraro of Victor, Montana.
Aiyana actually had the fastest time on the first half of the inaugural leg of the race from Hi Country Snack Foods until she missed a trail marker and headed back into Hi Country Snack Foods, adding about 12 miles to her race. With a great attitude, she turned the team around when she reached Hi Country Snack Foods and headed to the White Tail Ranch on Saturday early evening.
Justin Fink as winner of the Junior Race to the Sky received $800 in prize money and numerous items donated by businesses. Jenny Greger received $500. All junior mushers cash and prizes.
Winner of the Sportsmanship Award was Aiyana Ferraro of Victor, Montana. Lacey Hart lost her team the first day and it was Aiyana that gave her a ride on her sled to help her regain her team.
Dr. Melanie Donofro, an International Sled Dog Race Veterinarian from Tallahassee, Florida, awarded her with a check for $50 as the Best Cared For Team Award. This coveted award is given to the musher that gives his/her team the best care during the race.
In other race news, the 350 mile race is progressing slowly today as temperatures reached 42 degrees near Seeley Lake. Mushers were waiting for cooler running termperatures this evening.
On their way to the Condon Wilderness Checkpoint were James Bardoner of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, Cindy Gallea of Seeley Lake, Montana, Doug Wurzelbacher of Chilcoot, California, Kris Hoffman of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Megan Routley of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, and Ryne Olson of McMillan, Michigan. Still in Seeley Lake was Mark Ibsen of Helena, Montana.
Waiting for cooler temperatures and expected to be leaving the Wilderness Checkpoint near Condon at dark were: Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, Montana, Chris Adkins of Sand Coulee, Montana, Jarle Halsnes of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Lachlan Clarke of Buena Vista, Colorado, Laura Daugereau of Port Gamble, Washington, and Steve Madsen of Cougar, Washington.
We’ll let you know as soon as we receive trail updates –who left Owl Creek , in what order, and when.
To: All media
FROM: Pam Beckstrom
(not in cell range currently)
Date: February 14, 2010, 5:45 p.m.
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
ALL 5 JUNIOR MUSHERS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE WHITETAIL RANCH. THE FIRST WAS
JUSTIN FINK AT 4:07 P.M AND THE LAST, AIYANA FERRARO ARRIVED AT 5:43 P.M.
IN ORDER WAS JUSTIN FINK, JENNY GREGER, LACEY HART, AIMANNE EL ZEIN AND
AIYANA FERRARO (THE YOUNGEST JUNIOR–12 YEARS OLD).
AIYANA TOOK A WRONG TURN AFTER DOING A LOOP NEAR LINCOLN AND HEADED BACK TO
HI COUNTRY SNACK FOODS. SHE TURNED AROUND AT THE START AND GOT BACK ON THE
TRAIL ADDING ABOUT 10 MILES TO HER RUN TODAY. SHE ARRIVED AT WHITE TAIL
RANCH IN GOOD SPIRITS.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE FIRST 350 MILE RACER TO COME IN AT THE WHITE
TAIL RANCH.
THE JUNIORS WILL HAVE A 4 HOUR LAYOVER AT WHITE TAIL RANCH AND THE FIRST CAN
LEAVE JUST AFTER 8:00 P.M. THIS EVENING ON THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE AT
SEELEY LAKE. THE FINISH LINE WILL BE MORRELL CREEK TRAILHEAD JUST OFF THE
HIGHWAY 83 BEFORE THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE DOGS LOVE TO RUN AT NIGHT AND THE FIRST FINISHER COULD FINISH THE 100
MILE RACE AS EARLY AS 2:00 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING.
CHECK WWW.RACETOTHESKY.ORG FOR UPDATES AND I AM USING WIFI THIS YEAR AND
WILL BE HEADING TO SEELEY LAKE AND WILL BE IN CELL RANGE 270-2849 EARLY
MORNING.
THANKS, PAM BECKSTROM, 270-2849
Latest Race to the Sky News -February 8,2010
Getting reports from all parts of the trail system that it is in excellent conditions.
The one exception is the Owl Creek trail, where there has been a localized lack of snowfall.
However, the trail conditions on the alternate trail are excellent.
Looking for new snow around race time…..
We ran a team through the new Monture Creek Trail Sunday – The dogs loved it – and it was
a beautiful day. You should have seen the pair of dogs who were a bit spooked
by the water and their first bridge experience …Their reaction was to lean into one another
as they both crowded for the center of the bridge……………..
In partnership with TrackLeaders.com, Race to the Sky teams this year will each
carry a SPOT tracker GPS locator. You will be able to go the the race website
and check the progress of each sled dog team in real time. We are really looking forward to
this feature and it also provides the teams with an additional layer of safety.
http://www.racetothesky.org
The race festivities begin this Friday in Helena at the State Capitol.
You will want to take in the Mushing Art Show Friday afternoon in the Capitol Rotunda where
many of our previous sled dog art artists will be on hand with their works.
If you are in Helena, you won’t want to miss the Mushers Dinner Friday Night
at the Elks Club. Food and fun – come meet the mushers.
Check out the schedule below this….
Be sure to stop by and say hi!
NOTE: Buy a Mile Program
Several of you stepped up and helped the race in return for a
$10 certificate from Perkins. We still have a few more of these
gift certificates available. In the Butte area, we also have a few
$10 gift certificates to Metals Sports & Grill.
http://www.racetothesky.org/sponsors/buy-a-mile/
The way it works is easy – For every 2 miles
or $20 you pay to help the race – we will send you back a $10 certificate.
You Win and have dinner on us – and You help the Race out.
Thank you to the many of you who have already helped by buying a couple of race miles!!!
http://www.racetothesky.org/sponsors/buy-a-mile/
Weathers been cool with frequent snow showers over the last week.
Trails are nice.
It would appear we will have five Junior Mushers Competingin this years inaugural 100 mile Junior Race to the Sky.
We have ten mushers signed up for the 350 mile with commitments from another four.
In partnership with Race to the Sky, Absaroka Sled Dog Tours, will being offering sled dog rides in Lincoln at Hi-Country Beef Jerkyon Sunday February 14th, on the day of the Lincoln Start.
Bring your valentine! Cheer the mushers on at the 100 mile Junior start and the 350 mile re-start.
There still are a few of those Perkins Certificates available.Remember, for every 2 miles/$20 you purchase to help the race,
We will send you $10 Perkins gift certificate, good in Bozeman,Butte, Missoula, and Hamilton.
http://www.racetothesky.org/sponsors/buy-a-mile/
Help the race and have dinner on us!
This Friday evening will be…….
Helena’s Biggest & Best Food, Brews & Blues Extravaganza
The 16th Annual Micro-Brew Review & Cool Dog Ball will be held Friday, January 29th at the Helena
Civic Center Ballroom from 6 to 11:30 p.m. The Micro-Brew Review & Cool Dog Ball is the largest fundraiser benefiting the RACE to the SKY, a 350 mile sled dog race to be held February 12 – 17th. The Race to the Sky will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary as a great Montana Tradition as mushers and their teams will compete in this prestigious race along Montana’s Continental Divide.
The Micro-Brew festival will feature thirty-six of the finest micro-beers from Montana and the northwest. Montana breweries participating in the Brew Review include Blackfoot River Brewing and Lewis & Clark Brewery of Helena, Big Sky and Bayern Brewing of Missoula, Bitterroot Brewing of Hamilton, Harvest Moon of Belt, Red Lodge Brewery, Beaver Creek Brewery of Wibaux and Quarry Brewery of Butte. In addition to the micro-beers there will be wine, non-alcoholic beverages and a variety of entrees and appetizers available for purchase.
Advance tickets for Helena’s most popular wintertime event are limited to the first 1,500 participants and are available at Bert & Ernie’s, Topper’s Cellar, The Overland Express, Staggering Ox, The Man Stores and the Downtown Helena office. Advance tickets are $15 and everyone must be 21 or older to attend and be able to present a valid picture ID. Any remaining tickets, if available will be sold at the door for $17, plus each ticket holder will receive a commemorative Cool Dog glass. Cool Dog is the handsome sun glass wearing Siberian Husky who is the official mascot for the Race to the Sky.
At 8:30 p.m., Scott Holt will light up the night with his special blend of Blues, Rock, R&B and Honky Tonk music that will take the crowd to another level. Holt first appeared in Helena this past summer at the Mount Helena Music Festival. Competing with the flying Thunderbirds in the sky, Holt gave a passionate performance on the electric guitar that recaptured the lost talents of Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and of course Buddy Guy and himself. His vocals are bluesy, full and recognizable coupled with R&B influences will blend the two genres seamlessly together for a wintertime fun-fest.
Scott Holt’s lineage can be traced easily back to the “ground zero” of the Blues. Scott was taken under the wing of Blues legend Buddy Guy just as Buddy had been taken in by Otis Rush and Muddy Waters. It started on a cool fall night, at The London Victory Club in Tampa FL. After hearing his first Jimi Hendrix record and deciding that he simply had to play guitar, Scott Holt with his dad, went to see a blues legend in action. The rest as they say is history. Over the course of the next year, Scott had the opportunity to jam with Buddy at several gigs including the opening night of Buddy’s club Legend’s during the Chicago Blues Festival. In 1989, he got a call from Buddy Guy asking if he’d like to join his band. Saying yes led to 10 years of standing to Buddy’s left on stages all over the world. Playing with everyone from Eric Clapton to Richard Gere! Playing Las Vegas and the Rose Bowl with the Rolling Stones, on television shows like Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show and Conan Obrien. While with Buddy, Scott was also working at home in Nashville with his own band and developing a reputation in town as one of the premiere live bands. Scott and his band have burned through more vans, racked up more miles and played more shows in the last seven years than The Rolling Stones, Elvis and The Beatles combined! “It’s the Blues, it’s real music, not music made by machines or computers. Its music played from the heart every time!” – Scott Holt.
For more information on the 16th Annual Micro-Brew Review & Cool Dog Ball please visit these websites or call 406-447-1535.
Montana’s Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race – www.racetothesky.org
Scott Holt – www.scottholt.com
Governor Declares Race to the Sky Day February 12th,2010
Hey Race Fans
Be sure to catch the
Special Offer at the bottom!
The bridges are in.
The snows are piling up.
The snow mobile clubs are
grooming the trails.
(Seeley,Lincoln,Helena,
and Butte Clubs)
THANK YOU!!!
Race organizers are busy
with last minute details
Several teams are testing
themselves and their dogs in
this week end Seeley 200.
Our Junior Mushers are
getting their paperwork completed.
Check out the Junior Race Website
Created by Lacey Hart
http://www.jrracetothesky.com/
Thanks Lacey!
We are field testing the GPS
tracking systems. This will be COOL!!!
Real time tracking on the race website!
Preparations are on track for
a great race this year.
One thing you can do as a race fan
is participate in our
Buy-a-Mile program, where for
only $10 you can purchase a race mile.
So here’s the deal:
We have a limited number of Perkins
Restaurant $10 gift certificates.
These are good in Missoula, Butte,
Hamilton, and Bozeman.
For every 2 miles $20 – you purchase
in our Buy-a-Mile program – We will
send you a $10 Perkins certificate.
Example:Purchase 2 miles $20
You get $10 certificate
Purchase 6 miles $60
You get $30 certificate
Go here now and support the race
And enjoy a Perkins dinner on us!!
http://www.racetothesky.org/sponsors/buy-a-mile/
Watch your email box for updates as
the race date approaches. (Feb 12-17th)
And Happy New Year!
Ray La Foy
Race to the Sky
25th Year Celebration
Announcing Race is Officially Coming to Butte!
Butte activities include: – Junior Mushers Vet Check
Meet the Mushers and their Dogs
Sled Dog Rides for the Public
Sled Dog Team Butte Stage Finish – Elk Park
Race to the Sky
25th Year Celebration
Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer
Montana Governor Encourages Business To Support
Montana’s Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race
- Montana’s Governor Schweitzer Encourages Businesses to Support Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race
Race to the Sky
Sled Dog Racing Symposium
September 12-13, 2009
Red Lion Colonial Inn
Helena, Montana
If You Race Sled Dogs – You Cannot Afford to Miss this Event!
Whether you are a beginner looking to run your first long distance race, or you are a old hat with dozens of races under your belt – you need to recognize the importance of learning from others. There is no doubt, that most mushers are independent minded souls who dance to their own tune. But when it comes to winning races or even successfully finishing races, it behooves us all to listen to the wisdom of experience.
This year we have put together a lineup of certainly some of the finest mushers in the sled dog racing world. The topics covered will guarantee to give you ideas and tips that you can directly translate into action items with your own kennel and racing plans. If you want to step your sled dog racing program up to the next level – this is one event you will not want to miss!
Saturday’s Lineup
Jason Barron – Lincoln, Montana
Overwhelming Evidence! – YOU are the Key
If what you desire is going to happen – then it is up to you to do
everything in your power to achieve that desire – it is ALL about
Personal Responsibility. The cop-out is to blame circumstances and others.
If it is going to be – it is up to me.
Rick Larsen – Sand Coulee, Montana
Ten Steps to Managing Efficient Checkpoints – Chop Hours
Off Your Race Times!!!
Running a sled dog race is a balance of energy and time – when you can maximize the output of your energies expended – you can reduce the time it takes. Your checkpoint protocol should be as effectively managed as when you are running down the trail.
Hugh Neff – Skagway, Alaska
More Energy – More Power – Effective Sled Dog Training
Every race is won or lost by the training and preparation you and your team does
before you even get to the starting chute – Learn from one of the best in the world what to do and just as importantly what not to do.
Lunch and Trade Show
Race to the Sky
25 Years of Sled Dog Racing
This Years Race Format and Introduction of
Our New Junior Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race
Jason Barron – Lincoln, Montana
Astonishing Training System that Convinces Huskies to Mind!!!
Listen how Jason explains his effective technique of “relationship training”
that is an integral part of his team’s success – When you are in tune
with your dogs – they will work with you and many times exceed what you
even think they are a capable of.
Kathryn Maslanka CBP – Missoula, Montana
Innovative Techniques for Dog Repair
Understanding the power of a body’s ability to heal itself can help
you improve your skills in helping and rehabilitating injured dogs.
Learn specific techniques that can help many common dog injuries.
Hugh Neff – Skagway, Alaska
Amazing Formula for Winning Sled Dog Races
Mushers who win regularly win races or finish in the top spots have
very specific physical and mental techniques to gain a competitive edge – Discover
what you need to do to become one of this elite group of mushers.
Dinner – Slide Show – Presentation
Sunday Featured Speakers
Jack Beckstrom – Olney, Montana
It all Starts with What you Put in the Bowl – Proper Nutrition
Understanding the metabolic needs of racing dogs and the best practices and methods of providing those needs is critical to your dogs health and performance. If any part of this nutritional balance gets out of whack – you need to be able to recognize the symptoms and what you need to do to correct it.
Rick Larsen – Sand Coulee, Montana
How to Feed and Care for 40+ Dogs and
Still Get to Bed Before Midnight – Kennel Management
Jobs – Training – Dog Chores – Maintenance – Family – Sleep???
We can live our lives in a hectic/rushed way – or in a systemized and
more relaxed way – How do you live your life?
Lunch and Trade Show
Jason Barron – Lincoln, Montana
Secrets of Competitive Sled Dog Racing
Having lived his entire life surrounded by the sled dog community, Jason
has been able to glean what puts teams across the finish line first. Understanding
this winning mental attitude and learning to apply it daily in your own life,
can have a major impact on your team’s success.
Panel Discussion
Hugh Neff – Jason Barron – Rick Larsen – Jack Beckstrom – Chris Adkins
We All go Home Winners
We all go home – full of great information and tips that we can implement immediately into our training systems. Better training and healthier dogs can help us all have a greater mushing season. Think Snow!!!
Hugh Neff comes to us from Skagway Alaska where in the past 10 years Hugh and his team have competed in 6 Iditarods and 9 Yukon Quest races. Hugh is one of a handful of mushers that have completed the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in the same year – and he’s done it the last 5 years in a row! This past year Hugh competed in the GinGin 200, the Kusko 300, the Yukon Quest, Iditarod, and the Yukon Flats 300. That’s almost 3,000 miles of racing in 3 months!
This year the team came in 2nd in the Yukon Quest, missing the Champion spot by 4 minutes. The team broke the record by over 3 hours from the previous record holder Lance Mackey and Sabastian Schnell and Hugh have the only finish times under the ten day mark. However we are most proud that our dogs have the fastest Quest running time in history and would have won the race by almost two hours were it not for a 2 hour penalty assessed to Hugh only 40 miles from the finish. They followed up this great finish with a career best 15th place finish in the Iditarod.
Jason Barron of Lincoln, Montana – In 1993, at the age of twenty-one, Jason ran his first Iditarod, claiming Rookie of the Year and cementing his future as a pro dog musher. While handling for his father and younger brother Will at the 1995 Knik 200, Jason happened to meet a lovely young woman named Harmony Kanavle who was running her first professional race. They fell in love, and shortly thereafter, ran the Iditarod together, finishing with a snowy wedding under the burled arch in Nome.
In the spring of 2000, Jason and Harmony moved to the Rocky Mountains of Montana and started their own kennel, KanaBear Enterprises. During the past decade, they have won numerous middle distance races including back to back wins in both Montana’s Race to the Sky, and Minnesota’s John Beargrease Marathon. Jason has also been in the top 15 of the Iditarod three times claiming most improved musher with his 12th place finish in ’04, and breaking the 9 day barrier with his 8th place finish in ’06.
Rick Larsen of Sand Coulee, Montana is a equipment operator by day and dog musher at night. He and his wife, Sandy, operate Ricks Racing Rovers Kennel. He has raced the Iditarod, run the Race to the Sky 3 times since 1999 (finishing 2nd in 2006 and receiving the Best Cared for Team Award). He has won all but one race in the 200 milers of the Lower 48, including the Can-Am Crown, the UP 200, the Seeley Lake Race, and others.
Jack Beckstrom of Olney, Montana – During his racing career, Jack has run the Race to the Sky seven times, the Beargrease six times, along with other long distance races. He has been chairman of Race to the Sky, organizer for the Root Beer Classic, and together with Pam, they operate Adanac Sleds and Equipment., their mail order and .com dog sled and equipment company. Jack is very involved in the sport of sled dog racing and is frequently requested to be the Race Marshall of several long distance races.
Kathryn Maslanka of Missoula, Montana – From the time of her childhood, Kathryn has had a special relationship and bond with animals. Kathryn has a special talent for “seeing” the body and what is out of balance. As a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, Kathryn daily helps individuals and animals restore their body’s ability to heal itself. BodyTalk is based upon the principle that our state of health is determined by the level of synchronicity of all energetic functions that constitute the bodymind. There are billions of synchronized activities that need to take place every second to keep the body in good health – at biochemical (physiological), emotional and mental levels. The body is a complex ecosystem involving a delicate balance between all of these interactions and everything needs to be synchronized into a cohesive whole. When any of these activities become unsynchronized, primarily through exposure to the physical and emotional stresses of day-to-day life and our environment, we begin to experience distress, disease and illness.
World Premier of Call of the Wild 3D
Took Place in Helena on June 10
By Pam Beckstrom
Christopher Lloyd and Kids - The World Premiere of Call of the Wild 3D
The movie Call of the Wild 3D premiered in Helena, Montana, on June 10th, at the Great Northern Town Center after filming in Montana and during two Race to the Skys, as well. Movie director Richard Gabai, actor Christopher Lloyd, and producers Nancy and John Draper, all from Los Angeles area and the west coast, attended the world premier screening of the film that took about two years in the making. Several schools were selected to view the movie as well as volunteers that assisted Gabai in making the movie.
Call of the Wild 3D was filmed during (and at) the 2007 and 2008 Race to the Sky 350 mile dog sled races. Camera crews went for a ride with two of the Race to the Sky mushers to get film footage and filmed in and near Lincoln, Helena, and Philipsburg, Montana.
The movie is a “kid-friendly” modernized version of Call of the Wild by Jack London. It is great family entertainment and showcases dogsledding in a good light. The house that Gabai filmed as actor Christopher Lloyd ‘s house (from the inside) is owned by Montana Mountain Mushers and Race to the Sky volunteers Liz and Jerry Cain.
Several of Cain’s dogs are in the movie along with Lincoln residents, Diane Walker and Judy Johnson’s. Many Race to the Sky volunteers assisted with the movie in various ways, including: , snowmobile assistance, cooking, filming on property in and near Lincoln, using sled dogs, and whatever else the film crew needed. Jack, in the movie, is using an Adanac Sled, harnesses and some equipment. It is a heart-warming movie about a city girl spending time with her grandfather in Montana. Check the link below to see where it is playing near you. AND be ready for a down-home adventure, Montana-style.
Jack and I were honored to be at the premier and it was the first and only world movie premier in Montana let alone in Helena. It was fun, kid-oriented, and we left the movie knowing that Richard and his crew understood Montana, cold weather, and dogsledding much better. The movie is opening the weekend of June 13th in eight states (including Montana–Helena, Missoula, and Billings), Romania, with more movie theaters added to the list each week. Go see it, your friends are in it–it is truly a Montana film and you can catch a glimpse of the Race to the Sky trail in some scenes of the movie.
Go to: www.CALLOFTHEWILD3D.COM to find a movie theater near you and support good family entertainment.
Christopher Lloyd signing print of Call of the Wild 3D
Christopher Lloyd
Mark Stamm Wins 2009 Race to the Sky - Photo by Jim Bossardt
300 mile official finishers in order of finish:
#1 Mark Stamm, Riverside, Washington, finished at 11:32 Monday morning with 11 dogs
#2 Chris Adkins, Sand Coulee, Montana, finished at 1:35 Monday afternoon with 10 dogs
#3 Scott White, Woodinville, Washington, finished at 1:47 Monday afternoon with 8 dogs
#4 John Stewart, Lincoln, Montana, finished at 3:12 Monday afternoon with 11dogs
#5 Celeste Davis, Deer Lodge, Montana, finished at 10:54 Monday evening with 9 dogs
200 mile official finishers in order of finish:
1st Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, Montana, finishing at 12:11 Monday morning with 10 dogs
2nd Laura Daugereau of Sand Coulee, Montana, finishing at 1:00 Monday morning with 11 dogs
3rd Dee Ogden of Boise, Idaho, finishing at 3:35 Monday morning with 9 dogs
4th Scott Thompson of Trout Lake, Washington, finishing at 5:57 Monday morning with 10 dogs
5th Cindy Gallea of Seeley Lake, Montana, finishing at 9:02 Monday morning with 10 dogs
6th Stacy Rader of Seeley Lake, Montana, finishing at 9:03 Monday morning with 9 dogs
7th John Cathcart of Helena, Montana, finishing at 2:27 Monday afternoonwith 8 dogs
As the winner of the 300 mile Race to the Sky, Mark Stamm has already won two Pots of Gold for the fastest times into White Tail Checkpoint sponsored by First Community bank of Helena and the fastest time into Seeley Lake Checkpoint sponsored by American Federal Savings Bank of Helena and will receive an additional Pot of Gold for the first place finish sponsored by Bank of the Rockies of Helena, Montana. The Pot of Gold containers are filled with gold coins.
As the winner of the 200 mile Race to the Sky, Rick Larson will receive a Pot of Gold sponsored by R & R Pet Food, an Eagle Pet Food Distributor from Lewiston, Idaho. The Pot of Gold is filled with gold coins.
Mark Ibsen of Helena, Montana and Kurt Reich of Divide, Colorado withdrew from the race.
Celeste Davis of Deer Lodge, Montana, took the Red Lantern Award for the 2009 Race to the Sky finishing at Hi Country Snack Foods in Lincoln at 10:54 Monday evening with 9 dogs.
That concludes this year’s Race to the Sky. The public is invited to attend the Awards Ceremony at Lincoln Community Hall, Lincoln, Montana, at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 17th.