USFSS
Bios
Meet the 2013 US Team
Kim Wells
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Racing Since: Skijor Racing since 1994 and Sled Racing
since 1999
Club Affiliations: Alaskan Sled Dog Racing Association,
Anchorage Skijor Club
Class of Racing: 6 dog Sprint
Fun Facts: Kim enjoys training on the ASDRA trails
through Anchorage because it’s fun to train in the city where the public can see
what you are doing. Kim has also competed in the World Championships in 2001 and
2005.

Rebecca “Becky” Voris
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Club Affiliations: Anchorage Skijor Club, Montana Creek Dog
Mushers Association, Alaska Dog Mushers Association
Class of Racing: 1 and 2 dog Skijoring
Fun Facts: Becky has three dogs in her home, they are
Attla who is 10, Sydney Laurance who is 3 and Shea who is 1½. She greatly enjoys
the “Tour of Anchorage Trail” for training due to is proximity to home,
technical difficulty, serene landscape and low traffic.

John Perry
Location: Colorado
Club Affiliations: Regional Director for ISDRA, Rocky
Mountain Sled Dog Club, Colorado Mountain Mushers, Wisconsin Trailblazers
Class of Racing: 6 Dog Sprint
Media Contacts: The Journal Advocate (Sterling Colorado)
swaite@journal-advocate.com The Denver Post
newsroom@denverpost.com
Fun Facts: John has been working with and
training German Shorthair Pointers for hunting since 1949 and continues to do so
when he is not working with his sled dogs. John and his wife Bobbi have two sons
and six grandchildren.

Jason Sperry
Location: Mexico, NY
Racing Since: 2003
Club Affiliations: Nordic Ski Team at Clarkson University
Class of Racing: Skijoring
Fun Facts: Jason has competed on the US team for IFSS
Championship races including: 2009 Daaquam, 2010 Saguenay and 2011 Holmenkollen.
Jason is married to Erin and they have a daughter Aria.

Nathan Sterling
Location: Willow, Alaska
Racing Since: Began as a junior Musher, Began prepping to
race the Fur Rondy in 2004
Class of Racing: Open Class Racing
Kennel Website:
www.sundogracingkennel.com
Fun Facts:
Nathan has been racing since he was a junior musher. He advanced to the adult
classes of racing where he met his wife Jennifer. Nathan was also the highest
placing American at the Fort Nelson Canadian Open Race in 2012 with a 5th
place finish overall.

Jennifer Sterling
Location: Willow, Alaska
Racing Since: 1982
Class of Racing: Limited and Open Class Racing
Kennel Website:
www.sundogracingkennel.com
Fun Facts:
Jennifer moved to Alaska in 1982 from Idaho. Shortly after her arrival she
started mushing dogs as a junior. She currently works with the younger dogs in
the kennel before moving them up to her husband Nathan’s open class team as two
year olds.

Jay Olmstead Jr.
Location: Sinclarville, NY
Racing Since: 1972
Club Affiliations: Wisconsin Trailblazers
Class of Racing: 4 dog Limited Sprint
Kennel Website: JSKENNEL on Facebook

Theresa Heckart
Location: Anchorage, AK
Racing Since: 2011
Club Affiliations: Anchorage Skijor Club
Class of Racing: Skijoring
Fun Facts: Theresa has one dog named Oscar from Egil
Ellis’ kennel. She loves skijoring with a canine companion.

Ami Gjestson
Location: Two Rivers, AK
Racing Since: 1998
Class of Racing: 6 Dog Limited Sprint
Kennel Website:
http://www.dogtec.com/kennel/nordskogen-sprinters
https://www.facebook.com/#!/ami.gjestson
Fun Facts: Ami has 7 racing dogs and 7 retired dogs with
free access to the house. Her main leader is Fergus a 7 year old.

Kris Rasey
Location: Chugiak, AK
Racing Since: Skijoring since 1995, Sled racing since 2004
Class of Racing: 8 Dog Limited Sprint
Fun Facts: Kris is originally from Madison, WI and has
20 dogs in her kennel. Kris has also previously raced in the 2001 and 2005 World
Championships as a skijorer.

Beverly Stevens
Location: Anchorage, AK
Racing Since: 1996
Class of Racing: 6 Dog Limited Sprint
Kennel Website:
www.bevgonedogs.com
Fun Facts: Bev typically has 6-11 dogs in her home which
is located in the city. She greatly enjoys being very successful with her team
even though they are “house dogs”. She also had a total knee replacement last
year and is excited to show that she can still be competitive on the trail!

Rebecca Knight
Location: Wasilla, AK
Racing Since: 2008
Club Affiliations: Anchorage Skijor Club, Montana Creek Dog
Mushers Association, MUSA
Class of Racing: 1 Dog Skijor, 2 Dog Skijor
Kennel Website:
www.spunkyhounds.blogspot.com
Fun Facts: Rebecca has a kennel of 6 dogs, 3 racing
dogs; Clyde, Pippa, and Kate; the team mascot Ronin and two retirees; Springer
and Spencer. She is dedicating this racing season to Gypsy the dog who made the
racing success of Team Spunky Hound possible.

Andy Warwick
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Racing Since: 2001
Club Affiliations: Alaska Skijor and Pulka Association,
Alaska Dog Mushers Association
Class of Racing: 2 Dog Skijor
Fun Facts: Andy began skijoring in 2001 and has
competitively raced dogs from the Fairbanks Animal Shelter. He has also served 4
years on the Alaska State Legislature.

Amy McLean
Location: Anchorage, AK
Racing Since: 2009
Class of Racing: 4 Dog Sprint
Fun Facts: Amy started skijoring with her two dogs and
after obtaining a puppy from Bev Stevens as well as a dog from Egil Elis she has
been hooked! She has 6 dogs in what she calls “My Backyard Kennel” in a very
doggy neighborhood of Anchorage.

Andy Noble
Location: Anchorage, AK
Racing Since: 2002
Class of Racing: Junior
Fun Facts: Andy has been racing since he was 4 years
old! He started with the one dog class and has since advanced to racing 7 dogs.
Andy has race in LeOdyssee de Enfants in Avoriaz, France as well as the 2010
Arctic Winter Games for Team Alaska. Andy is active in his community providing
mentoring, demonstrations and educational opportunities.
Name: Sara Elzey
LOCATION: Fairbanks, Alaska
RACING SINCE: 1998
CLUB AFFILIATIONS: Alaska Skijoring & Pulk Association,
Alaska Dog Mushers' Association
CLASS OF RACING: Skijoring
FUN FACTS: Sara initially tried skijoring because her
shelter husky could not learn to walk on a leash without pulling. He was a
natural and she was hooked! Soon 2 more huskies followed and they spent many
years on trails together. Two of those original dogs have since passed on but
she continues to enjoy skijoring with 3 husky/pointer mixes; Dylan, Faero &
Kate; and still takes retired Ayla for a regular ski/loose run. Sara wants to
dedicate this competition to the memory of Shadow & Myst who taught her to "do
what you love with all of your heart."
Name: Kathy Faryniarz
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Racing Since: Skijor racing since 1997 and Sprint racing 4
years and is loving it.
Club Affiliations: Montana Creek Dog Mushers Association,
Chugiak Dog Mushers, ASDRA
Class of Racing: 4 dog Sprint
Fun Facts: Kathy started mushing in 1998 when she
handled for Iditarod musher Bob Bundtzen and Zack Steer. She realized quickly
that she couldn't do the sleep deprivation thing! She skijor raced at the same
time, then caught the sprint bug 4-5 years ago.

Name: Kourosh Partow
Location: Alaska
Racing Since: 1987
Class of Racing: 4 dog Sprint
Fun Facts: Kourosh started mushing in 1987 with a
Siberian in Paris! They added more dogs and originally raced throughout Europe.
After moving to the US, Kourosh raced in the 4 and 6 dog circuit through the
Midwest before moving to Alaska.

Name: Christina Turman
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Racing Since: Cross Country Skiing from a young age, Skijor
racing since 2013
Class of Racing: 2 dog Skijor
Fun Facts: Christina began cross country skiing at a
young age which led her to Northern Michigan University where she climbed the
collegiate skiing ranks. She was introduced to mushing through her husband and
his uncle. Her first skijoring race was last season and she finished in third
place!

Name: Jessica Doherty
Location: Central Square, New York
Racing Since: 1988
Club Affiliations:
New England Sleddog Club, Down
East Sleddog Club, Penn Sleddog Club, CACQ
Class of Racing: 6 dog Sprint
Kennel Website:
http://www.dogtec.com/kennel/dohertyracingsleddogs
Fun Facts: Jessica spent 19 of the 25 years she
has been in the dog sport living in Boston MA with her dogs and typically raced
the New England and Down East circuit in the 4-dog sled class. The last 6 years
has she lived in Central NY and has increased the size of the kennel quite a
bit. We now have 15 dogs including 2 yearlings, 9 adults and 4 retirees. This
will be our first time ever in Alaska!

Name: Evelyn Beeter
Location:
Chistochina Alaska
Racing Since: Grew up with sled dog racing
Class of Racing: 8 dog Sprint
Fun
Facts: Evelyn grew up with dogs, her parents used dogs for hauling wood and
water and then eventually for racing. Evelyn’s mother raced numerous races
throughout Alaska and the Yukon Quest, she was Evelyn’s inspiration and how she
got into racing.
Name: Kale Casey
Location:
Paonia & Lake City, Colorado
Racing Since: 2010
Club Affiliations:
Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club &
Colorado Mountain Mushers
Class of Racing: 1 & 2 Dog Skijor,
1 Dog Pulk, 1 Dog Combined
Kennel Website:
Mighty Blue Knights on Facebook
or online at
http://www.mightyblueknights.com
Fun Facts:
Kale spends the summer
and fall months fighting wildfires so that he can spend his winters keeping his
two Ellis racing hounds warm. Kale and his pups train at 10,800 feet on
Colorado’s Grand Mesa, or at their backcountry retreat located at 10,200 feet in
the heart of Colorado's San Juan Mountains overlooking the Continental Divide.

Name: Chuck Pratt
Location: Alaska
Racing Since: 2009
Club Affiliations:
Anchorage Skijor Club, Montana
Creek Dog Mushers and Anchorage Lacrosse Club
Class of Racing: 2 Dog Skijor
Fun Facts:
Skiing a 5K mass start and
staying in the mix until the 4thK, then my dog (which I borrowed) stopped to
poop. Eight skiers pass by. Once going again we pass a tangle with ½K to go.
Within 50 yards of the finish line I am in the lead with a dog charging on my
right. Franticly V2ing, I plant a pole between my legs resulting in a face
plant. The crowd went wild and I crossed in 3rd. Man, what fun!

Name:
Amy Cooper
Location: Holmen, WI
Racing Since: 1997 I think
Club Affiliation: Wisconsin Trailblazers, Great Lakes Sled Dog Association,
MUSA Board Member, ISDRA Dryland Committee Co-Chair
Class of Racing: 4-Dog Sled, 1 and 2-dog Dryland
Fun Facts: Amy loves having a micro kennel of four dogs (plus one retiree)
and in addition to enjoying the winter sled season she is hooked on dryland
racing.

Name: Debra Castro
Location: Willow, Alaska
Racing Since: 2006
Club Affiliations: Alaskan Sled Dog Racing Association,
Montana Creek Dog Mushers Association, Willow Dog Mushers Association
Class of Racing: 4 Dog Purebred Siberians, RNB
Fun Facts: Debra started running Siberians when she met
her husband, James, in Montana in 2003. Little did she know that one day she
would move to Talkeetna, Alaska with 15 dogs and now have a 29 dog kennel!

Name: Greg Sellentin
Location: Willow, Alaska
Racing Since: 1990s
Club Affiliations: New England Sled Dog Club, Montana Creek
Dog Mushers Association, International Sled Dog Racing Association
Class of Racing: Unlimited
Fun Facts: Greg and his wife operate a medium sized
kennel in Willow and also publish the world’s leading magazine for the sport of
sled dogs: Mushing Magazine.

Name: Mike Christman
Location: Neenah, WI
Racing Since: 2006
Club Affiliations: Wisconsin Trailblazers, International
Sled Dog Racing Association, MUSA Board Member
Class of Racing: 1 Dog Skijor, 1 Dog Pulk
Fun Facts: Mike has been blessed with his dog Ridge who
at a very young age has shown the enthusiasm, maturity and athletic ability to
be a world class athelete. The two of them are the National Skijoring Champions
for 2012 and 2013 having taken top honors in both the 1 and 2 dog classes. They
share a tremendous bond and work all year round to maintain their conditioning.
Mike is also blessed to have his wife Lisa and their two girls cheering him on!

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