A family affair
This years John Beargrease Marathon in Minnesota (USA) turned into a real family affair…
A big crowd was at the finish line to greet Blake Freking when he came across the finish line lead by his big Siberian Husky Fenrir to claim the 2019 Championship—but his wife Jennifer Freking was not there.
Jennifer crossed the finish line herself two hours later, finishing in second place.
At the finish line to greet them both though, were little Elena and Nicole, their now 9 and 7 year-old daughters. Earlier in the day they had raced too, finishing 3rd and 6th in the 2019 Beargrease Cub Run!
Jennifer and Blake stress that they in no way drive their girls to be part of the mushing life, its just what the kids want to do. “Being a mushing family, it’s a lifestyle… It’s 365 days a year,” says Jennifer, “it’s something we really strive to keep in balance.”
The Frekings live with their +60 dogs in northern Minnesota (USA) near the area where the John Beargrease Marathon takes place. Owning Manitou Crossing Kennels they raise and train their kennel of primarily Siberian Huskies for competition in long distance sled dog races. Combined, they have accumulated nearly six decades of mushing experience and together have run 4 Iditarods, the Yukon Quest, 17 Beargrease Marathons, and many other races in Alaska, Canada, Lower 48 and Europe. Blake ran his first Iditarod in 2000 and is now a 2 time Beargrease Champion. Jennifer ran her first Iditarod in 2008
Jennifer is a Veterinarian at the Ely Vet Clinic and Blake is a Civil Engineer and Air Tanker Base Manager for the US Forest Service. During the summer he manages bases around the country in suppression of wildfires. Jennifer began mushing at 8 years of age as a Jr. Musher on the North Star Sled Dog Club sprint circuit. Blake started by skijoring with his Siberian Husky for a few years before traveling to Willow, Alaska to handle for Earl and Natalie Norris in their kennel of Siberian Huskies—today believed to be the oldest kennel of AKC registered Siberian Huskies.
Blake and Jennifers primary focus is the preservation of the working Siberian Husky. Their goal is to raise their dogs in the best environment possible with great socialization, the best nutrition available and optimal training to allow them to perform to their potential on the trail. “We strive to have the dogs be happy and healthy from start to finish of every race,” says Blake.
Tuesday, March 1st 2022, Ryan Anderson and his dogs crossed the finish-line first in Grand Portage, making him the John Beargrease Sled Dogs champion.
Redingtons bold move backfired - he’s out of the race!
We can finally say it once again - QRILL PAWS 2022 IS READY TO ROLL! That’s despite another difficult year for race organizers and everyone involved in sled dog events.
Aker BioMarine, the Norwegian biotech company behind QRILL PAWS, launches QPaws - The Dog Activity App to help track and improve the health of active dogs across the globe.
We think knowing the basics in nutrition is important for anyone. That’s why we decided to write a series of articles on basic dog nutrition. First topic up - water and energy sources.
Summer is here, and it’s time for long, relaxing walks in the nature with your furry little friend. Unfortunately, it’s also time for ticks to start crawling around in the bushes. Take your precautions to make sure that the bug doesn’t ruin your summer!
The name “canicross” is a combination of the words “canine” and “cross-country”, which is actually a great description of the sport. Canicross is simply cross-country running with your dog!
Over the past weeks, Norway’s Toughest Dog has been crowned amongst the dogs who were signed up for Femundløpet 2021. Furry rocket Ronja took the title home, together with a ton of dog food for herself and her kennel. With the amount of requests and questions about a competition for all dog owner, we weren’t in doubt - #mintøffing2021 became a reality!
After three years, Dallas Seavey is returning to the Iditarod, after the 2017 helter skelter incident that shocked his life and mushing career.
The mushers have to relive their own nightmares on the way back over the trail's most demanding sections between Nikolai and Finger Lake.
After three years, Dallas Seavey is returning to the Iditarod, after the 2017 helter skelter incident that shocked his life and mushing career.
At age 10 she harnessed her border collie Bear and a goat to pull hay to the horses. Now, for the 19th time, Jessie Royer (44) has harnessed her 16 most competitive dogs to win Iditarod.
Growing up with sailing and surrounded by golden beaches on the East Coast, Susannah Tuminelli has travelled a long way, when she now starts on the trail.
In March last year, Iditarod mushers were chased down the trail by a pandemic. Now, 12 months later, the world is still in the midst of the disease.
The Swiss born Martin Buser (62) lines up for his 38th Iditarod race this year. The Wayne Gretzky of dog sledding, has been inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.
In the aftermath of cancelling this year’s edition of Femundløpet, organisers and sponsors put together the alternative online competition – Norway’s Toughest Dog. And what a support from the community!
Even though this year’s race had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be winners. And the prize is no less than 1000 kg dog food. The famous Norwegian dog trainer Maren T. Rørvik leads the jury.
As a fantastic way of thanking the everlasting effort from the organisers of Beargrease 2021, the mushers put on the most thrilling final sprint in the history of the race. In the end, only 7 seconds separated 1st and 2nd.