March 13-14, IditaShageluk Update

Martin Buser Interview

By Amber, Sophomore.

Martin Buser pulled in wearing tennis shoes. He said that he had to wear them because he had to run all those hills between here and Iditarod. He also said that he only wears them when he has to work a lot.
He said that sometimes he likes running the Iditarod and sometimes he doesn't, because it can get pretty hard, but usually he does.
He started running dogs in 1980-81. At first he started running someone else's dogs. Then he wanted to see if he could raise his own dogs and have his own team and all that. He has been running dogs from about 25 years now. This is his 18th Iditarod Race he has ran. So, the last 20 years He has been pretty steady in running dogs.
He doesn't know when he is going to retire. He said probably after it stops being fun or when his kids take over for him.
The best part of racing for him is when he has a good race that's when it is really a lot of fun. When he doesn't have a good race the best part is the finish line.

Martin Buser, Desiree, and Krista.

 

Written Interview of DeeDee Jonrowe

By Amber, Sophomore

DeeDee Jonrowe has been running dogs for 21 years. She thinks the best part of running is getting to take the time to spend with her dogs. Then again that is also kind of the hard part of racing, you don't have much time and you have to do everything in a hurry. So, the she likes the best is the hardest to do sometimes when you're racing. The worst part for her is that the dogs don't live long enough. You get attached to them and they don't have the same life spans as we do. So, you lose them and it's hard.
The Native guys in Bethel inspired her to run dogs. When she lived Bethel she would watch her neighbors use their dogs to haul wood, get ice off the river for water, and stuff like that. So, she decided she wanted to run dogs.
Her quote to all her fans out there is: "Well, I appreciate the support and also I think that you should just follow your passion. If you're passionate about something and you're willing to work hard, you can really be or do whatever you want."

DeeDee Jonrowe

Written Interview of John Baker

By Amber, Sophomore

This is John Baker's 6th Iditarod Race. He thinks that running the Iditarod is the best part of running dogs. The worst part for him is when he trains his dogs all year and they get sick or have problems on the trail that don't permit him to do as well as he thought he can do. His greatest inspiration for running dogs is wanting to compete in the Iditarod Race.
His quote to his fans is, "If you have a dream about something with a little hard work, you can do anything."

A really sleepy John Baker

Charlie Boulding and Amber, Sophomore

Written Interview of Jeff King

By Leroy, Freshman

I interviewed Jeff King when he came to Shageluk March 09, 2001. He said he enjoyed mushing and his first Iditarod was in 1981, that's over 20 years ago. Jeff King's best part of the race is visiting other villages, people and helping his dog team being in charge of the trail. He told me that the worst parts of the race vary from year to year and the windstorms out of Shaktoolik. He goes on vacations with his family sometimes in April and September. I asked him if he had any dogs and he said he has many favorite dogs! Hickory, Jenna and booster are his most favorite dogs though. He said " One's your favorite dog and the next day another dog is" He told me thatJoe Redington Sr. "The father of the Iditarod"inspired himto race the Iditarod!

Jeff King surprised us by sleeping on the floor in the teachers's workroom!

This is an Iditarod Air Force volunteer plane

 

What they do is they pick up all the dropped dogs

and bring them to their own home town.

Sometimes on the river there are a lot of planes to pick up the mushers and the dogs.

March 13-14, 2001 Update!

Stay tuned! Our kids are deep in CTBS and CAT5 standardized tests at the moment, the racers have all passed through, Pedro is gone, Liz, Communications expert is gone, the Veterinarians took off yesterday, extra supplies that the mushers left behind have been mailed out and local trail sweepers have volunteered to clean up and burn piles of hay that were used for the dogs.

Our kids still have some interviews, great pics and QuickTime movies to show you, check back this afternoon!

~Joy~

Hay burning pile out on the Innoko River