Ididamush: Part One! |
Scott Elnes, a weather man by trade and Alaska adventure enthusiast from gotoak.com, takes to the trail as a cheechako musher. But before he does, he gets a little advice form some seasoned mushers like DeeDee, Martin Buser and Lance Mackey.
Scott says " This was simply one of the greatest adventures of my life and I'm working nearly round the clock to put the whole thing into something that can even remotely do it justice". |
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DeeDee takes 3rd in the Tustumena 200 |
photo courtesy of David Wartinbee |
DeeDee grabbed 3rd place in the Tustumena 200. A 200 mile sled dog race running in the Caribou hills near Homer Alaska.
DeeDee said "This race brought out what I needed to know about my Iditarod picks. I learned that one young dog was a little too imature for iditarod this year, one boy did not really fit and all the others are strong options. I am very happy with how it turned out and what it revealed to me".
DeeDee's 3rd place paid out $3,750 for her efforts. DeeDee said " I am so proud of this group of dogs. They are amazing".
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The 2010 "Tag Along with DeeDee" Hoodies are here!
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Click on photo for close up view
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The 2010 DeeDee Jonrowe hoodies have arrived! We have adult long sleeve hoodies in small, medium, large, and extra large. Available in brown only. The design is beautifully done by Alaskan artist, Jona Van
Zyle and printed in Alaska by Silvertip Printing.
Tag along with Deedee & be part of the team! Help support and cheer for DeeDee Jonrowe's 2010
race to Nome. Go DeeDee!
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Race & Training Updates:
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Jan 13, 2010 - I waited until the last minute on racing in the Kusko 300 and I just do not want to test the conditions on the wind blown, icy trails this year. I am really going to miss the people in the delta, there is such a great group of people that put this race on. I am sad not to be there.
Because of that change, I have switched gears and entered the Tustamena 200 for next weekend. Jamie Kinzer, one of our wonderful handlers, has entered the T-100 with one of our teams. This coming weekend 2 of our handlers, Jamie and Justin, plan to race in Aurora 25/25 in the Big Lake area. I will be THEIR handler. All of the attention and effort is towards a successful 2010 Iditarod
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Training behind a great 2010 Iditarod team!
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Join the team... |
Become a "Team Sponsor" at the $75 level and for a limited time we are offering this handy embroideried tote bag with a laser cut wooden 2010 Iditarod dog tag. Designed by Alaskan artist, Jona Van Zyle, especially for DeeDee. In addition your name will be added to our "Team Sponsor" list on our web site.
As a team sponsor, your donation helps us offset
expenses with dog booties, dog coats, hand warmers, batteries for
headlamps, race entry fees, travel expenses, shipping
gear to checkpoints, and the list goes on. It's people like you that
make our race season happen.
We thank you for your support!
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Most Wanted Christmas Gift
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This week I recieved what I "most wanted" for christmas; my best friend Jim Culler, is cancer free. Jim has been helping me with my kennel and nearly everything else in my life for the last 20 years. He is 82 years old and has been going strong, running his own 6 dog team, fishing his own river boat all over the upper Susitna River area and keeping me going especially when Mike is fishing in Bristol Bay each summer. He has been feeling poorly for awhile and a mon or so ago when downhill dramatically. They found issues in his lung and were fairly certain they were dealing with lung cancer as well as pneumonia.
Many tests, and weeks of waiting, he got the good word on tuesday. He still needs to take it easy, which is not his strong suit, but today he started working on the 2010 food drops. We have hosted his team while he has been sick so they will be going home for the holidays with smiles on their little muzzles. God answers prayers!!!! and I am VERY grateful. Just wanted to share good news this Christmas season. Anyone who has visited me in the last 20 years I am sure has met Jim. He is a very special person.
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Dog Tag & a signed Bootie!
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Tag along with DeeDee Jonrowe. Now you can get a 2010 DeeDee Jonrowe dog tag and an autograpghed bootie.Your purchases help with DeeDee's 2010 Iditarod race expenses. Thank you for being part of our team. Click Here for details...
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Norton Sound Packs a Punch! |
Had quite an eventful week. I flew with the GCI crew to Unalakleet on monday to film some new cell phone spots with a winter background. We got that and much much more. Wednesday night one of the most forceful fall storms in decades hit the Norton Sound coast with 70mph + winds and at one point 16ft waves. It was a priviledge to see the resourceful people of the coast pull together evacuating their elders, checking on each other, housing anyone that needed shelter and keeping a watchful eye on their neighbor's homes. I was staying with Donna Erickson and her son Logan. The rest of her family was in Stebbins at the Bering Sea School District regional wrestling and cheerleading tournament. We got a call about 3 pm wed afternoon that we had to evacuate the water level would double before it started to receed.
Bebucks and Anne Ivanoff gladly hosted us up the mt. at their house. We had a total of 16 people and 3 pet dogs at their home for a sleep over wed night. In addition to filming for GCI I was invited to speak to the 230+ kids at the regional wrestling and cheerleading tournament over at Stebbins about the value of healthy living. Mr. Migayi and I were finally able to fly in on thursday morning for several hours. Wow what a great chance to see rural Alaska's sports programs in action. I had a chance to encourage these athletes to take care of their MINDS as well as their bodies with an emphasis on staying tobacco free. It was so special being able to do something however small to help these great people that have been there for the last 28 years to encourage me as I have raced to Nome.
"Mr. Migayi"
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Mr. Migayi and I finally arrived back in Willow late thursday night. We quickly regrouped here and caught up on the events here this past week which included 9 inches of snow and then hit the trail early friday morning . It is late sat night. I ran the dogs again today, cleaned house and am looking forward to thanking God in church tomorrow for protecting the people of Norton Sound this past week. God sent a layer of slush ice in wednesday night just when the waves were poisted to do a great deal more damage . This ice weighted the waves and settled the water. What a week. I wonder what is in store for NEXT week! |
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Mushing with DeeDee! |
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Future stars harness up & pups receive their "forever" names |
The "Nemo" Litter : Nemo, Crush, Coral, Dory & Nigel
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Training Update: 10/27/09 - The last two days were bright ones for the future of my race team. The youngsters from this spring got to join their mentors in harness for the first time. "Hickory", "Dickory" and "Dock" were a handful of unfocused energy. It was hard to get them to stay still long enough to even get their harnesses ON but once they saw their harness as the key to running they were thrilled. They have spent the summer running along side Vern Halter's adult dogs enjoying showing off for Dream a Dream Kennel's vistors. Today they seem to get the hang of the "team" concept better and look to have a great future. The second litter, my V's because all their names start with V, and they spent the summer with the famous Van Zyle family; ran today in a 10 dog team like they had been doing it all their life. They were focused and excited. There seem to be no transition needed for them, all the experiences they had during the summer set them up perfectly for their debut in harness. The future looks bright with these 7 young ones in training for the race team of 2011.
The fall pups had a watershed day as well. They recieved their forever names. These guys officially became the "NEMO" litter. The 2 females are "Coral" and "Dori"e. The 3 males are" Nemo", "Crush" and "Nigel". I just love this theme because I first saw this movie in Kona with my niece when I was where I could walk out of the theater and swim with fish and turtles making me feel like I was a character in the movie myself. The bright colors and happy story always makes me feel happy and so do these silly guys. Their parents are a daughter from my most gifted retired race leader "Ivan", her name is "Sweetie": and one of last year's finishers in my team," Eddi"e. If they take after their genetics their movement ought to be smooth as silk. For now they have cool names and a great start.
---- DeeDee |
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Tag along with DeeDee for the 2010 Iditarod! |
Show your Iditarod spirit and support for DeeDee Jonrowe with these new and adorable DeeDee Jonrowe dog tags. Tag along with DeeDee for the 2010 Iditaod. Dogs tags are available with pink or silver chains.
Click here to order yours! |
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Paint the Rink Pink for Cancer Awareness! |
DeeDee is headed to Anchorage tonight for a hockey game. It's the annual Paint the Rink Pink Anchorage Aces game – breast cancer awareness night. DeeDee will drop the puck for start of the event at 7:15.
The Aces v. Kalamazoo, proceeds to benefit Breast Cancer Focus, Inc! The Aces will once again wear commemorative pink jerseys that will be auctioned off following the October 8th game, and both teams will play on Sullivan Arena ice dyed pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Join the Alaska Aces for the 3rd annual "Paint The Rink Pink" event to raise money for cancer research and awareness in our great state. The games are schedules for October 7th & 8th at 7:15pm, at the Sullivan Arena. Call 258-ACES for more information.
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Ahhhh........ |
More than sled dogs reside at DeeDee's kennel.... |
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DeeDee Teams up with "GCI"...watch her cool commercials! Click here
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Good-bye to a dear friend! |
"Parker" |
July 14, 2009 - Sunday I lost "Parker", one of my wonderful house dogs. It is still hard for me to even admit it. He was perfect right up to the last minute. I still can't believe he is gone. I wish I could turn back time and still have him. He came into our lives the night we came home from the hospital in Fairbanks after a very bad car accident. We had lost our dog " Remimington" in that accident. He had given his life to save my husband Mike's and "Remmy" was our hero. "Parker" looked nothing like him, he was not a "stuff strutter" but he was so gentle and very very loyal from the very beginning. I took him everywhere. He hiked Crow Pass for the first time at about 6 months. He would walk logs, swim rivers, climb mts. run along the the sled dog team for 50+ miles. He road on the back porch of my single cataraft. He wore antlers one Christmas and was a reindeer with the dog team bringing Santa into the Sullivan Area. He went horse back riding, he swam along side me as I trained for the Ironman, he climbed every mt. in southcentral that I have climbed including Mt. Marathon, Matanuska Peak, Pioneer Reak, Twin Peaks, Lazy many many times, and numerous trails and ridges up Hatcher Pass. "Parker" slept beside me the year I navigated chemo treatments, and was my exercise partner the next year when I was not capable of keeping up with my girl friends. When I was very sad and considered that I might be too much of a burden to the people around me "Parker" would lay his adoring head in my lap and his love kept me going. He helped me teach Vacation Bible school gently playing with the kids showing how God could demonstrate love thru the devotion of a dog. This guy ALWAYS make me feel like I was JUST the person that made his life worthwhile. Tonight I feel like I have lost my best friend. ~ DeeDee
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DeeDee takes on the Mountain for the 11th time
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Runners head up Mt Marathon |
It was the 82nd Running of Mount marathon in Seward, Alaska Saturday, July 4, 2009. It was DeeDee's 11th run of this grueling run up the mountain. DeeDee said " It's been quite a year, the coldest Iditarod in a very long time and hottest Mt. Marathon. My body has whiplash". She finished 183rd out of a field of 286 women with a time of 01:53:47.
The foot race is a climb and descent on Mt. Marathon - a mile and a half up and a mile and a half down, complete with cliffs, scree fields, waterfalls, and a spectacular view. This annual event draws runners from around the world.
Over the years, this home town historical event has drawn increased participation resulted in new milestones. 54 women finished the first-ever women's race in 1985, juniors began logging their records in 1994, and 2005 heralded the beginning of the "staggered start" for the senior races. The popular Mini Marathon race starts them out young - toddling just a few feet to victory!
The tradition of the Mt. Marathon Race, according to folklore, began when two sourdoughs had an argument about whether it was possible to climb and descend the mountain in less than one hour.
"Impossible" one said, and to settle the argument and the resulting wager it was decided to hold a race with the loser to furnish drinks for the crowd.
At the same time, enterprising merchants put up a suit of clothes and other attractions for the winner and proposed the race take place on a holiday - why not the 4th of July?
The optimistic sourdough lost his bet. The winning racer took one hour and two minutes. Official records disclose that the Mt. Marathon Race actually began as an organized run in 1915 and has since become a regular part of the Independence Day celebration in Seward, Alaska.
2012 Iditarod Dogs
DeeDee shares some quality time with one of her pups named "Volt". This litter is on loan to the
Van Zyles for some socializing and play time before they start sled dog training.
DeeDee explains some of her training techniques to the "Iditarod Teachers on the Trail"
Sixty three kids from Koyuk to White Mountain gathered this past week for Bible Camp. DeeDee
was honored to be a speaker at the camp. DeeDee said she really enjoyed the time with the kids!
Relay for Life
Join DeeDee and many Alaskan's for the Chugiak/Eagle River Relay for Life at Mirror Lake Middle School (MLMS) on 15 May at 7pm
photo
by Theresa Daily |
DeeDee
Jonrowe is the foremost female dog musher competing in the
world today. She has both the fastest time of any woman
in the history of the Iditarod and thirteen top ten finishes
in her career. Her second place finish in 1998 was the fifth
fastest Iditarod time ever recorded at that point. In addition
to the Iditarod, DeeDee has competed and won most major
dog sledding races throughout her career, including the
Copper Basin 300, Klondike 300 and the John Bear grease
sled dog marathon.
DeeDee ran her first Iditarod in 1980 and soon undertook
the building of her own sled, a comprehensive breeding
and training program for her dogs, and a rigorous physical
fitness program for herself. The result is that by the
time DeeDee and her team undertake the Iditarod in March
of each year, they have logged almost 2000 miles of training
together.
DeeDee
has won numerous awards for the care of her dogs through
her career, including the best-cared for team, the best
dog care award (given by staff veterinarians), and the dog's
best friend award. As her dogs are her top priority, she
became a founding member of Mush
with PRIDE, which provides responsible information of
a dog's environment, exhibiting her commitment to set the
standards for all aspects of sled dog care. Her
highly publicized battle with breast cancer that she began
in 2002 has seen her become a tireless fundraiser. In
2003 she became any honorary chairperson for the American
Cancer Society's Relay for Life, assisting the organization
is its fundraising efforts as well. DeeDee's humanitarian
efforts have been well-documented, being given the YWCA's
"Alaska Woman of Achievement of Award", the
most inspirational musher award, and even as the spokesperson
for the National Girl Scouts Council and Winter Special
Olympics.
DeeDee
has been profiled in such media outlets as Sports Illustrated,
Redbook, and Outside magazines. She is a published author,
and is currently pending another book profiling her comeback
from cancer to race again.
FOR
ALL INQUIRIES REGARDING DEEDEE'S SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS,
APPEARANCES, & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES - PLEASE CONTACT:
DeeDee Jonrowe
P.0. Box 272 Willow, Alaska 99688
or Email me at deedeejonrowe@gmail.com
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DeeDee's 2010
Bootie Jar
Please consider supporting DeeDee Jonrowe for the 2010 Iditarod. It's
no secret. Running the Iditarod is expensive. Because of this,
we have set up a way to help offset the cost and
in return we will list you as a team supporter
on our web site!
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Thank you!
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Sponsors |
Denali
Foods
of Alaska
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BRADLEY
REID + ASSOCIATES
INCORPORATED |
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Jon & Jona
Van Zyle
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Valley
Chiropractic
Clinic
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CAC Plastics
Located off
frontage rd.
off the Parks Hwy
Wasilla, Alaska
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The
Alaskan co-operative that has brought
exquisite Qiviut items to you as a
unique northern gift since 1969. Qiviut
(pronounced "kiv-ee-ute"),
the downy-soft underwool from the
Arctic musk ox, is shed naturally
each year during the spring months.
Eight times warmer than wool and extraordinarily
lightweight, Qiviut is one of the
finest natural fibers known to man.
Visit their web site
Click
here |
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ARCTIC
MIDNIGHT FURS
Arctic
Midnight Furs has a large showroom
of tanned furs & leathers. We
can help you with custom made fur
coats, parkas, mukluks, hats, mittens,
slippers, etc. We also do cleaning,
repair and restyling of furs. All
prices wholesale to the public.
Call
Keith or Julie or stop by the showroom
and look around.
Visit our
WEB
SITE |
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