BEAR GREASE
BY MCKAYLA BOELTER
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
ISSUE: 76/18
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Blake Freking, from Finland, Minn., at the starting gate with his dogs at Beargrease this past Sunday in Duluth.
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Dog handler Anastasia Seyer holding
one of musher Jaye Foucher’s dogs,
before the race begins.
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Sled dogs staying warm in mushers
Frekings’ trailer.
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Racer Jennifer Freking, wife of racer
Blake Freking, from Finland, Minn.,
leaves their dog trailer.
The 2008 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was here again. The first leg of the journey kicked off last Sunday at 1 p.m. from Ordean Middle School, with plenty of fans, family and friends there to cheer on the mushers and dogs. The hours prior to the race and the actual race itself were filled with anticipation, determination and camaraderie for all involved, from the mushers right down to the cold but eager fans waiting along the way.
However, to get to those excitement-filled few days of the race, a lot of effort and hours were put into the preparation of the race months ahead of time. “Everyone’s a volunteer: coordinators, vets, board members,” said Paul Dallavia, the Beargrease headquarter’s coordinator. “We have volunteers selling merchandise during the summer and during the race, working in the office, working at headquarters, working at checkpoints doing crowd control, calling out when teams are coming in, working with the vet teams. We never turn away volunteers.”
Volunteers came from all over the state and country to help out with the race. Many are locals right from the community, but some come from as far as Florida and give up vacation time to keep the race running smoothly. Julie and Carl Napolitano, from West Palm Beach, Fla., heard of the Beargrease marathon over the years and decided this was the year to travel up to the cold and snow to help out.
“I’m helping at the checkpoint in Sawbill,” said Carl Napolitano. “We’ll help mushers get the dogs bedded down and fed, and we’ll keep the bonfire going.” “It’s been a blast,” said Julie Napolitano. “Everyone’s
very nice and wonderful to work with.”
Along with all the volunteers who attend meetings throughout the fall and winter to help fundraise and plan for the race, the sponsors and fans keep the race going, too. “They [Beargrease organizers] do a pretty good job running this. I walked around and looked at dogs. It’s pretty fascinating,” said Lonnie McKinnon, first-time watcher of the race and dog sledding enthusiast.
With all the planning, fundraising, volunteering and sponsoring that goes along with any major event like the Beargrease marathon, the major reason for spending so much time, effort and money doing this is to watch amazing athletes in action. In this year’s case when it came to registering for the race, many of the teams were already pre-signed up and several others ended up on a waiting list.
“Eighty teams were signed up in three days,” said Dallavia. With a full roster of teams this year, the volunteer base was extensive. “We’re volunteer-based and rely on the community,” said events coordinator Linda Nervick. “There are twelve board members and about 700 volunteers this year.” Planning for 2009’s Beargrease marathon will start soon after mushers cross this year’s finish line. Volunteers are needed every year there is enough snow for the race.
“If you like sled dogs and want to learn more about the race and the sport, check out the Web site,” said Dallavia. “If you can volunteer, sign-up or call us and ask questions. You don’t have to have any experience.”
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