Local mushers compete in Gichigami Express

Ryan Anderson and Amanda Vogel, also of Ray, finished the 150-mile race in fifth and 16th place, respectively. Anderson’s total trail time was 12 hours, 42 minutes and 29 seconds; Vogel’s total time was 14 hours, 35 minutes and 14 seconds.

“It was a little different style of race, but my team did well,” Anderson said. “The dogs got stronger and faster each day, so that was a bonus.”

The top two slots were clenched by Ross Fraboni of Two Harbors and Ryan Redington of Wasilla, Alaska. A Duluth news source reports that Fraboni had about a four-minute lead going into Tuesday’s third and final day, but Redington,was only able to take seconds off the deficit. Fraboni had a total trail time of 12 hours, seven minutes and 51 seconds; and Redington’s total time was 12 hours, 10 minutes and 48 seconds.

“Everyone’s time was really close,” Anderson noted. “That is what the format of this type of race does.”

Unlike most sled dog races, Gichigami Express Race Director Beth Drost in December told The Journal the race was considered a stage race, meaning each night, mushers stop at a checkpoint then begin at a starting line in the morning.

“In most other races, mushers run throughout the night, resting at checkpoints along the way,” she said.

Trails for the race that took teams up the Gunflint Trail, to Grand Marais and back, weren’t “the best,” according to Vogel.

“They are pretty poor trail conditions over here,” she said.

The grant writer for the Littlefork Medical Center explained she used the Gichigami race as a training run for her experienced team of dogs.

“With training very limited at home, I used this race to put some miles on my team,” she said. “I’m the only team that got all 12 dogs home safely, so I’m pleased with that.”

Aili, however, noted that he viewed the trails as “a little rough,” but said they were decent given the time of year.

“It’s an early race with limited snow; the trails were alright,” he said.

Aili, too, viewed the Gichigami Express as more of training experience for both himself and his team.

“This is all new to me again,” he said of racing sled dogs. “The training dogs part came easily to me this fall, but during the race, I realized I need to relearn some stuff I thought I knew.”

Anderson said he finished with 10 dogs, most of which were only 1, 2 and 3 years old.

“I had one injury during the race, then on the last day, I had another dog that had some sore feet and I didn’t want to take him out and make it worse,” he said. “I didn’t figure one dog would make up a speed difference.”

All three mushers agreed the competition was good motivation for the rest of the racing season. Anderson will be back in action already this weekend as he travels down Minnesota Highway 71 to Northome for the Voyageurs Classic Sled Dog Race.

“I want to support the local races,” Anderson said. “I’ll be taking a completely different set of dogs, so we’ll see how this group does.”

Vogel said she was definitely competing in the U.P. 200 in Michigan, as well as contemplating a few other 300-mile races.

“It’ll come down to what kind of training I can get in and if it’s financially doable,” she said. “You can’t make this happen without a little help.”

Aili was considering a handful of other well-known races and is confident he made the right decision to come back to the sport.

“What I learned from the Gichigami is that I can do this,” he said. “I have to do what’s best for the dogs and if I train them, I can win these types of races.”

The mushers agree that the Gichigami experience will most likely draw them back if the race is held again next year. Anderson said several mushers gave race officials feedback and he looks forward to seeing if the suggestions are implemented into the event, should it continue.

“I’m looking forward to going back again,” he said. “(Race officials) are eager to put on a race and open to making it fit what the mushers want. It looks like they’ll be putting on a race for years to come.”