From Rumney, N.H., Mike Is a 33 Year Old Land Surveyor and Lives with Sue, His Wife, Handler

Mike Ellis

From Rumney, N.H., Mike is a 33 year old land surveyor and lives with Sue, his wife, handler and training partner. His racing experience covers a broad spectrum of races beginning in 1994 through last year from Ontario, to Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. He has participated in the Can-Am 30, 60 and 250. Mike placed eight last year in the Can-Am 250. His goals besides finishing the race with a sound, happy team is to go further and faster. His favorite part of mushing is the dogs especially their honesty and effort. His leaders are all Siberian Huskies that go by the names of Squiggle, Mugs, Kobuk, and Stump and are 6, 2, 6 and 2, respectively.

Shawn Graham

Shawn Graham, 32, is a foster care treatment program manager. He lives in FortKent with his wife Jen, pet dog, Haley and two cats. Shawn’s racing experience includes the Can-Am 60 and 250, the Sandwich Notch 60, the Blanchard and the Sherman-Patten. Besides running the Can-Am 250 this year, Shawn also plans to run the EagleLake 100, the Greenville 100 and the Marmora 120. He hopes to continue working with dogs and making it a full time job. His favorite part of dog sledding is traveling through the woods with great friends. His lead dogs, BJ, 8; Bear, 9; Blaze, 5; and Storm, 2 are all male Alaskans. Shawn enjoys their personalities and their work ethic. They have great heart. His sponsors are Quigley Building Supply and Roy Auto Parts.

Matt Carstens

Matt is a 32-year-old Musher/Dog Handler/Carpenter from Whitefield, N.H. He will be racing one of Mitch and Kricket Ingerson's team in this year's 250. Matt enjoys being a father to his six-year-old daughter, Delia, as well as carpentry, photography and working in the outdoors. Matt enjoys "training and developing the athlete within the Alaskan Husky." Matt was the Can-Am 250 Rookie of the Year last year placing fifth and has raced in the Craftsbury True Companion 60, the Sandwich Notch 30 and 60, the Macanote Club Freight Race, as well as the Can-Am 60 . He plans to continue to train and race sled dogs while enjoying family and the great outdoors.

Mitch Ingerson

Mitch says the thing he enjoys the most about his dogs is their athletic ability and unwavering desire to run. The best thing about his dogs is the relationship that he has with them. He is a 43 year-old musher from Jefferson, NH. He is self employed in the bark mulch business. Mitch has raced in the many 60 and 30 mile races including a first place in the Freight Race along with finishes in the Sandwich Notch 30 and 60, True Companion 60 and raced in the Can-Am 250 in 2003 and 2004. Mitch's lead dogs are One Ton, and Cooper, both 4 year-old male Alaskan Huskies.

Stan Morgan

Stan is a 64 year old Ford Motors retiree from St. Michel des Saints, Quebec. He has been mushing for more then twenty years and lists the Can-Am, Marmora, Bancroft, Sandwich Notch, Tug Hill, Le Baie, Lac St. Jean, and Eldorado, Ont. among some of his many races over the years. His goal is to live life to the fullest as he sees fit and to enjoy his freedom. He enjoys the peace and quiet of running in the snow laden forest with 12 of his best friends and loyal companions. Stan's lead dogs for this years race are all Alaskan Huskies. Aurora (8 year-old female), Clyde (6 year-old male), Apache (6 year-old male)and Riglis. Stan likes their companionship and loyalty. His other interests include kayaking, canoeing, fishing and observing nature.

Normand Casavant

New to the Can-Am this year is Normand Casavant from Vals Des Lacs, Quebec. He is 41 years old and has a 13 year old son Mathieu and a 12 year old daughter Laurianne. Normand is a full time musher, forestry technician and trapper. He offers tourist trips with dogs and does canoe expeditions. He hopes to run the Yukon Quest three years from now. He likes being a good friend like his dogs. Among his team are leaders: London, a 6 year old male; Chauy, 6 year old female; Lenus, 3 year old female and Rosee, 5 year old female. Normand likes them because they are friendly, hard working and trouble free dogs.

Liz Como

This is my second running of the Can Am 250, the fourth for our team since my husband Andy Chakoumakos and I began running it five years ago. We live in Lovell, Maine with our 20 plus dogs, 1 cat and our handler this winter, Ruth Larkin. We run a dogsled guiding business, Winter Journeys, to support our mushing addiction. Last year we ran the Can Am 60 and 30 due to conflicts with my last year of nursing school. I now work as a labor and delivery nurse at MercyHospital in Portland. I also continue to practice as a massage therapist, teach massage at the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts, volunteer for our local ambulance, instruct an occasional Outward Bound program and in my spare time I try to make life interesting for myself and others. I have maintained my mushing habit since 1989 and am constantly entertained by the antics of our dogs. I continue to be amazed by our dogs’ ability to sustain a joyful attitude despite adversity, their delight in new adventures and their willingness to scare the living daylights out of me at least once a year. I am always thankful for the dogs who have passed through my life and given me beautiful memories and powerful lessons on the value of living life to it’s fullest. My future goals are to continue to develop our team to run their best and see what they can accomplish in mid distance racing. Lead Dogs Kurt, Yeti, Freeze, Quasar, Rocky, Pepper, Mica.

Amy Dugan

Amy lives in Shirley, Maine where she and John Osmond share a sled dog equipment manufacturing business. She has many years of experience mushing and has raced in Sandwich Notch, Marmora, Craftsbury, Labrador, the Blanchard and the Can-Am 60 and 250. Her future goal is to win the Can-Am 250 with happy dogs. Amy's attraction to dog sledding is in being with her dogs and learning how to care for them in a distance race like the Can-Am 250. She enjoys their endless drive, their sweet and quirky personalities. Leading her team this year is Kirby, a 9 year-old male, and Colt, an 8 year-old male, both Alaskan Huskies. Amy is also interested in swimming, reading and hiking.

Paul Huska

Forty-seven year old carpenter, Paul Huska from South Colton, NY, is running his fifth Can-Am Crown race since 1999. He has run in all three Can-Am races as well as the UP 200, the Sandwich Notch and the Craftsbury. Paul is into dog sledding for the long haul; his goals are to continue mushing for many years and to travel to the mid west to race and maybe even try a stage race. Paul just enjoys being around the dog yard during the off season and especially the long overnight runs in the training season. His lead dogs are Kai, a four year old male, Olga a two year old female , Tasha a four year old female , and Honey a four year old female all Alaskan hunkies. Paul loves their work ethic and unbridled enthusiasm for running. As far as other interests are concerned, Paul says who has time for anything else with a kennel of fifty dogs.

Bruce Linton

Bruce Linton is forty-two years old lives in Morrisville, VT and works as an environmental analyst for that state. He also owns and operates Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures, a thirty-seven dog kennel, which provides sled dog tours in north central Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort and Smuggler’s Notch Ski area. He has been running dogs for seven years and has competed in the Craftsbury 30 for the last three years with 10th, 2nd and 3rd place finishes. He has also finished seventh and first in the Sandwich Notch 30 in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Bruce placed 13th in the 2003 Can-Am 30. His goals include continuing to develop his kennel and to run his dogs in mid and full distance racing. What Bruce likes most about dog sledding is taking a group of genetically gifted dogs and shaping them into a cohesive team by establishing trust and providing them with the love and support they need. The bond you develop with dogs and last but not least, going out on a cold clear starry night on a full moon and doing a long fast run. His Alaskan husky lead dogs are three year old female, Kiwi; four year old female, Maya; seven year old male, Blaze; and three year old female, Rosi. What he likes most about his dogs is their ability to amaze him with their happy disposition, their constant desire to seek out new adventure and their incredible work ethic. His dogs have provided him so many great memories and powerful lessons about life and how to live it that he will always be grateful. Bruce has competed in fourteen marathons and three ironman triathlons. However, the dogs take up all of his free time now.

Ashley Simpson

She’s back. Ashley Simpson, 20, handler and stitcher from Shirley, Maine is back racing for Mountain Ridge Kennels. She placed fourth in the last two Can-Am 250’s after finishing seventh in the Can-Am 60 at the age of seventeen in 2002. She also finished second at the Craftsbury 60 that same year. Her goals begin with winning a Can-Am 250 and then going on to finish in a Yukon Quest or an Iditarod. She enjoys spending time with the dogs as the bond between her and them grows. Agassi, Apollo, Hand Dog, and Stitches are her lead dogs. Agassi is five and the others are four. Stitches being the only female. All four dogs are Alaskans. Ashley likes her dogs because they are like her, tough. She also likes snowshoing, mountain climbing, and big game hunting. Ashley is the girl to watch during this year’s race.

Kevin Malikowsky

Fifty-four year old Kevin Malikowski hails from Outing, MN. were he lives with six goats, twenty-one rabbits and forty-one dogs. He is a retired electrician. Kevin has raced in the Mid Minnesota 150, the Empire Sled Dog Race, the Beargrease and the Can-Am 250. He has one simple goal and that is to have fun being retired. Kevin enjoys the woods, the trails, being alone with the dogs and relying on each other. His lead dogs are Lucy, a Euro hound, and Gerty, an Alaskan husky. What he likes most about his dogs is the lifestyle it takes to live with them.

60 mile race

Shawn Akins

Shawn Akins, 38, a paper mill worker from Williamstown, Ontario, and his wife Vicki, have a daughter, Ashley (9) and a son Tyler (7). His racing experience includes participating in the Kearney, Bancroft, El Dorado, Sandwich Notch and four Can-Am 30's as well as taking 1st place in the 2004 Craftsbury. Shawn's goal is to eventually run long distance races. His Alaskan husky lead dogs are Iris (3 female), April (6 female) and Rye (2 male). Shawn enjoys everything associated with dog sledding. His other interests include hunting, fishing, cutting firewood and just being outdoors with his dogs.

James Lalla

At 59, Jim lives with his wife in Bradford, New Hampshire, has three grown children and three grandchildren and is employed as a manufacturer’s representative in the electronics industry. His mushing experience takes him through 35 years of mushing. His goal is to wake up on the morning after the race and be able to get out of bed. Jim loves the dogs, the outdoors, the competitors and everything else about mushing. His lead dogs are: Ackers, four year old female; and Buster, two and a half year old male Alaskan huskies. Jim likes their sweet dispositions and the fact that some are from rescue shelters.

Alan Ricalton

Thirty-eight year old civil engineer, Alan Ricalton, lives in Natural Bridge, NY with his wife, Sara. His previous experience includes the Craftsbury 60, Eladorado, and the Marmora. Last year took a second place finish in the Craftsbury 30, a fourth place finish in the Sandwich 30 and a second place finish in the Can-Am 30. His goal is to compete in the Can-Am 250. Peace and quiet are his favorite part of running with the dogs. His leaders, both Alaskan huskies, are six year old male Blue, and four year old Zenna. Alan says he is awed by the dogs willingness to run and please. Hunting and carpentry are his other hobbies.

Ben Thomas

Ben Thomas, thirty-one, lives in Blanchard, ME with his wife and stepdaughter and runs Russel Mtn. Racing kennel. He has participated in two Labrador 400's and three Can-Am 250's and a lot of shorter races. His future goals include running of a stage race. His favorite part of mushing is the challenge of putting together a team that works well. Rogue and Jen are his lead dogs, both female Alaskans, and are eight and three respectively. Their heart and their unconditional love are what Ben loves most about his dogs. Ben says that family, dogs and work are pretty much the highlights of his life.

Amelie Aubut

Twenty-five year old Amelie Aubut comes from Pont-Rouge, Quebec where she lives with her husband and three year old son and where she works as a government collection agent. She has run other races but her most recent achievement was placing fifth in last year's Can-Am 30. Her future goal is to finish in the top ten of a 60 mile race. The part of sled dogs that she enjoys most is the passion for the dogs. Lead dogs are Patsy, an eight year old female from Nelson O'Farrell's kennels and Lyndsay, a ten year old female from Streeper kennels. What she likes most about her dogs is simply her dogs… she love's her dogs. Her other hobbies include the horse competition of barrel racing.

Steven Fox

Thirty-one year old

30 mile race

Dennis Cyr

Forty-six year old Dennis lives in FortKent with his wife Lynne and three children. By trade, Dennis is a carpenter, building inspector, code enforcement officer and plumbing inspector. As Dennis puts it, family life is pretty much made up of caring for the 24 dogs of their Sno Runner Kennels. His racing experiences include 2 60 mile races and a 30 mile race of previous Can-Ams. His best showing was seventh place last year. He hopes to win this year’s 30, next years 60 and someday, the 250. Dennis enjoys carefully developing a team that is people friendly and yet competitive. His lead dogs are: Thomas, a four year male Alaskan husky from Minnesota; Patches, a 4 year old female setter / husky mix from Ontario; and Bat Man, a 3 year old Alaskan male that ran in last years Iditarod with Matt Weik’s team. Dennis likes the eagerness of his dogs. They are eager to please, eager to run and eager to eat. Dennis also gives dogsled rides on weekends and weekdays by appointment. You can reach him at 207-834-3862.

Lynne Cyr

Lynne is from Sno Runner Kennels of Fort Kent. She is a school teacher and lives with her husband, Dennis, and three children, Kaleigh, Lora and Davis. Lynne has been running the Can-Am 30 for three years and keeps getting better each time. Lynne’s goals are to have 3 teams finish in the top 10 and then to downsize to a recreational team (which are somewhat the opposite of Dennis’ goals.) Lynne enjoys the solitude of the wooded trails with the snow glistening in the trees and the unconditional love of the dogs. Her lead dogs are four year old male Alaskan, Bush; four year old Alaskan female, Pumba; and three year old Alaskan male, Rumble. Lynne likes their eagerness to please and their affection. Their dogs are well socialized and friendly with children and adults that visit their kennel.

Amanda Damboise

Twenty-six year old Amanda Damboise lives in FortKent and works as a substitute teacher at the FortKentElementary School. Her team is from Sno Runner Kennels and this is her third year of running the Can-Am 30. Amanda’s goal is to own her own sled dog kennel and to get her father as deeply addicted to mushing as she is. Her favorite part of dog sledding? Just imagine a hardwood ridge with large snow flakes falling slowly to the ground and the soft sound of birds and the feet of the dogs padding the snow… what’s not to love about the sport. Her lead dogs are Alaskan huskies Kricket and Rumble a four year old female and a 2 year old male, respectively. She enjoys the fact that the dogs love the trail as much as she does. She says that when she picks up a harness they get so excited that they almost put it on by themselves. Amanda also enjoys horse back riding, skiing, snowboarding and just about anything that has to do with the outdoors.