Girdwood musher races to qualify for the Iditarod

By Julie St. Louis
Special to the Turnagain Times

Girdwood is known as a residence and training ground for Olympic and World Cup skiers and snowboarders. What some may not know is that this valley also contains Alaska’s longest running sled dog kennel, currently run by Iditarod veteran Dario Martinez, and is home to rookie dog musher Nicolas Petit, who is one race away from possibly qualifying for the Iditarod.

Petit, 31, is known within the community as “the guy with the dog named Ugly”, a gorgeous Alaskan husky that belies his clever name.

Over the past several years, Petit has worked for many area businesses; however, it was time spent running sled dog tours in Wyoming for Iditarod veteran Billy Snodgrass, followed by similar duties here in Girdwood for resident sled dog musher and Iditarod finisher Martinez that really stirred up his passion to race sled dogs.

“Nicolas came to me with a love of dogs and his mind set on running the sled dogs,” said Martinez, owner of Girdwood’s Chugach Express Kennel and Alaska Dog Sledding Center. “I’m glad I was able to help him get started and make the connections that will take Nicolas to the next level.”

This past fall, Martinez connected Petit with mushing friend Jim Lanier of Northern Whites Kennel in Chugiak. Lanier is known for running all white dog teams and as the oldest person to compete in the annual race to Nome. Petit is currently tending to Lanier’s dogs and running them in several Iditarod qualifying races including the Sheep Mountain 150, the Denali Gin Gin 200, both held last month, and the upcoming Copper Basin 300, Jan. 8 and the Willow Tug 300 Feb. 4.

Qualifying mileage is a factor but not the only one being considered. Racers must finish in a reasonable amount of time and show during those qualifiers that they posses appropriate mental and physical ability, plus wilderness and mushing skills to endure more than 1,150 miles that make up the Iditarod race route.

In Petit’s first race, a 150 mile loop between and up into the mountains around Sheep Mountain and Eureka Lodges, he finished 17 out of 40 competing mushers. He was in good company readying his team and gear next to four-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey, and crowd favorite DeeDee Jonrowe.

“The veterans helped ease the atmosphere,” said Petit. “Running dogs in the middle of a moonlit night is an amazing feeling, I don’t think I turned on my head lamp except to pass or get passed.”

The second race, 200 miles across a mostly flat and treeless area between Paxson and Maclaren Lodges at temperatures ranging from minus 20 to minus 40 degrees, was a bit more challenging. Neither the extreme cold, nor the inevitable lack of sleep, were that much of an issue said Petit. Rather, he faced more hurdles related to the weight of his sled and worn-out runner plastic—the part that comes in contact with the snow. While most mushers change out their plastic after 100 to 200 miles, Petit is still using the same set of runners that he started with when the first snow hit the ground.

“They were even worn-out then,” he said, “but funds are always a constant concern. During the race I even had to push the sled down hill for a while.”

According to Petit the Gin Gin 200 was more of a learning experience than the Sheep Mountain 150.

“For me, the cold was not a factor, as my gear kept me quite warm,” Petit said. “The dogs were also well protected. It was good for me to feel what it was like to run with that much weight… is the sled going to make it? Also dealing with dog care, appetite and enthusiasm throughout the long runs so that the team would finish the race healthy and motivated.”

This weekend Petit competes in the Copper Basin 300. Starting in Paxson, the route is a 300-mile loop that winds its way through downtown Glennallen and back up past Wolverine Lodge and on to finish back at Paxson.

To follow Petit’s progress on the trail go to his fan page on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/facebook-girdwood2nome.

Martinez says that like all challenging sport and life ventures, there’s setting your mind to do something and then going out and actually doing it. He likens sled dog mushers to extreme skiers and snowboarders.

“Nicolas is putting in all the effort it takes to get to the top of the mountain to have a chance to make a new run,” Martinez said. “He’s willing to step into the unknown, and learn and experience new things with each race and grow in his abilities to train dogs to run the best they can.”

As all Iditarod hopefuls and veterans know, it is not possible to run the last great race without the help of friends, family, community and corporate sponsors. To date Petit is being supported by Girdwood businesses: GRRdwood Pets & Green Goods, Alyeska Media Services, and Silvertip Grill. Pepe’s Turnagain House in Indian, Far North Yarn Co. of Anchorage and Alaska Spirit Crafts of Chickaloon are also contributing cash and in-kind services.

Petit is confident that he will complete the Copper Basin 300. He then must await the decision of the Iditarod Trails Committee to be included as a competitor in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which begins March 5 with the ceremonial start in Anchorage.