High up in the mountains of Montana is where you will find Rick Larson training his dog team.
He is a true Montana guy, born and raised.
He started his mushing career as a handler for Chris Adkins after 6 years with Chris, Terry Adkins gave Rick
a team to train and run in the Montana's Race to the sky. After the race his wife Sandy saw that he was
a natural with the dogs and bought 3 dogs from Terry Adkins, now they have a kennel of 41 Alaskans.
He has raced numerous races and winning all but one of the 200 milers in the lower 48.
He is the top dog musher in the lower 48.
Rick has won several sportsmanship awards and best cared for team awards, both awards carry prestige.
Sportsmanship award is given to the musher who displays unselfishness on the trail by helping other mushers
or their team when there is concern for their safety.
This will be his 4th Iditarod ,he finished 44th last year and started in 95th .
Rick and Sandy work 365 days of the year to make sure that their dogs have the best care, training
and conditioning. (Rick runs the dogs, Sandy does all the dog care.)
Training starts in August and doesn't end till June.
He is ready to start training his team. Sandy is taking care of the dogs dental work so they will be
ready for another year of racing ( don't most of us have our teeth cleaned once a year ? )
Iditarod sled dog race is the goal ,but you have to keep the dogs happy so running smaller races
helps them keep a good attitude and happy. All work and no play makes an unhappy team.
It truly is all about the dogs.
THIS YEAR WE ARE STAYING CLOSER TO HOME
WE WILL BE RACING.
WEST YELLOWSTONE
RACE TO THE SKY
JOHN BEARGREASE MARATHON
.