Michael Bestgen  -  St. Cloud, MN

Michael was born and raised in St. Cloud, MN. He and his wife, Vicki have four children and four grandchildren. He has raced in many different mi-distance races including the Beargrease and the UP 200.

Michael is looking forward to running the Red River Sled Dog Derby.

Nate was raised in Angora, MN.  He is a 21 year old student at NDSU, majoring in Agricultural Engineering and is in his 3rd year.  Nate has competed in the Beargrease 150 , the Empire 130, TCSDR in Newberry, MI, the White Oak Classic, Apostle Islands Race, and the Mid Minnesota 150.  His best finish has been 3rd place in the Mid Minnesota 150. He has also received the Sportsmanship award for the Beargrease 150. 

Nate has been racing professionally since he was 12 years old, but in his words "I grew up on the sled runners."

Harry was born and raised in Sedalia, MO. He and his wife, Mary, live a quiet life in the Blackduck, MN area. Harry has raced in the 2007 UP 200 and the 2008 White Oak Classic. He has finished in the top 5 in the Race to the Sky, Beargrease 150, UP 200 and the Grand Portage Passage. Harry was awarded best cared for team in the 2000 Race to the Sky and 1998 UP 200. He won the sportsmanship award in the Race to the Sky 2000 and 1995 & 1998 UP 200.

When Harry is not mushing, he is a wilderness canoe fishing guide.

Jenny resides with her family in Bozeman, MT. She has been racing in mid distance races for three years. She has competed in the American Dog Derby, West Yellowstone, Green River Classic, and the Rosebud Run Sled Dog Classic. Jenny will compete in the American Dog Derby and the Junior Race to the Sky prior to this year's race. Her goal is to run the 2011 Junior Iditarod. When Jenny is not mushing, she is a student.

Steve and his wife, Sandy, live with their three children at Melrose, MN. Steve has competed in Race to the Sky, the Beargrease, Can Am, UP 200, Grand Portage, Empire 130, Apostle Islands, and the 2005 Iditarod. He has received the "best kept team" award at the Beargrease and the Race to the Sky. When Steve is not mushing, he builds wind farms all over the United States.

Jamie Nelson - Togo, MN

Jamie was born and in Washington state.  She has been mushing for over 20 years.  She has competed in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, UP 200, Yukon Quest, Race to the Sky, and the Iditarod.  Jamie has won the best cared for team award and the sportsmanship award.  In 2006 she completed the Iditarod with 12 dog team in under 11 days.  When Jamie isn't mushing herself (or teaching others to mush), she enjoys bike riding and dog agility.

Peter McClelland - Ely, MN

Peter has been running dogs for 18 years. He lives in Isabella MN with his wife, Chris and two children Mogan, 4 and Mio, 2. They operate White Wilderness Sled Dog Adventures in the winter and are campground concessionaires in the summer for the Forest Service.

Shawn McCarty - Ely, MN

Shawn was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio.  He has been mushing for four years. Shawn has raced in the 2008 and 2009 Beargrease Mid-Distance race. He gives sled dog tours at White Wilderness Sled Dog Adventures.

Shawn enjoys fishing and hunting when he is not mushing.

Alice White - Armuchee, GA

Alice was born and raised in Georgia.  She has been mushing for 10 years and running mid-distance races for 1 1/2 years.  Alice is a full-time handler for Manitou Crossing Kennels.  Before relocation to Minnesota, Alice ran dry land events in the Southeast US.  This is her second winter in Minnesota and she "loves it."  Alice has competed in the 2009 and 2010 Beargrease 150, 2009 Wolf Track Classic, and the Casper Mountain Sled Dog Races.  She will be running a puppy team in this year's Red River Sled Dog Derby. 

When Alice is not mushing, she enjoys music and writing. 

Curt Perano - Queensland, New Zealand

Curt and his wife, Fleur, moved to the United States from New Zealand in 2007. He has been mushing for six years and racing mid-distance races for two years. Curt has competed in the 2009 White Oak 130, 2009 Beargrease 150, 2010 White Oak Classic, and the 2010 Beargrease marathon. When Curt is not mushing, he works as a consultant.