Team DogPaddle
Our Team is composed of mushers and paddlers who are interested in testing new ideas while doing extraordinary things here in some of the toughest testing grounds. . . the wilds of Alaska.
These folks put our sleds to the ultimate test and we are devoted to fixing the few problems that they encounter with our gear so that our products keep getting better.
Sponsored Mushers and Product Testers for 2010-2011
Brent Sass
Personal Website - www.wildandfreealaska.com
How many years you've been mushing? 7
Dogs in kennel? 60
Dogsled Racing History... Yukon Quest 2010 - 8th, Yukon Quest 2009 - 7th, Copper Basin 300 2009 - 3rd, Yukon Flats 300 - 5th, Gin Gin 200 - 1st Men's division, Yukon Quest 2008 - 5th, Copper Basin 300 2008 - 5th, Yukon Quest, 2007 - 15th, Yukon Quest 300 2006 - 1st. Copper Basin 300 2007 - 4th
Side job besides mushing? Dog Musher, Contractor, Sled Dog Guide
Which DogPaddle Designs services and products have you used or tested and what can you say about each?
Have had repairs on many styles and brands of sleds, have tested the raceboggan, use an Asassinator for training and racing, use a Sherpa Freight sled, tradional toboggans and folding kickboggans for Arctic expeditions.
Mike Ellis
Personal Website. www.teamtsuga.com
Years mushing? since 1993, so I guess that's 17 years.
Dogs in kennel? thirty
How may days running dogs/ year?? as many as possible!!
Estimated Avgerage miles running dogs/ year? any one dog, 4000-5000 miles. I am on the atv or runners for at least 7000 miles each year.
How many days of summer that go by without thinking about mushing? none
Dogsled Racing History...favorite finishes.. Yukon Quest 2010 - 13th, Yukon Quest 2008- 11th, 2009 Copper Basin - Humanitarian Award, 2009 Gin Gin - Humanitarian Award.
Side job besides mushing? carpenter mostly.
Which DogPaddle Designs services and products have you used or tested and what can you say about each?
I brought my old, tired sled to Cody just before the Yukon Quest last year and we found more problems than I thought the sled had. Cody was able to make all the needed repairs, including fabricating custom parts to match a sled he had no experience with. Without the repairs, I'm sure the sled would never have made it to the finish line. Since then, Cody has built me a new sled that I ran all last spring. I LOVED it and am now working with Cody to design and build a longer and lighter Quest sled. I can't wait to be riding my new DogPaddleDesigns sled!!
Why do you like DogPaddle Designs Equipment? why are willing to be a guinea pig for me? Cody builds high-quality, strong sleds that can hold up to the rough trails we encounter training and racing in Alaska. He's willing to work with me on custom design features and has a shop that can fabricate anything we want to try. I appreciate Cody's attention to detail and his quality craftsmanship that makes the difference between and good sled and a great sled.
Paige Drobny
Personal website. www.dogpaddlegear.com/SquidAcres/SquidAcres.html
How many years you've been mushing? 5
Dogs in kennel? 30
How may days running dogs/ year?? as many as i can
Estimated Average miles running dogs/ year? 2500
How many days of summer that go by without thinking about mushing? 0
Race History.. Gin Gin 2009 - 7th womens division,Yukon Quest 300 - 5th.
Side job besides mushing? fisheries biologist
Do you have any other hobbies or are you strictly a mushing bum?.. if so, what? no other hobbies now:)
Which DogPaddle Designs services and products have you used or tested and what can you say about each?
My favorite is the assasinator. it is light, easy to steer, can go anywhere with groomed or unbroken trail, heavy or light loads and it still rides the same. Also the frieght sled is great.
Why do you like DogPaddle Designs Equipment? why are willing to be a guinea pig for me? I love DogPaddle designs and especially love the personal attention that the owner gives to me, i mean each sled.
Kyla Durham
Personal website. www.wildandfreealaska.com/
Years mushing? 4
Dogs in kennel? the two combined kennels i work for
have just over 100 between the two.
How may days running dogs/ year?? alot maybe 150-200
Estimate of Average miles running dogs/ year? many many
How many days of summer that go by without thinking about mushing? ha i don't think there were any this summer
Race History... Solstice 100 2008 (21st)
side job besides mushing? does dog handler count??
Do you have any other hobbies or are you strictly a mushing bum?.. if so, what? I used to sew alot but now i just make neck lines and mend harnesses.
Which DogPaddle Designs services and products have you used or tested and what can you say about each?
I've rode many sleds repaired by DogPaddle Designs and will be running a race sled in this years races, including the Yukon Quest.
Karsten Hueffer
Work website. http://users.iab.uaf.edu/~karsten_hueffer/
How many years mushing? 3
Dogs in kennel? 9
How many days running dogs each year? not enough
Miles running dogs each year? not enough either
How many days of summer that go by without thinking about mushing? not many
Side job besides mushing? Cool infectious disease stuff at UAF
Do you have any other hobbies or are you strictly a mushing bum?.. if so, what? Fire fighting, Dogsled Race Vet
Tom Ruskowski
Years Mushing: this is the 5th winter right?
dogs in Kennel: 13 sled dogs, 3 pets
Days running per year: I figure about 130 to 150 if you include 4 wheeler training and 15 to 20 days / month during the season .
Avg miles per year: just around 2 to 3K I think. Not sure never really thought about it.
Days gone by not thinking about mushing: 0
Side Job: GIS Analyst DNR/DOF
Hobbies: Mtn Unicycling, Unijoring, Bikejoring, skijoring, skiing, running, fishing, hunting, etc...
DogPaddle services: Repairs and upgrades. Cody is well versed in sled building and coming up with fixes and upgrades that will work for my needs, even on non Dogpaddle gear. The 6fter toboggan is a great sled when really loaded down, and handled great on really
tight, tough trails. My Sherpa freight sled is a great sled, what can I say. hauled a ton of gear in
the arctic, easy to handle for its size.Very stable. Easily used with two people. Can't wait for more adventures with it.
why do I like being a guinea pig for Dog Paddle Designs? First it is fun. Second: Cody has some really good ideas and I enjoy feeling like I help him, in some small way, to make better products. It is great to see a local company that makes quality products succeed.
