Our Two Legged Team

Megan

Megan’s life went to the dogs in 1993 when she was introduced to mushing at the Hoarfrost River Homestead on the east arm of Great Slave Lake. For a month she ran dog teams over frozen lakes and under the northern lights while caribou herds migrated south. She returned home, promptly gave up two perfectly good careers and now runs dogs for a living!

As well as racing teams, Megan focused on the sport of skijoring for several years, and raced her way to a North American silver medal. She and Jason now oversee the operation and get off racing when they can. Megan’s devotion to the dogs is strong enough to offset her allergies to them!

Jason

Jason was first exposed to dog sledding in 1994, when he stumbled
upon the Minden Sleddog Sprint races near his home town in Ontario.
The next winter he headed west to Banff National Park where he has
been guiding dog sled tours ever since. He estimates that he has
guided approximately thirty five thousand miles of tours over the past
15 years.

Jason is also an active racer, having competed with
Kingmik dogs in races from Colorado in the south, to Yellowknife in
the north. His greatest accomplishment was being awarded the "Best
Cared for Dog Team" at the Canadian Championships Dog Derby in 2006.
Favorite dogs?.....Boo, Purdy, Jake, Fancy, Violet and Yeti.

Shauna

Shauna started dogsledding in 1994 for a small touring company in the Bow Valley and fell in love with it instantly. Since then Shauna has worked for various dog sledding operators and racing kennels and has finally found her home at Kingmik.

Shauna is extremely passionate about the dogs and loves nothing more than spending time with them and being on the runners of a sled. She hopes to one day have her own kennel and start racing recreationally. When not on the runners Shauna is climbing frozen waterfalls and participating in Ski Mountaineering races. Her favorite dog? Top five: Solo, Pokey, Boo, Damsel, Spook.

Tomo

Tomo was born in Tokyo but he now resides in Canada. The little story in between.....
Tomo came across the ocean after pouring over books of the Arctic world and of the solo adventures of Naomi Uemura. He began his new life with a winter Outward Bound course in Minnesota, where he started his dogsledding career with their big Eskimo huskies. The following winter he went to the Northwest Territories to learn contemporary mushing. “ I learnt that dog sledding is all about the work and care ---the dedication between human and dog.” He has experienced the broad spectrum of mushing, from assisting in training Will Steger’s team for their expedition to the North Pole, and has trained sprint dogs for their 10 mile, full speed dash. He has been running dog teams for 12 years and tours for 6. In the summer months, Tomo guides hiking and nature tours in Banff National Park. Tomo is also an accomplished solo mountaineer and avid birder.

Aaron

Aaron, who comes from Ontario Canada, began working with sleddogs
when he was only 13 years old. His dream was always to run the Iditarod, so as soon as he was finished with the business of school, he headed to Alaska to work with 4 time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser. In 2000 he ran Martin's second string team, finishing the 1000 mile run across Alaska in 12 days.

Aaron has gone on to run two more Iditarods and this year he is returning to the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sleddog Race In Wyoming.

Uel

Uel was born in Belfast Ireland and came to Canada as a young man. He has been running dog teams for two years now, and when not working with the Kingmik dogs, he can be found either in his briar, with a stack of books and his lead dog Solomon by his side, or on long multi day mountain rambles with a book in his pack and Solomon at his heels! Uel is the kennel manager during the long hot, dog days of summer, when he and the dogs dream of blessed winter, mountains of snow, cold nights and fast trails.

"The dog is a gentleman...I hope to get to his heaven, not man's"
Mark Twain.

Ian

Ian was introduced to dog sledding 10 years ago when he agreed to house sit for a winter, and the job came with a kennel of sled dogs!

He and his wife Gretchen and son Ursan, reside in the small northern British Columbia community of Ft. St. James, which was once the center for the fur trading industry in western North America, and also the home of the prestigious Caledonia Classic sled dog race.

After his house sitting experience, it did not take Ian long to build his own team and take up the dog sledding life.

Kristi

An intrepid and curious soul, Kristi's passion for the outdoors and adventure has led her to the different corners of the globe. She has worked as an Instructor for Outward Bound Canada and Outward Bound South Africa. She teaches Emergency Wilderness Medicine and has guided, volunteered and explored in Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico, Mongolia and Alaska.

Kristi's introduction to dog sledding began in her home town in Ontario. Unknowingly, her job at a wildlife reserve also came with the task of leading dog-sled tours! Her dog sledding experience progressed through her work at Outward Bound, leading students on multi-day dog sled expeditions, and further as she ventured to Alaska to work at 2004 Iditarod Champion, Mitch
Seavey's kennel. When not on the runners, Kristi can be found enjoying
snow in its liquid form. Be it white water kayaking, canoeing or rafting, Kristi is at home on the river as she is on the back of a sled.

• Colin has gone to the Yukon this winter to assist Michelle Phillips, the top Canadian born distance musher, in getting her team to the Iditarod.
• Chris will be running tours in Whistler BC
• Geoff has gone back to school to become a teacher
• Jesse is staying closer to home in Quebec this winter, but reports that he is missing the dogs and is hoping to get his own kennel at some point.