YQA 550 | Lauro Eklund

Lauro Eklund, a dedicated musher with a decade of experience mushing, is set to make his mark in the upcoming Yukon Quest Alaska. As the founder of Skookum Expeditions, Lauro’s passion for mushing runs deep, influenced by his father’s legacy as an Iditarod musher and the vibrant mushing community that surrounds him. Lauro’s journey began …

YQA 550 | Josi Shelley

Josi Shelley, a seasoned musher from Fairbanks, Alaska, has cultivated a lifelong passion for dog mushing that spans over two decades. Her journey began in her childhood when she first hooked up her pet husky to her rollerblades, unknowingly setting the stage for a future as a musher. This early experience ignited a fervent love …

YQA 550 | Jeff Deeter

Jeff Deeter, a prominent figure in the mushing community from Fairbanks, Alaska, is a dedicated dog musher with over two decades of experience. Leading Black Spruce Dog Sledding, Jeff heads a team of seasoned Iditarod athletes, many of whom have impressively covered between 15,000 and 20,000 miles. These dogs are not just teammates but part …

YQA 550 | Keaton Loebrich

Keaton Loebrich, a dog sled tour guide based in Fairbanks, Alaska, just signed up for and is preparing for the 2025 Yukon Quest Alaska 550-Mile race! With a passion for the great outdoors and a deep love for his sled dogs, Keaton runs Star Gazers Racing, where each dog enjoys indoor comforts as part of …

YQA 550 | Patrick Mackey

Meet Patrick Mackey, he is a seasoned dog musher from Fairbanks, Alaska, with an impressive 26 years of experience. His journey into the world of sled dog racing was inspired by his father, Jason Mackey, and his uncle, Lance Mackey, both of whom are renowned figures in the mushing community. Patrick recalls wanting to grow …