Team Ineka

Mushin Down a Dream

The Dogs

Vela

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We lost a special girl yesterday. Vela was part of the Kasilof Crew that we got from our friend, James Wheeler when we were starting out our kennel here in Willow.

While Vela was super shy she was always excited to run, especially in races. She was one of our first command leaders and taught a puppy or two how to lead the team.

In this pic she (on right) is with her buddy TyTy at the start of the Tustumena 200 several years ago.

This is always the hardest part of being a dog musher. We try our best to provide them the best from the moment they arrive until they decide it is time to go. Vela, my sweet girl, you will be missed.

Ty-Ty

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We lost a very special dog. TyTy was part of the Kasilof Crew that we got from our friend James Wheeler when we were just starting to build our kennel here at Team Ineka. TyTy touched so many lives. She was part of so many race teams, winter expeditions, and friends that we introduced to mushing. She taught countless new leaders and her legacy will live on. The hardest part of being involved in this sport is that the dogs pass on. To us they are like family and we do our best to be there for them and provide them with all of our hearts. They do so much for us and we are always grateful that they get to do what they love to do while they are here. Here are some pictures. If you are in them and would like to share, please do.

Denali

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Recently we lost of our best dogs, Denali. We got him shortly after we arrived in Alaska from our buddy, Hugh Neff. Denali ran i the Junior Iditarod with Nicole and countless races with Robert. We always called him, “The Clown.”

Denali was instrumental in training countless puppies in the team including several leaders.

Losing these dogs is the hardest thing as a musher and each one of them will always be in our hearts and thoughts.

 

The Rock n Roller Crew

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Welcome to the Rock N Roller Crew. This litter of pups is named after our love for music. This group is the future of Team Ineka and was bred specifically for our expeditions. Say hi to: Hendrix, Jazz, Grohl, Cobain, Sully and Jagger! 

Lock

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Hi my name is Lock, I’m part of the Nightmare Crew. We are named after the Tim Burton movie “Nightmare Before Christmas”  We live up to our names!  At the end of the season last year we started training on the sled.  I’m still not sure that I like running on frozen lakes or overflows.  Last season while running on one of the lakes there was some open water and I got pretty freaked out.  I was running with Ms. Michele and she literally reached over the sled and scooped me into the basket while we were still running because I slipped my collar out of fear of the water.  She secured me in the basket and once we got off the lake she put me back on the line and I ran home.  Now I still am nervous around open water but I’m learning this fall that puddles are okay.