Nicki

Nicki is our tireless and relentless lead dawg.  Nicki and her family have always had a fond passion for animals.  They currently have horses, chickens, rabbits, a cockatiel, and a small recreational kennel of sled dogs. Nicki has been involved in dog powered sports since 1987 when she and her family became involved in Weight Pull events.  Since then she has added mushing and ski-joring.  Nicki spent 10 years as a dog project leader in the Poudre Pioneers 4-H club in Larimer County, Colorado and worked to make dog sledding a recognized 4-H project.  Nicki has successfully competed in dog pulls and sprint racing events in Colorado, Michigan, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho as well as Canada. Nicki started her own dog training business, Arndt Racing aNd Dog Training, in 2001 and currently offers private and group dog training classes and clinics using the highly effective and positive clicker training technique.   To learn more about mushing, clicker training or the Bitterroot Mushers contact Nicki at 406-369-0707 or positivechangesllc@yahoo.com

Kathie

With my profile following Nicki's, you would be correct in assuming that this is exactly how I was hooked on dog sledding.........Already a dear friend of ours, she became my inspiration and knowledgeable mentor, two years ago.  It started so simply....trying HER sled with HER dogs.  Then, a fantastic opportunity presented itself, in my being able to buy a (used) sled (check out new ones at Adanac!), harnesses and towlines.  By this time, we had raised our first two Siberian Husky puppies.  This meant, we were still "needing more dogs."  This was my husband's "transition period" of becoming a "dog person."  Nicki and I attended the Seeley Lake and Race to the Sky events for the past few years together.  Through these contacts, I met Steve Riggs who lives near Seeley Lake.  Steve had "too many dogs" at the perfect time, that we didn't have enough.  He GAVE to us, three more purebred Siberians!  Nikko and sister Misha were now part of a real pack.........Demon and Brandi are my lead dogs with their sister Shadow behind them.  Nikko and Misha are in wheel position.  They were trained in long distance runs with Steve............my longest so far has been about ten miles.  They love to RUN, seeming almost to be smiling as they go by!  This sport is fun, challenging, exciting and always a learning experience.  Now, with new harnesses and towlines, only one thing appears to be missing............to even out my team.........don't I NEED ONE MORE DOG????

Marina

Marina McGourty, age 11, is a two year veteran musher.  Under the guidance of mentor Nicki Arndt, Marina started training her first dog Licorice as a young puppy.  Soon after, two veteran dogs, Carmel and Rolo joined the team.  In early 2008, a fourth team member, a puppy named Fudge, was added to complete Marina's four dog team.  The dogs are a mixture of Shepard, Alaskan Husky and Yellow Lab.  Marina is dedicated to her dogs and trains 12 months a year.  The dogs keep in shape in the spring and fall by pulling a motorless riding lawn mower on short 2-4 mile runs.  In the summer when it is too hot to pull long distances, the dogs take turns pulling chains around the yard to keep their legs strong.  As with all sled dogs, Marina's dogs live to pull.  Their enthusiasm is contagious.  Marina is looking forward to the upcoming 2008-2009 season and someday hopes to compete in Alaska's Iditarod

Aiyana

Aiyana Ferraro runs sprint, mid distance, and long distance races. She even hopes to do some stage racing. In 2010 she ran the first annual Jr. Race to the Sky, a 100 mile race with 8 dogs from Lincoln MT to Seeley Lake MT. She currently has 18 dogs in her kennel, her star lead dog is a many time Iditarod lead dog, his highest finishes being 8th, 12th, and 13th! She plans on running the Jr. Race to the Sky again this year, the Junior Iditarod and the Junior Yukon Quest which are both in Alaska. She is currently working on getting a website. Aiyana says: I'll be at the Stanley Sled Dog Rendezvous, the Jr. Race to the sky, Flat Head Sled Dog Days (?), and more races for sure! My parents don't think so but I think I could always use more dogs! Im excited for the 2010-2011 season and I'll be doing lots of distance!

Visit her website at: www.aiyanaferraromushing.com

Fast Trails!

Cobey and Brandi

Brandi and Cobey began mushing in 2008 when they moved to the Bitterroot valley.  They already had 3 Siberian Huskies and had been wanting to get into dog sledding.  They attended a pull clinic put on by Nicki and she invited them to join her on a training run.  Since then they've been hooked and have slowly been building their kennel.  They currently have 8 Siberians but have dreams of more.  They are mostly into recreational mushing but do the occasional race and hope to build up to doing the Race to the Sky someday.  Brandi also enjoys Canicross finding it a great way to bring her dogs running and train them for the winter! Visit their website at: www.bydog.org

Annalisa