saltybird wrote:Martin, Thanks so much for being the role model to younger mushers and kids who follow the races. My students really liked the segments with you we were able to see on the computer from Channel 2. It is readily apparent you love your dogs and they are what makes you a very happy man (other than your family of course!). They especially thought your dogs in the dog yard would be great fun to train. Are you helping any younger, or up and coming mushers, as far as training techniques, teaching them how to get and keep a great string of dogs, or anything of that nature?
As I read your previous posts I was thinking how much fun it would be to have Martin Buser as my substitute teacher! I think the kids would be in for such a fun day and learn so much from you. Care to come to Oklahoma to sub?
I also wanted to thank Kathy for her personal email about how to get the Alaska Airlines shirts. I was not expecting such an immediate personal reply, figuring you guys were too busy to answer your emails right now. Thanks for that effort Kathy.
After watching you in the YQ & this year's Idit I am now a die hard Martin fan. You do not give yourself enough credit when you say maybe people over 50 shouldn't do both. I was quite impressed with your showing as a rookie, regardless of your age. I am just amazed you did both of them, finishing in the positions you secured. If only I was able to get on a dog sled and drive a team of 4 dogs! What great fun that would be.
Thanks for your great sportsmanship and proving the humanitarian awards you have received in the past were right on the money, especially when you don't run it for the glory!
And Happy Happy birthday to you!
Susan
re: young mushers ~ We are part of the official ITC rookie meeting and we invite all the Jr. Iditarod or other interested mushers to attend. We try to share as much information to anyone who asks. We do usually have a young helper or two at the kennel and try to teach them about the sled dog world. Three of our former handlers were driving teams of their own on the Iditarod this year, Aaron Peck, Sven Haltman and Matt Hyashida. We try to be available for seminars with young people as often as possible.
I covet my humanitarian awards and display them proudly. But I doubt I will get another one due to the new point system assigned to the award. Points are awarded for each dog a musher brings into Nome and deducted for dropped dogs. I often drop dogs as a preventive measure or at the first sign of any issue, which only I probably notice. My family has gotten used to my dog dropping philosophy. In the early days it made them very nervous. In one Iditarod I had 10 dogs in Nikolai and ended up finishing with 7 dogs in 2nd place with a happy team. That's really the bottom line for me. Maybe I'm just a softie.