ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King

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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby Jeff King » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:57 am

ThisSpaceForRent wrote:Howdy Jeff from Illinois (where our governors make our license plates :( )

A HUGE thanks for taking time to join the most dedicated, loyal group of Iditarodahilics you will ever find.
Your 2006 Tee shirt is among my most sacred of possessions.

I can only guess that your words at Elim last year were close to "*^%#%#@^&$@...*^%#%$@....*&^#$...&^$#^LANCE!!!&^$%$@#$@!^%#$....!!!!!!!!"...
I appreciate that you seem to have no animosity for Lance and his JeffFoolery. In our "Top Ten Picks" contest I had Lance in 1 and You in 2 so I will admit, I kinda snickered. Still ciphering my "Top Ten 2009" but I assure you you will be seriously considered for #1.

What (sans required and typical items) items that may seem out of the ordinary are ALWAYS in your sledbag...any good luck Mojo's...comfort items...sentimental trinkets?

What do you feel is the FASTEST number of dogs in harness over say 30-50 miles?


The answer to the "fastest number of dogs" can't be answered without knowing the conditions of the trail. The answer is also assuming that whatever the number is, you have that number of dogs of equal ability. I'm gonna say 12.
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby Jeff King » Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:00 am

mamamia wrote:Hi Jeff and thanks for spending this time with us.

During the 2006 race I became totally enamored with Salem. He seems to embody everything a lead dog should be and more. Do I remember correctly that that was the year your team got away from you during the portage from Kaltag to Unalakleet and Salem stopped the team? How is Salem doing?

Who will be your lead dog this year and what makes him/her so special?

You do recall correctly ~ there's a moment I'll never forget. To see my team disappear into the blowing snow without me - still sends shivers down my spine. There is no question in my mind that it was Salem's unwillingness to leave me that caused the team to stop and wait for me.
Salem hasn't raced since the '06 race. Had a very difficult to diagnose shoulder injury for the last two years, however after swimming all summer again this year, we haven't seen hide-nor-hair of this injury during the current training season. I have guarded optimism that he will again be leading the team this year.
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby tilstede » Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:56 pm

Hi, Anne from Norway has some questions for you:

For a couple of years ago I used to go see hockey matches in Norway. In the beginning I arrived half an hour before match start - and by that got to see the teams warming up. After some months, I was able to predict which team who would win the match, only by watching them warming up. The key signs to look for where attitude and self confidence, and the way they skated that particular day.

So my questions are:
- After years of participating in Iditarod - are you able to predict who will win and by what point do you fell pretty sure? Are there indications to be found at the very first day? And - can you predict who will make it all the way to Nome - and who will for sure not?

Thanks :-)
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby CynCyn37 » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:29 pm

Jeff:

Thank you for all of the insight. I am impressed with your suggestion to the ITC. I believe it would truly clear up the confusion surrounding these events and also encourage better dog care.

You are so entertaining!!! I love your sense of humor.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Good luck in '09!
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby MelanieGouldFanBrian » Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:40 pm

Hey Jeff MGF Brian again.
Will the pride and joy of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, our local boy makes good, our one and only hometown hero and Iditarod finisher Jeff Wells be running any dogs again for you in the near future?
Jeff came home after his 2007 finish and gave a superb slide show and talk to us here in Fergus, and told many stories about Jeff King (we won't get into those, shall we?) :o Just wondering if Jeff is still part of your managerie and if he'll be racing for your kennel again soon?
P.S. So glad you're a Melanie Gould fan too. I hope she's back to racing soon, Iditarods are tough for me without her in them!

Brian
Last edited by MelanieGouldFanBrian on Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you're lucky you're not."
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby saltybird » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:10 pm

Jeff, Loved the book- read it in two days. In your opinion, which race route is the most difficult (ignoring the weather in any given year just this once) on you and which is most challenging for the dogs? And, regarding the mail you all must carry, do you really have a chance to answer the mail you carry from schools for the Iditamail projects, or is there only time to sign it and send it on?

Looking forward to watching your sled with the GPS this coming March.

Susan
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby mamamia » Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:45 am

Jeff,

Here is politically difficult question.

As you may know many of us here are refugees from the old Cabelas site. Ah, those were the days! You as the face of Cabelas' support of the Iditarod... a champion with those extremely photogenic icicles. We as the peanut gallery... noisy, opinionated and totally engaged in the race. And Jon Little in the middle feeding us the stories we needed to fan our obsession. Then *poof* it all changed seemingly overnight. Can you shed any light on the question, "what the he!! happened!"? Also, has your relationship with Cabelas changed over the last couple of years?

Ok, here is another...

Currently there are only 69 mushers signed up for the "09 Iditarod. Certainly the curent economic climate has a lot to do with that as does the increased entry fees. How do you feel about the increase in the fees to the current level? About the effect this is bound to have on the "shoestring" kennel?
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby Heidi » Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:23 am

To all: I got the picture fixed (thanks tsfr) and added some others on the first page of the thread. Check 'em out! :)
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby MelanieGouldFanBrian » Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:23 am

Mamamia: Hey - Two GREAT questions Mama! Can't wait to see the answers.

Heidster: What Heidi, no pics of Jeff with walrus size icicles hanging from his mustache :?: :D

Brian
You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you're lucky you're not."
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Re: ASK THE MUSHER Vol 12: Jeff King (12/15 thru 12/21)

Postby Di* » Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:29 am

It is a true pleasure to be asking you questions Jeff, I can't believe I have the chance to talk to a 4--time champion! :o :D You are very generous to be sharing your time with us-You ROCK!!! :)
I've always been in awe of all the innovations you come up with from heated handlebars to the sit down sled. You have given so much back to the sport and the art of dog mushing/care.

I'm curious about your thinking process, how does it happen? Are you constantly pondering how to improve things as you log all those hours on the runners or do the ideas just come to you by divine inspiration, out of the blue? ;) :D

Also thanks for sharing your letter to the ITC, do you feel like they are open to change on the dog policy you presented? It seems like your ideas of a team being done if they lose a dog would go a long way toward raising dog care to the next level & really weighing what they ask their dogs to do.

Your book was top notch, with the greatest cover(inside) art ever! Please give Joe a high five from us fans for getting you to do it! :D

I also had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Wells, he gave an awesome presentation for my son's school, he has a real gift for public speaking and really inspired the kids to work hard for their dreams! (I tried to get a little dirt on you but don't worry he only had good things to say! :lol:)

Finally, are you gonna blast Lance with the Rocky Theme song again? That was so fun to hear about last year....let the games begin ;) Was fun to hear music blasting from your sled on the Discovery Show too! Do your dogs respond to the tunes, maybe run faster when you turn them on?

OK I'm done now :lol: , thanks for your reply Jeff!
Di*
 

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