ASK THE MUSHER Vol 14: Brent Sass
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:18 am
I am very honored and pleased to announce Brent Sass is our next guest musher in the 'Ask The Musher' series! Born in Minnesota, Brent moved to Fairbanks, AK in 1998 to go to UAF and ski on their Nordic Ski Team. He soon got hooked on dog sledding (a neighbor of his was a musher) and later had the opportunity to train with Susan Butcher and David Monson who "gave me a great start".
Brent has accomplished a lot in his young mushing career, including a first-place finish in the 2006 Yukon Quest 300 - the very first race of his career! He also has three 'Top 5' finishes in the Copper Basin 300, including a third-place finish in 2009. In 2008 he was first in the Men's Division of the Gin Gin 200. In his first Yukon Quest in 2007, he finished in 15th. In the 2008 and 2009 Quests, he finished in 5th and 7th, respectively.
As well as he has done in his short mushing career, Brent Sass is perhaps best known for his incredible sportsmanship. In 2006 he helped several mushers over the top of Eagle Summit. When Yuka Honda lost her team in the 2007 Quest, it was Sass who gave her a ride. In 2008, he was formally recognized by the Yukon Quest and awarded the 'Spirit of the North' Award. In this year's Quest, Brent came upon William Kleedehn who had a dog in heat and whose team had balked. Brent got his own team to the top of Eagle Summit - then walked back down and became the 'lead dog' in Kleedehn's team and got them to the top. Wow! Brent had some problems on the last day, but he still managed a very respectable seventh-place finish - it should be noted he still finished 24 hours faster than he did in 2008.
Aside from dog sledding, Brent owns a small construction business, maintains a rental cabin neighborhood and in the summer he gives sled dog presentations at Trail Breaker Kennel. His hobbies are hunting, fishing and camping. I should add, he maintains a fantastic website (and blogs!) here: http://www.wildandfreealaska.com/
Welcome Brent!
All photos by Ken Tape/Arctic Circle Photography
Brent has accomplished a lot in his young mushing career, including a first-place finish in the 2006 Yukon Quest 300 - the very first race of his career! He also has three 'Top 5' finishes in the Copper Basin 300, including a third-place finish in 2009. In 2008 he was first in the Men's Division of the Gin Gin 200. In his first Yukon Quest in 2007, he finished in 15th. In the 2008 and 2009 Quests, he finished in 5th and 7th, respectively.
As well as he has done in his short mushing career, Brent Sass is perhaps best known for his incredible sportsmanship. In 2006 he helped several mushers over the top of Eagle Summit. When Yuka Honda lost her team in the 2007 Quest, it was Sass who gave her a ride. In 2008, he was formally recognized by the Yukon Quest and awarded the 'Spirit of the North' Award. In this year's Quest, Brent came upon William Kleedehn who had a dog in heat and whose team had balked. Brent got his own team to the top of Eagle Summit - then walked back down and became the 'lead dog' in Kleedehn's team and got them to the top. Wow! Brent had some problems on the last day, but he still managed a very respectable seventh-place finish - it should be noted he still finished 24 hours faster than he did in 2008.
Aside from dog sledding, Brent owns a small construction business, maintains a rental cabin neighborhood and in the summer he gives sled dog presentations at Trail Breaker Kennel. His hobbies are hunting, fishing and camping. I should add, he maintains a fantastic website (and blogs!) here: http://www.wildandfreealaska.com/
Welcome Brent!
All photos by Ken Tape/Arctic Circle Photography