Mush: Flathead Classic draws sled, skijor teams from across the West
JULIE ENGLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 3 weeks AGO
A four-dog sled races at the Flathead Classic in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic Center in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic Center in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A four-dog sled races at the Flathead Classic in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A four-dog sled races at the Flathead Classic in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants gather around the fire at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A participant barks during the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Julie Engler covers Whitefish City Hall and writes community features for the Whitefish Pilot. She earned master's degrees in fine arts and education from the University of Montana. She can be reached at jengler@whitefishpilot.com or 406-882-3505. | February 28, 2024 1:05 AM
The 2024 Flathead Classic was held at the Dog Creek Lodge & Nordic Center in Olney last weekend. Races included skijoring and bikejoring as well as four-dog and six-dog sled teams.
Thirty-eight competitors came from British Columbia, Alberta, Montana, Washington and Idaho, including Canadian champions, international skijor champions and several local competitors.
Lance Best of Big Arm finished in second place in the four-dog sled team race while Butch Parr of Whitefish finished fifth. Kalispell’s Cody Bertalot won the one-dog skijor race, Christina Bertalot secured third place, Beth Steele eighth and Sonja Schroeder finished in ninth. Sara Tegeler of Whitefish crossed the line in fourth place. Danielle Hobbs of Kalispell finished first in the two-dog bikejor and second in the one-dog bikejoring class.
The Jack Beckstrom Best Cared for Award went to Dan Hanks and the Sportsmanship Award went to Dr. Tanya Dobrzanski of Canada.
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic Center in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic Center in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A four-dog sled races at the Flathead Classic in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Flathead Classic skijoring competitors race at Dog Creek. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A four-dog sled races at the Flathead Classic in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants gather around the fire at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
A participant barks during the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Participants at the Flathead Classic dog sled races at the Dog Creek Lodge in Olney. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)