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Weather Shortens UP 200, Controversy Abounds

The Mining Journal reports that Tasha Stielstra of McMillan narrowly won the U.P. 200 sled dog challenge Saturday afternoon in a race that is likely destined for controversy. Stielstra's team crossed the finish line in Grand Marais at 3:45:39 PM, just ahead of Anna Anderson of Ray, Minn., who arrived at 3:46:53 PM Michael Bestgen of St. Cloud, Minn. placed third, getting in at 3:56:19 PM.

However, mushers Keith Aili and Frank Teasley, were the race frontrunners leaving Wetmore Saturday morning but neither finished in top spots after being misdirected when they looked for, but didn't find, proper trail signs at a Y-intersection recently plowed by a county road crew. Additional controversy may linger for some mushers, with differing opinions available on whether the race should have been stopped at Grand Marais for weather-related reasons.

Read Stielstra wins as weather shortens race; U.P. 200 cut in half in the Mining Journal

Posted/updated Feb 20, 2006
by Andrew McFarlane (Absolute Michigan)