Moderators: fladogfan, libby the lab, mira, mamamia, sc-race-fan
tilstede wrote: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
MelanieGouldFanBrian wrote: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?) 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
saltybird wrote: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
Jeff King wrote: I have never accurately predicted the winner of the Iditarod - except the 4 years I've won!
mamamia wrote: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?
Di* wrote: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! 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?
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!
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! )
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 , thanks for your reply Jeff!
sc-race-fan wrote:Thanks for joining us.. Your letter to the ITC was profound. I hope they will consider the ramifications of not doing it. I believe South Carolina vet/musher Sonny King (the reason I got interested in the race) provided a southern pecan pie at that trail stop. I had a hard time when you both were running and a report would say "King" and not specify whether it was "Jeff" or "Sonny". I do enjoy your equipment designs and hope that you can get a "3 wheeler/sled type to work". I think steering would be the problem as I have to press down on the handlebar and lift the front wheel to turn the stroller when rolling the triplets. Not sure how that would work in the snow with 16 dogs pulling it forward and down!! My question: How long does it take to physically recover from the race, and does aging effect the time? Thanks to Cabelas for continuing the sponsoring of your efforts and Good luck this year and thanks again for joining us.
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