Hovland musher Frank Moe is stoked. As the vice president of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Frank announced the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was one of four international sled dog races picked to be part of the new World Series of sled dog racing.
On October 8, 2019, from Oslo, Norway, Aker BioMarine launched the international dog racing championship: QRILL Pet Arctic World Series (QPAWS).
The first season of the World Series will feature four legendary sled dog races, the Femundlopet in Norway, the Volga Quest in Russia, Alaska’s legendary
Iditarod, and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.
The World Series of mushing will determine the world’s best sled dog racers and dog team handlers.
In a press release Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine, said, “QPAWS is a result of Aker Biomarine’s commitment to and longterm investment in dog mushing. Over the past three years, we have been working with the athletes and race organizers to learn more about the sport and its many amazing components. We strongly believe in the sport of dog mushing and the culture it represents, and we want to help it get the international attention and recognition it deserves.”
Frank traveled to Oslo with the former Beargrease board president. They spent five days working with Aker BioMarine reps and other boards of the international sled dog races to work out details of the new series.
“Aker BioMarine paid our way for a five-day trip to meet with their reps and other race representatives,” Moe said, adding, “It was a working trip.”
Initially, all of the races will be filmed and the rights sold to television with the proceeds to be banked and divvied up for 2021 event purses and beyond.
“This year, Aker BioMarine will pay for the GPS and online information for the Beargrease, which will save us thousands of dollars,” Frank said, adding this year’s winner’s purse will be paid entirely this year by the John Beargrease organization.
Why did Aker Biomarine get involved with sled dog racing? Moe was asked.
“Aker BioMarine is an Antarctic Krill-harvesting company that makes a nutritiously high-quality dog food that is used by a lot of mushers for their teams. Over the years, mushers have seen good results when they use their (Aker BioMarine) products and let the company know that.”
QPAWS’s goal is, “to grow and to strengthen the separate race organizations, as well as showcase the world-class dog care that the sport is famous for. The series is based on a joint point system, advanced digital visualization of GPS tracking, as well as television production and distribution.”
QPAWS was established as a nonprofit sports series through an initiative by Aker BioMarine. All proceeds go back to the events and as investments in the sport of long-distance dog mushing.
At the end of the year, the points will be added up, and the top musher will be awarded prize money. But, added Frank, “The musher who took the best care of their dogs during the season will be given a check for the same amount as the top racer. Aker BioMarine wants the dogs to be well cared for.”
As for Frank, the musher, he will once again race the long John Beargrease race and have a team in the Beargrease 120.
“I think my team will hold up in the long race. I don’t know about the old man on the back of the sled. That might be the holdup, but I can’t wait to race. The Beargrease has had its ups and downs over the years, even canceling due to a lack of snow, and there were years where the purse was small, and the fields were small. Well, the snow years seem to be back, and excitement around the sport is growing.”
With that, Frank cut the interview short because, as he said, it was time to feed his dogs, a perfect end to a great beginning.
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