Q & A with Justin Olnes
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Occupation: biologist at Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game
Next Race:
Copper Basin 300 then Iditarod!
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We sat down (virtually) ad interviewed Justin and his wife Kailyn as they gear up for the 2025 season where he is set to run the Iditarod. They operate ReRun Kennel near Fairbanks, Alaska
One Race I Dream of Racing Is...
Kobuk 440
One Place I Dream of Mushing Is...
Canadian high Arctic
My Biggest Pet Peeve Is...
rain on snow events
One This I Can't Without Is...
wilderness and wildlife
The Greatest Advice I Ever Got Was...
YOLO
The Sled I'm Running Most Right Now Is...
homemade
My Biggest Blunder Was...
not getting into dogs sooner
I Learned...
a lot helping my wife train for the 2022 Iditarod. I had never been involved in racing prior but together we managed to get her team trained up and she did great
The Hardest Part About Doing My Dream Mushing Trip Is...
money
My Best Advice For Young Mushers Is...
be patient and treasure your dogs
Happiness Is...
spring mushing in the White Mountains Recreation Area with my wife
My Most Challenging Race/Expedition Was...
the time I took a small team of old dogs out for a quick run and ended up lost and had to abandon the sled in deep snow and hike home for several hours. The old dogs had a great time.
What Scares Me The Most Is...
falling through river ice
My Favorite Trail Meal Is...
breakfast burritos or cheesecake
The True Gift Of Mushing Is...
deep connections with your team
One Thing I Will Never Do Again Is...
question Kailyn’s wisdom
