Michigan Women’s Forum
Informing and inspiring women and all who love them
Informing and inspiring women and all who love them
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Michigan sled-dog racer places 5th When we last interviewed Tasha Stielstra, she was on her way to France for a once-in-a-lifetime racing experience. The veteran sled-dog handler has begun to share her experiences with an inspirational presentation - and gives us a glimpse into her 'Grand Odyssey'. Your trip to France must have been the experience of a lifetime – what do you remember most about being there? The friendly people, the huge crowds, and the really steep mountains!! I can’t begin to explain in words how amazing the scenery was. We did climbs of nearly 18,000 feet in a matter of 40 miles, and descended that far as well! It was definitely the most difficult thing both mentally and physically I have EVER done!Did you get to know the other women who were involved in the race and did you find you had common ground? Yes, there was one other woman from Alaska, one from France, and one from Canada. We shared a common goal: to show the men that they should take us seriously as competitive mushers! How did you do in the race? I finished 5th overall. I was the top placing female the 2nd week of racing (3rd place) and ended up ranked 5th for the first and second weeks combined. I was also awarded the “Prix Orange” award for being the “sweetest musher” Did the result meet your own expectations? It exceeded them! I just wanted to finish the race respectably. After seeing the trail the first couple of days, I just wanted to survive! How did your dogs fare? They were amazing. I couldn’t believe how well they could climb mountains. As you know, our terrain here in Michigan is pretty flat and we don’t do much elevation training. The dogs were just incredible. I’d be huffing and puffing pushing the sled up with them, and they would not even be breathing hard! Tell us about the public speaking you’re doing – why are you out sharing your story? I have previously presented quite a few teamwork programs for schools around Michigan. I have created quite a dramatic slide show based on this race in particular which I think would be of interest to women’s organizations or businesses. Even though everyone may not be able to relate to dog sledding, they can relate to the pursuit of a dream and the courage to complete it! How can people book one of your inspirational presentations? I can be contacted through our website, www.natureskennel.com, or by email, info@natureskennel.com, or by phone, 906-748-0513. |
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