Musher Details

2009 Iditarod » Mushers » Ed Stielstra

Ed Stielstra

Bib Number: 46
Hometown: McMillan, MI
Website:


Biography

Ed, 47, grew up in Ludington, Michigan enjoying competitive sports, dogs and being outside. After high school, he attended Michigan State University where he received a Bachelor of Science from Lyman Briggs College of Science. Approximately 13 years ago, Ed and his wife left their “real world” jobs to operate Nature’s Kennel Sled Dog Adventures and Racing full time. Their kennel is located in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, and they offer dog sled adventures geared toward the beginner.

Along with tours and racing, Ed and Tasha combine their mushing experience with their past teaching experience to do presentations for students in kindergarten through 8th grade around the US and abroad. Their “Pulling Together” presentations focus on teamwork and respect from a sled dog’s viewpoint.

When not training dogs and entertaining guests, Ed spends his free time with his two children, Nate, 6, and Fern, 4.

In the 2017 Iditarod, Ed is excited to run a team of one year olds. His racing partner, Laura Neese, will have the adult racing team while Ed will be taking a much slower pace to gain the young dogs valuable trail experience.


2009 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Anchorage 3/07 11:39:00 12
Willow 3/08 15:28:00 16
Yentna 3/08 19:21:00 16 3/08 19:25:00 16 0h 4m 3h 53m 17.00 66
Skwentna 3/08 22:38:00 16 3/09 04:25:00 15 5h 47m 3h 13m 10.57 34
Finger Lake 3/09 09:47:00 15 3/09 15:54:00 14 6h 7m 5h 22m 8.39 45
Rainy Pass 3/09 19:43:00 14 3/10 04:36:00 14 8h 53m 3h 49m 7.86 30
Rohn 3/10 08:41:00 14 3/10 08:56:00 13 0h 15m 4h 5m 11.76 48
Nikolai 3/11 01:35:00 13 13 16h 39m 4.50 75
McGrath 3/11 14:45:00 13 3/11 14:46:00 13 0h 1m 54
Takotna 3/11 17:50:00 13 3/12 18:44:00 13 24h 54m 3h 4m 5.87 ✔ 18
Ophir 3/12 21:52:00 13 3/13 03:08:00 13 5h 16m 3h 8m 7.98 ✔ 25
Iditarod 3/13 20:40:00 13 3/13 20:48:00 12 0h 8m 17h 32m 5.13 ✔ 90
Shageluk 3/14 10:45:00 12 3/14 17:00:00 12 6h 15m 13h 57m 4.66 ✔ 65
Anvik 3/14 20:41:00 12 3/14 20:51:00 12 0h 10m 3h 41m 6.79 ✔ 25
Grayling 3/14 23:30:00 12 3/15 09:53:00 11 10h 23m 2h 39m 6.79 ✔ ✔ 18
Eagle Island 3/15 21:11:00 11 3/16 10:01:00 11 12h 50m 11h 18m 5.31 ✔ ✔ 60
Kaltag 3/17 00:01:00 11 3/17 09:04:00 11 9h 3m 14h 0m 5.00 ✔ ✔ 70
Unalakleet 3/17 23:36:00 11 3/18 05:50:00 10 6h 14m 14h 32m 6.19 ✔ ✔ 90
Shaktoolik 3/18 11:38:00 10 3/18 17:15:00 10 5h 37m 5h 48m 6.90 ✔ ✔ 40
Koyuk 3/19 00:10:00 10 3/19 08:14:00 10 8h 4m 6h 55m 8.39 ✔ ✔ 58
Elim 3/19 15:05:00 10 3/19 18:27:00 9 3h 22m 6h 51m 7.01 ✔ ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/20 01:23:00 9 3/20 09:23:00 9 8h 0m 6h 56m 6.63 ✔ ✔ 46
Safety 3/20 17:00:00 9 3/20 17:02:00 9 0h 2m 7h 37m 7.22 ✔ ✔ 55
Nome 3/20 20:35:12 9 3h 33m 6.20 ✔ ✔ 22