In Rookie Review Part I you’ll meet two of the mushers in the 2022 field who hail from outside of Alaska. Hanna Lyrek is from Alta, Norway and Gerhardt Thiart is from Cheyboygan, Michigan. Soon you’ll met Sebastian Dos Santos Borges from France and Martin Massicotte from Quebec, Canada. Of the thirteen rookies, the remaining nine call Alaska home.
Hanna Lyrek – Alta, Norway – Bib #13
Hanna Lyrek is the apple that didn’t fall far from the tree. Her family is a mushing family, she grew up with mushing and is now a professional musher herself. She follows in the footsteps of her mother, Trine Lyrek, in running the Iditarod and the longest races of Norway. Trine worked with Jeff King at Husky Homestead then in 2005 ran Iditarod. Hanna was born in Alaska then at the age of five Hanna and the family moved to Alta, Norway, her mother’s homeland.
As a youngster, tucked warmly in the sled she went on training runs with her parents, She’s been mushing since she could stand on the runners and has been hooked on mushing since taking her first solo trip at just 4 years old. Since that adventure she’s dreamed of joining her mother in becoming an Iditarod veteran.
Hanna’s accomplishments are many. In 2016 she won the Finnmark FL-Junior. In 2018 she was the youngest musher to run the 1200 meter Finnmarksløpet, finishing 17th. In 2019 she won the Finnmark FL-500) being the youngest to earn that championship. In 2020 Hanna and team were among the top contenders in the Finnmarksløpet 1200 when health officials halted the race due to the spread of the Corona Virus. This was a huge disappointment for all the mushers!
Hanna says, “My family has always been into mushing, it’s our life. Dogs are my best friends. They are my family. They know me better than I know myself.” Hanna likes being along with her dogs on the trail, She feels free on long trips with her dogs and enjoys the amazing landscapes. She’s the youngest member of the QRILL Pet Mushing Team going Dallas Seavey of the US and Joar Ulsom, Thomas Waerner and Marit Beate Kasin all of Norway.
Gerhardt Thiart – Cheboygan, MI – Bib #39
Gerhardt Thiart was born and raised in South Africa since has moved to Cheboygan located in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Thanks to the effects of the Great Lakes, snow abounds and mushing opportunities are abundant. After high school Thiart served in the South African Infantry Corps achieving the rank of First Lieutenant Platoon Commander. He served several tours in Angola. After his military career, he owned a restaurant then desiring to see the world, he came to the United States in 2010.
Upon settling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Gerhardt might have been unfamiliar with snow but he was certainly familiar with Siberian Huskies and the sport of dry land mushing. He’s a decorate champion in two-dog scooter race circuit of South Africa. His next challenge was to transfer his experience behind two-dogs to a larger team of 14 dogs, switch from a two wheeled scooter to a two runner sled and glide over snow covered trails rather than gravel trails. Working as a handle allow him to become familiar with the aspect of running dogs on snow, caring for dogs in the cold and winter camping. He then became involved with a racing kennel and had the opportunity to complete the necessary mid-distance qualifying races.
In 2018 Thiart established the GAT Foundation Inc. The mission of the foundation is to promote, support and bring awareness to the needs of US Veterans through Operation Homefront. Gerhardt is running the 2022 Iditarod to bring attention to the needs of veterans and support Operation Homefront. Thiart seeks to be the FIRST South African to complete the Iditarod.
Check back soon for another story in the Rookie Review series. In the meantime make sure your subscription to the Ultimate Insider is up to date. You won’t want to miss the Insider video clips sharing personal stories of mushers and their experiences on the trail. Having GPS tracker at your fingertips is invaluable when following the race and keeping track of your favorite mushers. For the 50th Iditarod, the Insider crew has been busy capturing interviews with mushers from the ‘old’ days and memorializing mushers and founders who have passed.
