Rick Casillo on Front Street of Nome Iditarod 2015
Rick Casillo has finished Iditarod seven times including his rookie run in 2004. He’s back for the the trip to Nome in 2016. Casillo finished in 57th place in his rookie run. Over his seven year career he’s improved to 26th place. When he made the Burled arch in 2015, there was a very unexpected surprise waiting.
Parked under the arch, Casillo worked his line, snacking, thanking and praising his dogs. One of the Iditarod website fellows carrying an iPad seemed to be following Rick’s every move. On the screen of the iPad was a woman wearing battle fatigues. Iditarod’s website manages had arranged a SKYPE call with Rick’s wife who was deployed overseas. When Rick saw the screen and realized his wife, half a world away was there with him under the arch he said, “There’s so many people here, I’m going to lose it.” The moment was emotional for all who say and heard.
Through SKYPE Jennifer Casillo is with Rick at the finish of 2015
Casillo’s wife, Jennifer, has served in both the Iran and Afghanistan wars. Together they operate Battle Dawgs Racing and are committed to helping our nations true heroes. Battle Dawg has teamed up with Alaska’s Healing Hearts to serve the battle wounded and battle weary. They provide healing experiences for our nations‘ wounded warriors. Programs include Glacier Dawg Camp, Helicopter Flight Seeing, Back Packing, Racing Support Crew, Winter Dog Mushing Camps and Fishing. Their vision is to “expose warriors to therapeutic and exciting experiences by harnessing the natural splendor of Alaska’s landscape and the power of sled dogs. In doing so we are able to provide a natural portal to help rehabilitate the battle wounded and the battle weary.” The circled 22 with a line drawn through the numbers is prominently displayed on Cassilo’s clothing, his sled, his truck and dog trailer. The significance is that 22 veterans commit suicide everyday. Through Battle Dawgs and their work with wounded and battle weary warriors, Rick and his wife Jennifer strive to give these warriors something to live for.
Rick grew up outside of Buffalo, New York. His passion was training dogs and the outdoors. He moved to Alaska in 1999 to follow his dream of guiding fly fishing trips. In the back of his mind he also wanted to learn more about racing and training sled dogs. He witnessed his first sled dog race in 2001 and from that moment he set his sights on training dogs and running the Iditarod. Rick was the second musher to sign up for Iditarod 2016. Use this link to view Rick’s featured Insider video.
You’re not seeing double, Kristy and Anna Berington are identical twins
No, you’re not seeing double. There are TWO Beringtons, Kristy and Anna. They are Identical twins. So Identical that even in utero, their heartbeats were synchronized. Kristy arrived first. Mom, Dad and the attending physician were completely surprised when Anna arrived five minutes later. Now, thirty-two years later, living in Knik, Alaska Kristy and Anna have established a small kennel and call it See Double Sled Dog Racing. They have some of their own dogs and will round out their Iditarod teams by renting or borrowing dogs from other kennels. It’s nearly impossible to talk about one twin without mentioning the other.
Kristy has finished Iditarod six times and she’s in again for the 2016 race to Nome. She would say it’s not really about the racing, but rather being in a remote location with your dog team and being self-reliant. The trail of the Last Great Race covers some of the most beautiful yet rugged and unforgiving terrain on earth. Races allow mushers to experience that beauty and respond to the challenges. The Iditarod is an opportunity for the mushers to test themselves as well as the dogs they have trained. It’s like the final exam for a semester course.
Kristy Berington on Front Street in Nome Iditarod 2015
Born in northern Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior, Kristy began mushing at the age of ten. The twins made do with what was available to begin their mushing careers. They harnessed two family dogs, a great pyrenees and a border collie, attached them to a make shift sled created from a pair of downhill skies and a milk crate and off they went. A neighbor maintained a sprint racing kennel. At first the girl’s helped out with keeping the kennel clean. It was a great job because they were with dogs, lots of dogs. Their role at the kennel evolved into helping with training and doing some sprint racing. After Graduating from high school Kristy, as well as Anna, served with the National Guard. Then it was off to college. Kristy is a very action oriented person and college wasn’t action oriented enough. The same is true for Anna. They chose adventure over the halls of higher learning and moved west.
During the California winters Kristi served as a tour guide for a company specializing in sledding tours with dogs. Summers brought a different four legged mode of travel, horses. Kristy guided tourists on horseback tours of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Kristy traveled to Alaska in 2007. Upon meeting 1984 Iditarod Champion Dean Osmar, she decided Alaska was the answer to her desire for wilderness adventure with dogs. Anna was on board with the decision too. They moved to the Last Frontier in 2007. Kristy now works for Scott Janssen, the Mushing Mortician, maintaining and training Janssen’s 80 dogs. It’s a life style she really enjoys as it rolls the things she loves, adventure, dogs, endurance sports and exploring into in one exciting and challenging package. Use this link to view Kristy’s featured Insider video.
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