Musher Details

2006 Iditarod » Mushers » Ed Stielstra

Ed Stielstra

Bib Number: 81
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.

Sponsors

Great Lakes Geoscience, MI
Bayshore Veterinary Hospital/Dr. Tim Hunt, MI
A.M.S.S., MI
dogbooties.com, MN
Black River Sleds, WI


2006 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Anchorage 3/04 12:56:00 12
BLM 3/04 14:03:00 12 1h 7m
Willow 3/05 16:38:00 16 3/05 16:38:00 16 0h 0m 59
Yentna 3/05 20:29:00 16 3/05 20:29:00 16 0h 0m 3h 51m 11.69 45
Skwentna 3/06 00:16:00 16 3/06 06:45:00 15 6h 29m 3h 47m 8.99 34
Finger Lake 3/06 12:53:00 15 3/06 18:07:00 14 5h 14m 6h 8m 7.34 45
Rainy Pass 3/06 22:01:00 14 3/07 06:42:00 13 8h 41m 3h 54m 7.69 30
Rohn 3/07 10:35:00 13 3/07 15:55:00 13 5h 20m 3h 53m 12.36 48
Nikolai 3/08 06:45:00 13 3/08 07:00:00 13 0h 15m 14h 50m 6.27 93
McGrath 3/08 17:28:00 13 3/08 17:37:00 12 0h 9m 10h 28m 4.59 48
Takotna 3/08 19:57:00 12 3/09 20:15:00 12 24h 18m 2h 20m 9.86 ✔ 23
Ophir 3/09 22:50:00 12 3/10 06:15:00 12 7h 25m 2h 35m 14.71 ✔ 38
Cripple 3/10 18:08:00 12 3/11 06:05:00 11 11h 57m 11h 53m 5.05 ✔ 60
Ruby 3/11 19:22:00 11 3/12 04:15:00 10 8h 53m 13h 17m 8.43 ✔ ✔ 112
Galena 3/12 11:18:00 10 3/12 17:28:00 10 6h 10m 7h 3m 7.38 ✔ ✔ 52
Nulato 3/13 00:21:00 10 3/13 07:16:00 10 6h 55m 6h 53m 7.55 ✔ ✔ 52
Kaltag 3/13 12:23:00 10 3/13 18:00:00 10 5h 37m 5h 7m 8.21 ✔ ✔ 42
Unalakleet 3/14 09:30:00 10 3/14 15:09:00 9 5h 39m 15h 30m 5.81 ✔ ✔ 90
Shaktoolik 3/14 21:15:00 9 3/15 03:56:00 9 6h 41m 6h 6m 6.56 ✔ ✔ 40
Koyuk 3/15 10:35:00 9 3/15 17:18:00 9 6h 43m 6h 39m 8.72 ✔ ✔ 58
Elim 3/15 23:49:00 9 3/16 07:46:00 8 7h 57m 6h 31m 7.37 ✔ ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/16 13:55:00 8 3/16 21:55:00 8 8h 0m 6h 9m 7.48 ✔ ✔ 46
Safety 3/17 05:08:00 8 3/17 05:10:00 8 0h 2m 7h 13m 7.62 ✔ ✔ 55
Nome 3/17 08:02:53 8 2h 52m 7.67 ✔ ✔ 22