Musher Details

2008 Iditarod » Mushers » Ed Stielstra

Ed Stielstra

Bib Number: 92
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.


2008 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Anchorage 3/01 13:20:00 12
Willow 3/02 17:00:00 16
Yentna 3/02 21:08:00 16 3/02 21:11:00 16 0h 3m 4h 8m 10.16 42
Skwentna 3/03 00:32:00 16 3/03 06:00:00 15 5h 28m 3h 21m 10.15 34
Finger Lake 3/03 11:19:00 15 3/03 11:25:00 14 0h 6m 5h 19m 8.46 45
Rainy Pass 3/03 20:13:00 14 3/03 20:17:00 13 0h 4m 8h 48m 3.41 30
Rohn 3/04 01:17:00 13 3/04 08:40:00 13 7h 23m 5h 0m 9.60 48
Nikolai 3/05 00:20:00 13 3/05 00:38:00 13 0h 18m 15h 40m 4.79 75
McGrath 3/05 12:15:00 13 3/05 12:23:00 13 0h 8m 11h 37m 4.65 54
Takotna 3/05 15:10:00 13 3/06 15:29:00 12 24h 19m 2h 47m 6.47 ✔ 18
Ophir 3/06 18:13:00 12 3/06 18:25:00 12 0h 12m 2h 44m 9.15 ✔ 25
Cripple 3/07 10:10:00 12 3/07 10:25:00 11 0h 15m 15h 45m 3.75 ✔ 59
Ruby 3/08 02:59:00 11 3/08 11:00:00 11 8h 1m 16h 34m 6.76 ✔ ✔ 112
Galena 3/08 18:24:00 11 3/08 18:36:00 11 0h 12m 7h 24m 7.03 ✔ ✔ 52
Nulato 3/09 09:10:00 11 3/09 09:23:00 11 0h 13m 13h 34m 3.83 ✔ ✔ 52
Kaltag 3/09 14:56:00 11 3/09 22:00:00 11 7h 4m 5h 33m 7.57 ✔ ✔ 42
Unalakleet 3/10 11:15:00 11 3/10 16:42:00 10 5h 27m 13h 15m 6.79 ✔ ✔ 90
Shaktoolik 3/10 23:40:00 10 3/11 06:10:00 9 6h 30m 6h 58m 6.03 ✔ ✔ 42
Koyuk 3/11 13:51:00 9 3/11 19:33:00 9 5h 42m 7h 41m 6.25 ✔ ✔ 48
Elim 3/12 03:20:00 9 3/12 07:16:00 9 3h 56m 7h 47m 6.17 ✔ ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/12 13:45:00 9 3/12 21:50:00 9 8h 5m 6h 29m 7.10 ✔ ✔ 46
Safety 3/13 05:00:00 9 3/13 05:02:00 9 0h 2m 7h 10m 7.67 ✔ ✔ 55
Nome 3/13 08:28:05 9 3h 26m 6.41 ✔ ✔ 22