Susie Rogan, 46, was born and raised in Ontario and says she moved to the Yukon in 1997 to “live closer to nature.” She says, “I had had enough of the concrete jungle.” She started out skijoring with a Doberman-Lab cross, Emmett, in 1999. She says skijoring is still her favorite sport and she’s still into it.
“I have lived with Hans Gatt for six years, which has given me a big advantage in terms of dog sled racing. I got started at the top, with excellent dogs, equipment, and training and race plans. As a result, I do not take my standings in racing too seriously compared to those people who have had to struggle for everything on their own. I am ve3ry excited about the upcoming season where I will have complete control over my own approach to training and racing for the first time. This is MY own team. Most of the dogs I will be racing with are dogs that I raised and trained as pups. Many are Iditarod veterans already, though this is my first Iditarod. They will look to me as the leader of the team, even though I am the rookie. I have some big boots to fill for those dogs! Competition makes me extremely nervous so I will be trying to forget that I am in a race with other teams. I will be watching my own team and my own clock, without paying much if any attention to the other teams. I look forward to the journey, both in training and racing. Right now I have the opportunity to do something amazing, to experience the Iditarod with these well-loved dogs, so I better take that opportunity while I can.” Susie says she attended the University of Toronto but her “real education” has been informal, through her experiences. She has worked in property management for ten years. She enjoys vegan cooking and dirt bike riding.