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The Happy Trails Kennels Athletes

 

Born in Winterthur, Switzerland in 1958, Martin Buser became fascinated with sled dogs while still a teen. He came to Alaska in 1979 to enhance his knowledge of care and training of sled dogs. He began working and training with long-time Alaskan mushers Earl and Natalie Norris and ran his first Iditarod in 1980. Martin, wife Kathy Chapoton, a teacher, and sons Nikolai and Rohn (both named after Iditarod checkpoints), reside in Big Lake, Alaska, where the family owns and manages Happy Trails Kennel.

Martin spends a large percentage of his personal time speaking with youth on the humanitarian care of animals and the spirit of the Iditarod. A favorite celebrity of the children of Alaska, Martin treats them with surprise visits from his dogs during many of these appearances.

Martin runs the race each year with his dogs to test the success of their breeding, training and physical endurance. He regards his racers as true competitive athletes and prides his team on their longevity and spirit of competition. Says Martin, "I run the Iditarod to prove that my dogs, bred, trained and raced by Happy Trails Kennels, are the best amongst the world's long distance athletes."

Martin's 2002 team currently holds the record for the Fastest Iditarod by completing the race in 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds. As tribute to his treatment of his racers, Martin was awarded the coveted Leonhard Seppala Award in 1988, 1993, and 1995 and again in 1997 for the most humanitarian care of his dogs. The award was named for the most famous Alaskan musher who ran the longest and most dangerous stretch of the 1925, 674-mile diphtheria serum run from Nenana to Nome, which saved hundreds of lives.

Following Martin's 2002 Iditarod victory, the process for his becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States was completed under the burled monument. Upon completion of the 2005 Iditarod after a woodworking accident 4 days prior to the race start resulting in the amputation of a part of his finger, his fellow mushers awarded him both the Sportsmanship and Most Inspirational Awards.

In the summer, Martin and his family give tours of their working kennel. The tour begins with a DVD trip from Anchorage to Nome narrated by Buser and includes his unique anecdotal stories gathered over 23 Iditarods. Visitors are offered a glimpse of a mock up of the Cripple Checkpoint complete with campfire and wall tent. Veterinary and dog care topics are discussed and of course, there's the cuddling of puppies. The tour ends with a riotous symphony of dogs barking as a team is hooked up and taken on a demo run to show folks the dogs in action.

Martin began running the Iditarod in 1980. He currently holds the record for the most consecutive runs (23 and counting ) and is second only to Rick Swenson in total finishes:

CONSECUTIVE Iditarod Finishes:
Buser, Martin ----- 23
Osmar, Tim ----- 21 
Swenson, Rick ----- 20
King, Jeff ----- 18
Cotter, Bill ----- 15

Total Number of Finishes:
Swenson, Rick ----- 30
Buser, Martin ----- 25
Jonrowe, DeeDee ----- 24
Osmar, Tim ----- 22
Mackey, Rick ----- 20
  

Martin is a member of Mush with Pride and The Explorer's Club. His hobbies are carpentry and woodturning.

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Magnus Kaltenborn

Magnus is 19 and comes to us from Lillehammer, Norway. About himself, he writes:

I came to the kennel in fall of 2008, to learn more about mushing. It has always been a dream of mine to see the Alaskan wilderness from the sled. Before I came to Alaska I lived in Lillehammer, Norway, and have done so all my life. I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to work as a handler, here at Happy Trails. I am no expert, but taking a dog team down the trail feels like a natural thing to do. You (at least I do) meet new challenges every day, and every day is different. One of the things I think is interesting about mushing, is all the things you must be able to do in order to keep the wheels turning. If you want to succeed in long races you must be an all rounder and not just a specialist. It is really satisfying to see every part of a team work well together. When I am not training dogs I enjoy training myself, hunting, fishing, skiing and white water kayaking.

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Sean Williams

I was raised on the great suburban plains of Texas. My family owned the local hardware store. In kindergarten, it was my ambition to be an archaeologist - due to the fact that Indiana Jones was my favorite movie. Growing up I played sports, I studied hard, I expected a lot from myself. I went to Vanderbilt University. One year I had knee surgery and didn't walk for months. Then I decided I should become a marathon runner. I even once ran an Ebay business. I was destined to be a businessman. Or was I?

The concrete jungle has a gravity of its own - but so does the great outdoors. I remember when my perspective pivoted permanently. My brother and I went on a road trip - through 43 states and over 17000 miles. Well, hey, America is as beautiful as they say. Including Alaska. How does a kid from Texas end up dog mushing in Alaska? Imagination. And a long flight.

I am here because running a dog team wakes up your senses and your instincts. It makes you be here, and now. I'm standing on the runners- moving silently, swiftly - with man's best friend doing what they love to do. The King of Bhutan runs his country based on gross national happiness. That's how I run a dog team. So call me the King.

Thank you, thank you very much.

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The Dogs of Happy Trails Kennels! We can say without exaggeration that the dogs of the Iditarod are the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. Their accomplishments are legendary. And the dogs of Happy Trails are the best of the best! We wish that you could meet every single one of these dogs, who are truly the heart of what we do here at Happy Trails Kennels, and of all our racing success.

Meet the dogs currently on the "A" team for Iditarod 2010! Here.

Meet the rest of the 2010 Contenders Here.

Here is the varsity squad that took 4th place in one of the toughest races in Iditarod history!
The Happy Trails 2007 Iditarod Team Gallery