Mark Dunlap gave Iola Rotarians an inside look at sled-dog racing Thursday. Dunlap was introduced by Rotarian Ann Shetlar, his sister.
A native of Elsmore, Dunlap’s affection for the outdoors led him to northern Minnesota where for 16 years he trained Alaskan huskies to race, with him precariously perched at the rear end of a sled.
After earning a degree in graphic design from Pittsburg State University, Dunlap moved to Kansas City and suffered through what he called travails in the printing industry. He also took up rock climbing as a diversion from his day job and acquired a Siberian husky from a local animal shelter.
Once in Minnesota, Dunlap’s interest quickened and he learned all he could about Alaskan huskies and their propensity for speed, strength, endurance and, most importantly, love of racing.
He worked a year with another racer before striking out on his own. Success followed, including three championships and many second- and third-place finishes.
Even though he was near the top of his game most years, Dunlap worked at several jobs to support his interest. “Usually I won just enough money to pay for the race I was in,” he said. Expenses included feeding his dogs — nine would race at a time with others in reserve — a special diet to keep them fit and healthy.
A favorite story is training in a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle that weighed several hundred pounds. His dogs pulled the ATV over courses so rough that by the time the fall training season was over, “my arms ached from holding on.” Racing sleds are comparatively light. Besides Dunlap’s own weight the dogs would pull about 50 lbs. of gear.
Having realized dog-sled racing is a young man’s sport, Dunlap returned to Kansas in 2009.
Since 2014 he has worked for B&W Trailer Hitches where he works in its marketing division doing photography and videography.
