Gerry
Willomitzer's
Blackjack Racing Kennel
Biography
I saw my first dog team in Tok, Alaska at the "Burnt
Paw"-gift shop in 1985. Little did I know that nearly 20 years later I would be
racing against North America’s top contenders in long-distance mushing.
In 1996 I took one of those rare opportunities that life
sometimes throws at you and immigrated to Canada. I spent my first Canadian winter at
William Kleedehn’s kennel. In 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002 I handled for
William during the 1000-mile Yukon Quest. In 1999 I served a term on the board of
directors of the Yukon Quest.
In 2001 I moved to my present home near Lake Laberge just north of Whitehorse. There I started my own kennel and breeding program with dogs I acquired from William Kleedehn and Hans Gatt.
Since 2004 I participated in four 1000-mile Yukon Quests, finishing 12th, 6th, 5th and 3rd and receiving the Vet's Choice Award in 2005. I participate in several 200 and 300 mile races every season before the "big dance".
The 2006 racing season earned me two more Humanitarian Awards and 2nd place finishes in the Copper Basin 300 ("The Toughest 300 miles in Alaska") and the 210-mile Percy deWolfe Memorial Mail Race.
Fewer than 20 dog
teams worldwide ever completed the 1000-mile Yukon Quest and the 1000-mile
Iditarod back to back. The dogs and I became part of this "club"
in 2007. We also were one of four teams to break the old Yukon Quest race
record during the 2007 race, and currently hold one of the fastest times on
the Yukon Quest trail. I work as
a log building contractor during the summer months, my winters are
dedicated to dog mushing.