News Release

Streeper Reclaims Rondy Crown: The “Canadian Express” Wins World Championship Sled Dog Races at Anchorage’s Fur Rondy

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Feb. 24, 2008 – Canadian Blayne “Buddy” Streeper, sporting bib number 18, sped across the finish line at the World Championship Sled Dog Races today, Feb. 24, 2008, to reclaim the Rondy crown.

The Ft. Nelson, British Columbia musher pumped his fist in the air amid the applause and cheers of the crowd on Anchorage, Alaska’s Fourth Avenue. This is Streeper’s third win at the World Championship Sled Dog Races, part of the historic Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Festival that runs through March 2, 2008.

“The dogs all woke up feeling healthy and happy,” says Streeper. “I had my best team today.”

Streeper will take approximately $10,000 home in prize money. After the race finish, Streeper shared his congratulatory champagne with legendary Alaska musher George Attla.

Steeper is the only musher in racing history to win the Yellowknife Dog Derby, Laconia World Championship, Fairbanks Open North American Championship, Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Races and the Pas World Championship. In addition, he has successfully won 21 straight races in all formats and disciplines.

At this year’s race, drivers and their teams traversed the notoriously quick, 25-mile course that loops through the city during three days of serious canine athlete action. The grueling route gave even the heartiest of mushers pause.

The Fur Rendezvous World Champion Sled Dog Races offered spectator-friendly, high-speed, dog- powered sports excitement. Today marked the final day in the 2008 races. For complete details, explore www.Anchorage.net/furrondy.

Streeper’s Awards:
2003 ISDRA Unlimited Gold Medalist
2003 Team & Trail Magazine, “Musher of the Year.”
2004 IFSS World Cup Winner
2003 & 2005 Humanitarian Award, Canadian Championship, Yellowknife, NWT

Anchorage, Alaska is a premiere winter destination, offering visitors a plethora of winter activities including snowshoeing, world-class skiing and snowboarding, ice climbing, glacier viewing, flight seeing and wildlife viewing. For a complete listing of winter activities or to order a free 2008 Official Anchorage Visitors Guide, explore www.Anchorage.net.

About Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous
Feb. 22 – March 2, 2008

Affectionately known locally as “Rondy,” Fur Rendezvous is part of two outstanding weeks of festivals and winter sporting events known as the Quad ‘08. Rondy began as the brainchild of outgoing Anchorage citizen, Vern Johnson. In 1935, Johnson created a three-day sporting event timed to correspond with the return of local miners and trappers coming to Anchorage to sell their hard-won winter product.

Today, Fur Rendezvous continues to pay tribute to the early Alaskan way of life with an old-time melodrama, Alaska Native tribal gatherings, World Champion Sled Dog Races, craft markets, the Miners & Trappers Ball, outhouse (yes, outhouse) races, a fur auction and the new “Running of the Reindeer” event.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic and Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.

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Media Contacts:

Shelly Wozniak
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
swozinak@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax

Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net