Melissa Mendelson, Solon Springs, Wisconsin
Melissa grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio where she was enamored with sled dogs from a young age, first learning about them from an artist she followed online. Through two trips to Alaska, she learned about the Alaskan Husky. In 2015, she met a local musher in Ohio and discovered dryland and urban mushing, and was instantly hooked. After a season bikejoring her friend's dogs, Melissa purchased her first Alaskan husky Ziggy and the rest is history.
In 2021, Melissa moved to northern Wisconsin to pursue her mid distance goals.
Tahquamenon, Copperdog, Northern Pines, Beargrease
In early 2022, my dog Flounder got deathly injured on a training run. Too much excitement and his partner jumped him and shredded his rear leg. Thanks to some amazing vet care in Minneapolis and generous friends and the #uglydogs, Flounder kept his life and his leg. I never expected him to run again, but that fall, I threw him on the line to see what would happen. And he has still been on the race team since, like nothing ever happened. His long scar snaking down his leg is just a memory for him and doesn't hold him back.
