2006 Midnight Run Biographies
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Tim VanderMeulen
Lake Ann, MI, USA
Tim VanderMeulenPer Tim: "My name is Tim Vander Meulen and I am an instructor at the TBA ISD Career Tech Center in Traverse City Michigan. I train young people the skills neccassary to abtain an entry level job in the commercial and resedential electrical field. I am an Electrician by trade and have been teaching at the Tech center for 5 years. I am married to my wife Shelly for 12 years and we have two children, 8 year old Emma and 4 year old Jake. This is my first year of racing and so far I have completed the 42 mile pro race at Tahquamenon country sled dog race and a 30 mile event with the MIDD organization at the Wooden Nickel in Baldwin. My wife and I have been involved as handlers for Ed and Tasha of Natures Kennel sleddog racing and my wife recently was in France with Tasha as a handler for her. I have been involved with sled dogs for 9 years with most of them being recreational ventures and skijoring. This is the first year that my wife and I have participated in mushing at this level. It has truly become a family activity because it takes a lot of time to participate at this level and I could not do it without the help of my wife. My wife will be my handler for the race. I am sure she can handle it after being in France for 2 weeks. Unless you all speak French in the UP - then she will struggle. We are both looking forward to completing this race after working together to put miles on our team. We own four of the dogs that I am racing and the others belong to Ed and Tasha of Nature's Kennel. Our four of are of different ages and the four of NK are all yearlings. I have the dogs that nobody wanted and have been trying to develop them into sleddogs. I have enjoyed this process very much and am looking forward to assisting this dog team down the trail in the Midnight Run."

Send Tim an e-mail at tvandermeulen@tbaisd.k12.mi.us.
Sponsors: Brayton and Sons Excavating; Friends of E and J Kennels; Nature's Kennels, Newberry, MI, USA; Roemer Underground Utilities;
UPSDA MISSION: To promote the sled dog sport, educate the public about sled dog activities, and sponsor a continuous, mid-distance sled dog race in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.