CAVALIER, ND (KFGO) – Eva Robison is a 14-year-old girl from Cavalier, North Dakota. She leads her pack of sled dogs as the youngest person to compete in the 120 mile Junior John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.
The race went through the snow-covered Sawtooth Mountains in Minnesota. Unlike other sled dog races where you would run a set amount of miles in a day then rest, the Beargrease is a continuous race. Once you leave the starting line, your time doesn’t end until you cross the finish line.
During a break in the race, Eva’s dad Justin, and mom Katt, weren’t sure if Eva could make it. Justin said, “I asked how she was doing, and she looked pretty darn tired. But then she just looked at me and said, ‘I’m gonna finish, I’m gonna do this’. I got to see the determination on my daughter’s face, then I knew there was no maybe about her dream. It was a really awesome experience.”
Eva’s passion for the sport started from an early age. She’s been riding dog sleds ever since she could walk. She said her favorite part is bonding with the dogs. “My favorite part about mushing is bonding with the dogs. Later on, you will see individual personalities in the dogs. It’s so amazing to be with them and share that experience.”
She’s had a goal since she was 6 to reach the Jr. Iditarod race in Alaska. Her parents told her she’d have to start saving money. It costs around $8,000 in total expenses to race in the Jr. Iditarod. So she started her own business selling dog treats to raise money. Justin says, “We follow the Iditarod like you would follow the Super Bowl. When Eva was a kindergartener, after supper she came to us and said she wanted to run the Junior Iditarod. I’m not gonna lie but we both kinda blew her off. It was probably 6 months later we were sitting at the dinner table and Eva says ‘What is it gonna take for me to race the junior Iditarod?’. We looked at each other amazed how gosh darn determined our daughter is.”
Eva has 14 racing dogs. She took 8 of them to the Beargrease 120 Junior race.
Her business has grown over the years and she’s closing in on her goal. She WILL BE racing in the 2022 Junior Iditarod. You can support her journey and find the dog treats here at Eva Diva Puppy Snacks. And to explore the website Click here.
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