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Colleen is a musher in the 2012 Iditarod
She did not race in 2011.
Colleen was a Rookie in 2010.
Bio
Results
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Contact: www.rogueskennel.com
Bio
Kasilof, AK
Colleen Robertia, 35, was born and in
Pennsylvania and raised in Massachusetts. She
received her B.S. degree in 1998 in New York, with
a major in Environmental Biology and a minor in
African Studies. She then worked as a zookeeper
caring for threatened and endangered species of
large hoof stock (elephants, rhinos, giraffe,
antelope) and big cats (lions, leopards, jaguars
and cheetahs) in Georgia for the Wildlife
Conservation Society and then for the Jacksonville
Zoo in Florida. She says, “We quit our jobs at
the zoo to thru-hike the 2,168 mile Appalachian
Trail from Georgia to Maine. It was a period of
deep introspection. We figured out what was
important to us in life and moved to Alaska in
2002. She says “I’ve always enjoyed
wildlife, wild places, and wild people. Alaska
offered all three so I moved here!”
For the last nine years, she has worked as a
counselor for emotionally disturbed youth.
“Since I started mushing, I’ve made it my
goal to prove that year-round excellent treatment,
diet and veterinary care are the hallmarks of
success for anyone working with not just sled dogs,
but all dogs. I’m a veteran of the two
toughest and – at 1,000 miles each –
longest sled dog races in the world: the Iditarod
and Yukon Quest. I’ve also competed in dozens
of 200-300—mid-distance races around the state
of Alaska, earning first place finishes in several
of them, including most recently the 2010 Gin Gin
200. In addition I was presented with the
Humanitarian Award by the race veterinarians and
judges for my excellent dog care. I am a four-time
recipient of this award from various races, and
over the years have also received awards for
“Sportsmanship” and “Spirit” of
tough self-reliance. I take pride in my
accomplishments since not only do I train my dogs
while maintaining a year-round full-time job, but I
also run dogs taken in from animal shelters or
given to me by other mushers after not working out
in their kennels for various reasons. In the
summer, I free run my dogs on the beach, hike with
them in the mountains and swim with them in nearby
ponds. In winter I develop and adhere to a rigorous
conditioning and training regime to transform
seemingly ordinary dogs into canine athletes of the
highest caliber. All the dogs in my kennel have a
home for their whole life, and I work hard to
better the understanding of sled dog care,
including most recently taking part in a
comprehensive study of Alaskan huskies with
congenital laryngeal paralysis (a.k.a. wheezer
disease). Working closely with veterinarians I
provided information to pedigree analyses, DNA
samples from my dogs for genetic investigations,
and allowed two of my dogs to receive corrective
throat surgery, one of which will be in training
for this Iditarod as a result of the procedure.
Annually I strive to prove that it is hard work,
perseverance and canine compassion that are a
winning combination. I’m hoping to continue
spreading my humanitarian message by further
improving my success with my dogs during the
2011-2012 racing season, and I welcome any
financial or in-kind support.”
A member of both that Iditarod Official
Finishers Club and the Yukon Quest Official
Finishers Club, Colleen is married to Joseph
Robertia. She enjoys long-distance backpacking,
camping, cooking, gardening, and writing angry
letters to the government.
Colleen Robertia, 33, was born and in
Pennsylvania and raised in Massachusetts. She
received her B.S. degree in 1998 in New York, with
a major in Environmental Biology and a minor in
African Studies. She then worked as a zookeeper
caring for threatened and endangered species of
large hoof stock (elephants, rhinos, giraffe,
antelope) and big cats (lions, leopards, jaguars
and cheetahs) in Georgia for the Wildlife
conservation Society and then for the Jacksonville
Zoo in Florida. She says, "We quite our jobs at the
zoo to thru-hike the 2,168 mile Appalachian Trail
from Georgia to Maine. It was a period of deep
introspection. We figured out what was important to
us in life and moved to Alaska looking for a life
closer to nature, with potential for adventured and
with more genuine people." Since coming to Alaska,
she has worked as a youth counselor. She began
mushing in the fall of 2003 and says, "Having
worked several years for a former Iditarod
champion, Iditarod has always been the ‘BIG
FINISH' of the season. As a handler I would train
dogs all season only to see them get leased to
others for the Race. Now with my own kennel,
running thousands of miles with my own dogs,
Iditarod is OUR end goal." A Yukon Quest finisher,
she has won some mid-distance races in Alaska and
has received the Humanitarian Award several times
for her devotion to her dogs. Colleen says, "My
dogs are my family and best friends. For me the
appeal of the Iditarod is to travel with them as
one unit, working together, to travel across Alaska
as competitively and humanely as possible. As with
all races I compete in, my team will be made up of
several rogues, to include many runt, rescues and
rejects from animal shelters and other mushers. I
have worked hard to overcome many of the
physiological/behavioral issues of the dogs in my
kennel, and I take pride in all the work my husband
and I have put into them - without the aid of
handlers or helpers and while both are maintaining
full time jobs. I don't define my success by how
well I do against other mushers. Rather I define it
by how well I do with my own dogs and how well my
message reaches race supporters and spectators. My
message is simply yet comes from the fiber of my
being which is: you can have a competitive team and
live by a humane philosophy. Perhaps I'm not
considered to have the best of the best in terms of
canine athletes, but I try to do my best with the
dogs I have, and they do their best with me." When
asked about hobbies and interests other than dogs
and mushing, she says, "Pulling pranks on my
husband and neighbors, spending money on my dogs
that I don't have (or ever will), and getting my
niece and nephew to believe outrageous stories
(like I caught a leprechaun in my house so he gave
me his pot of gold, when really it was gold I won
in a race) and then having them repeat the stories
to their parents who call me mad. I also enjoy
backpacking, camping, hiking and playing sports.
She is married to Joseph.
Results
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