USA - the early years
Ch. Snodahl's Budding Star. DOB Nov. 15, 1980 "Buddy"By Ch. Kondako's Nightwatch x Ch. Dancing Snowflake of SamarkaBuddy was linebred on Ch. Kondako's Dancing Bear. His sire, Nightwatch, was a Dancing Bear son. His dam, Snowflake, was a Sun Dancer daughter and a Dancing Bear granddaughter. I post this picture here because I don't think many people are aware of this dog, or the importance that the Kondako dogs still have on the Samoyeds in the US. Buddy is directly behind Ch. White Magic's Shanticlaire BISS. Both Dancing Bear and Sun Dancer are behind Ch. Sanorka's Moonlight Gambler(Gabby), who - through frozen semen - was the sire of the Winner's Dog at the 2021 SCA Natl Specialty(US). Gabby was the SCA Top Sire for these years: 1991, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, and 2000. Both Ch. Kondako's Sun Dancer and Ch. Kondako's Dancing Bear were also SCA Top Studs for multiple years. Buddy is also behind BISS Ch. Sassillie's Change of Heart (Chance, bred and handled by Carole Cheesman). Buddy is Chance's maternal grandsire. Chance sired (among others) BISS Ch. Kimba of Artic Brite, so if Kimba is behind your dogs, then Buddy will be behind them as well.
Sledding event in 1951
Sharon Marie - My mom was part of a sledding event or two, in 1951. She was a Western style entertainer named Carolina Cotton. In December '51 she was flown to Fairbanks AK to participate in a big celebration...to place a real "Pole" and letters to Santa at the geographical North Pole! The first attempt of its kind, and first flight for a commercial plane (Alaska Airlines) to fly over the Pole. And part of the celebration was to be a big Mushers Parade. The Alaskan Dog Mushers Association was new back then. Jack Mansfield, their 1st president, coordinated this parade and other ceremonies for the Pole Drop. Well, for the longest time it was believed these photos were taken in Fairbanks. But too many things didn't add up for a dog sledding event up there in December! Carolina reportedly "learned all she could" about sledding before going to Alaska, and there are pics of her in a sled...probably "getting the hang of it". There was also a sled race taking place when these pics were taken. So, we're thinking this was somewhere in the mountains of California, since Carolina was based in Hollywood. Big Bear? Lake Tahoe? Does anyone have a clue? Meanwhile, I'm still looking for pics of the Fairbanks Mushers Parade of December 1951.