A vow to never get out of shape sums up George Attla’s commitment to exercise. A childhood illness taught him that there are ways to stay in shape, even when confined to a hospital bed. Today he still moves 5-gallon buckets to feed his dogs. In winter he cuts and hauls his own firewood, shovels snow, travels by snow machine, and traps beaver under the ice. In summer he sets nets to catch salmon.
The extraordinary winning record of sprint sled dog racer George Attla is impressive. He credits his good start in racing to the help he received from a remarkable older generation of Athabascan trappers who relied on dogs to make a living off the land. He says these “dogmen” had tremendous knowledge about dogs, and having good dogs brought them a lot of pride. It was this pride passed down by countless generations that inspired him to be a champion for over 5 decades. George says he was taught that there isn’t anything that can’t be overcome, but it takes determination, hard work, perseverance, and a disciplined mind. George believes everyone can be a winner in life if they always work to improve themselves.
1969.03-Doyon about dog mushing pride
1984.03-Attla catch the spirit
1988.04-Governor Cooper
1994.04-Tundra Times
2009.10-Willow Dog Mushing Association Recognition
GEORGE ATTLA of Huslia, Alaska The legendary open-class sprint dog racer has won more Fur Rendezvous World Championships (10 wins) than any other musher to date. He won 8 North American World Championships and 9 ISDRA unlimited class metals. His book, Everything I know about Training and Racing Sled Dogs, is still considered the musher’s bible. His life story became the subject of a film, Spirit of the Wind and a book of the same title has been published. In 2000 he was awarded the Best Musher of the 20th Century and voted No. 2 Alaskan Athlete of the Century. In 2007, he was inducted into the first Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. 2008 marked his 50th year of competitive sled dog racing. In April 2011, he won the Bergman Sam Memorial Koyukuk River Championship in Huslia. Attla turns 79 years old in August 2012.
Meet George Attla:
The legendary sprint sled dog racer shares his racing history, giving credit to his parents he acknowledges as ‘dog people’ who knew more about sled dogs than he does today. His understanding of sled dogs began in his childhood when his family depended entirely on trapping dogs to survive. George grew up in the village of Huslia, which had more sprint racing champions than anywhere in the world. Today it is believed the best husky crosses originated in Huslia.
Project Jukebox
George Attla was interviewed on June 27, 2011 by William Schneider, Kathy Turco and Karen Brewster at Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks, Alaska. View the full video interview with transcripts here: http://jukebox.uaf.edu/site/interviews/george-attla
Drawing by Shawna Zusi-Cobb (click on image to read about artist)
“He was special as a pup,” recalls George Attla. “Lingo, even when he was little, he always had to be in the front.” George’s approach to early training was to let him do anything he wanted. Born in 1979, Lingo’s only real flaw was a tendency to leap off the trail and roll in the snow to cool off. As a 55-pound adult with long legs and a buff-white coat, Lingo was George Attla’s greatest leader. Lingo had an extraordinarily powerful way to stretch out a team.
A 1982 Fur Rendezvous World Sled Dog Championship record-setting win marked Lingo as a world-class leader. As he got older he knew all the racetracks. He knew his limits. In the most difficult last 30-mile heat of the Open North American World Sled Dog Championship, George says not once did Lingo come up short. Read more about Lingo in article in March/April 1999 issue of Mushing Magazine. See a pen & ink drawing of Lingo that captured his spirit by Shawna Zusi-Cobb.
1988.03-Courtesy of Fbks Daily News-Miner of George run of ONAC George Attla says there is no way to make champions out of dogs without loving them and taking the best possible care of them. He’s convinced that sled dogs get more satisfaction out of running than any dog that’s a pet in people’s homes. Like humans, dogs that don’t love what they are doing, can’t give their best. A lot of communication takes place between a team of dogs and a driver that the public watching does not understand. George shares stories about some amazing races where the dogs did the thinking to win.
2004.03- Spencer, JIm of George running ONAC at 70 years old
Ask George Attla’s older sister Rose Ambrose to describe her brother, and she will say, “I’m not a give up person.” She will go on to tell you that their parents, who raised all their children totally off the land, had very strong minds and bodies. The children were taught by example that there was no giving up. Rose said that in surviving a life-threatening childhood illness, George learned how to never give up. No matter what the obstacles, he worked hard to reach goals that he set for himself. George believes that giving your best with a can-do winning attitude will give you peace, whether you win or lose. With every loss, there is always something to learn.
Photo Courtesy of Anchorage Daily Times- Attla’s first win of Fur Rondy in 1958
About George Attla
The legendary open-class sprint dog racer has won more Fur Rendezvous World Championships (10 wins) than any other musher to date. He won 8 North American World Championships and 9 ISDRA unlimited class metals. His book, Everything I know about Training and Racing Sled Dogs, is still considered the musher’s bible. His life story became the subject of a film, Spirit of the Wind and a book of the same title has been published. In 2000 he was awarded the Best Musher of the 20th Century and voted No. 2 Alaskan Athlete of the Century. In 2007, he was inducted into the first Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. 2008 marked his 50th year of competitive sled dog racing. In April 2011, he won the Bergman Sam Memorial Koyukuk River Championship in Huslia. Attla turns 79 years old in August 2012.
tla says there is no way to make champions out of dogs without loving them and taking the best possible care of them. He’s convinced that sled dogs get more satisfaction out of running than any dog that’s a pet in people’s homes. Like humans, dogs that don’t love what they are doing, can’t give their best. A lot of communication takes place between a team of dogs and a driver that the public watching does not understand. George shares stories about some amazing races where the dogs did the thinking to win.
Photo Courtesy of Anchorage Daily Times- Attla’s first win of Fur Rondy in 1958