Pat Noddin

29 year old Yukon Quest rookie

Nationality: Canadian
Current Residence: Rocky Mountain House, AB
Occupation(s): Handler/Musher
Kennel Name: Atka Kennel
Name Origination: Atka means guardian spirit in the Inuit language.
Kennel Bloodlines: Swingley, Mackey, King
Breeds: Alaskan Husky
# of Dogs in Kennel: 75

Musher Question & Answer

How many years have you been running dogs?
5

Tell us about your dogs?
I've been running the 2020 team for 3 years now, so it will be exciting to face the challenge of this years race together and see the progression from puppy to professional.

How did you get started running dogs?
A friend of mine connected me with a musher who needed a handler, so I drove from Nova Scotia to Alberta and have been working with sled dogs ever since.

What do you love most about running sled dogs?
The adventure and opportunity it gives me, to travel through and visit some of the best places with a healthy and happy team of dogs ahead of you is an unbeatable feeling.

Why did you enter the Yukon Quest? What are your goals for the race?
Running the Yukon Quest is something I've wanted to do since I started mushing. My team is fairly young with not too much 1000 mile experience so getting a big and healthy dog team across the finish line is the ultimate goal.

What music do you listen to on the trail?
Anything from Lost Dog Street Band and Jason Isbell to Datsik and Keys n Krates. It's a diverse selection!

How did your dogs get their names?/ How do you choose names?
Everyone at Atka has been a hockey player or athlete at some point, so the litter themes are mostly sports based. The puppy pens are full of Hall of Famers and dynasty teams so it will be interesting to see if they live up to their name sakes.

List recent sled dog races and/or best performances
2019 - Idaho Sled Dog Challenge, 2018 - Copper Basin 3000, 2018 - Knik 200.