Joanna Jagow
Joanna has been running dogs since she can remember. She grew up with up younger brother Charlie, her mom Dawn, and father Paul on their martin and lynx trapline on the Porcupine River. The family used sled dogs as their means of transportation and spent the fall months fishing for the dogs and the winter trapping. During Joanna's senior year of high school she moved to Fairbanks year round to finish up high school and then start going to UAF where she graduated with her nursing degree in 2016. She currently is a pediatric nurse at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. During high school Joanna started to have an interest in racing dogs, however her family had all trapline dogs who had no experience running with other teams, let alone racing. After lots of work and countless hours training Joanna was able to scrabble a team together that she could bring to the start of a race. Her first few races all took place with the Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association. During Joanna's senior year of high school she started building her own kennel of dogs and had several litters of puppies. Finally during Joanna first year of college she was able to do some more serious racing. She enjoyed working with her crew of yearlings and got first place in the Two Rivers 100 race in March. The next season was quite the success too, completing in two 200 mile races and driving all the way to Dawson City for the Percy DeWolfe. Motley crew kennel continues to grow and next year will be focusing on mid-distance races and hopefully a 1,000 mile race within the next two years!
Clarence Ess
Clarence and Joanna started dating two years ago. Clarence has been commercial fishing in southeast Alaska for the last five years and is now pursuing structural fire as well. Clarence hopes to some day own his own drifting boat in Bristol Bay. Clarence's family similar to Joanna's spent many years trapping in Interior Alaska during the days people traveled by dog team rather then by snowmachine. His parents have also spent a great deal of time commercial fishing in southwest Alaska. Clarence just started racing this season and completed the Nenana Tripod days 40/40 in 5th place! Clarence helped name the last litter of pups after islands in the Aleutian chain where he has spent the last 5 summers fishing on a seiner.
Charlie Jagow
Joanna's brother Charlie a hunting guide for moose and bear hunts in Interior Alaska and traps during the winter. He prefers using a snow machine over dogs but he has been an amazing help handing for races and being there when things go south.
Paul and Dawn Jagow
Joanna's parents who have been such a blessing and support for Joanna's mushing career. Both Paul and Dawn are from New York city but it wasn't until they moved to Alaska that they met each other. Paul first traveled the Porcupine 35 years ago and decided that it was the perfect location for him to start a trapline. About 10 years later he met Dawn and shortly she moved to the Porcupine with Paul.
Brie Goldstein
I'm excited to announce that Brie will be joining the motley crew team this season! Brie spent last winter living at a tour camp located at the Dalton bridge on the Yukon river and spent the winter giving aurora and dog mushing tours. Brie became hooked on the sport of mushing and is excited to help train the pups at Motley Crew this winter!!