Sam McLain racing from from Skookum Kennels started mushing in 2018, but got involved with mushing much earlier, "I started interning at Paul Schurke's kennel Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge in Minnesota when I was 13. I worked for Paul on and off until I was 18 then came to Alaska to work for Alaska Icefield expeditions as a summer job from college. I started working for Lauro Eklund the next winter and am now in my second season working and racing for Lauro."
She has seen the 440 in action while being a handler in 2025, and says she has been looking forward to it since. 
​"I'm very excited to see the dogs handle the different terrain in my longest race yet and to back in the community of Kotzebue with all of the great people I met at the last Kobuk!"

Kennel: Skookum Kennels Handler(s): Tyler Age: 20 Location: Two Rivers  Started Mushing: 2018 Number of Dogs: 12 Key Dogs:  Alder + Galbraith Sponsors:  Alaska Icefield Expeditions Other Races: T-Dog 200 in 2025, and Copper Basin 300 in 2026