My then neighbors and good friends, Robert and Arabella Levorsen were instrumental in founding the IFSS and in efforts to make sled dog racing an Olympic sport. Last fall, I read that the IFSS was returning to Fairbanks (North Pole really). A couple weeks later I learned that Bob Levorsen had passed away. Somehow those two things came together in my mind as a reason to go to the races in Bob's honor. Since then, I have been in touch with many people who knew Bob and with the IFSS board, lobbying for some sort of formal recognition of Bob and Bella's decades of tireless work to promote sled dog sports. The IFSS has agreed to do something, though they are not sure what. I was asked to write up something about Bob to be read at the ceremonies. I don't know what use will be made of it, but here is the speech that I wrote:
Last fall, the IFSS lost one of it founding visionaries, Robert Levorsen. Some of you may never have heard of Bob - others of you may know that Bob was instrumental in founding the IFSS, in the effort to have sled dog sports included in the Olympics and in having skijoring as a demonstration sport at the Lillehammer Olympics, in the creation of the ISDRA championship point and medal system, in creating the well regarded Truckee Lions race and was a tireless force in countless other behind the scenes efforts to promote the sport and the animals that he loved. In 1999, Bob was awarded the Mush with PRIDE Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to the sport and to the dogs.
It is not an exaggeration to say that you are here today thanks in part to Bob's efforts. It is for this reason that the IFSS has chosen to recognize and honor Bob at this event and to thank him and his wife Arabella (Bella) for years of service to sled dog sports.
Bob and Bella were introduced to mushing when Chevron sent them to Anchorage in 1965. A few years later, when they relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, their love of mushing remained an unwavering lifelong passion. Bob and Bella jumped into the then fledgling local club, Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers and began organizing races in California.
Over the years, Bob and Bella would race in events from Alaska to California. Bella was the "ghost writer" behind George Attla's first book - Everything Thing I Know about Training and Racing Sled Dogs. She and Bob would create and nurture the book Mush - A Beginners Manual of Sled Dog Training through three revisions and updates. The book, now in its 4th edition, edited by Charlene LaBelle, still can be found on the shelves of mushing supply stores and Amazon.com. By the way, Bob and Bella did not profit from the sale of the book. The net proceeds of the sales of the book go to help support the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers' events.
Bob's work on behalf of the sport was not limited to behind the scenes organizing efforts. Bob and Bella seemed to view our sport and all its participants as a form of extended family. Whether someone was a new sprint racer, a seasoned Iditarod veteran or community booster trying to put on a race, Bob and Bella were willing to lend a hand. It would be hard to guess how many of us benefited from the Levorsens' generosity - helping mushers with a place to stay, a donation to get to a far away race or just an afternoon of cocktails and conversation if musher was passing through the town. Somehow, the Levorsens' view of our sport as an extended family was something that they passed on to everyone who knew or raced with them.
Just like any other family, sometimes there were some strong disagreements. Let's face it, we are a competitive bunch with some pretty strong opinions. Bob and Bella made high demands of themselves and had equally high expectations of the rest of us to do what we can for the benefit of our sport and our mushing community.
So, as you go through the next few days and as you go forward in our sport, ask yourselves, what I am doing to promote this sport, what can I do to help my fellow mushers and how can I help safeguard the sleddogs we all love.
I am sure that where ever Bob is today, he is anxious to watch some great IFSS Championship Racing here in North Pole. Through his family and friends, we will be sending his wife Bella some updates about this great event. Let's all say thank you to Bob and Bella Levorsen -two of the unsung heroes of our sport.
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