Blake Freking Wins 2019 Beargrease, Wife Jennifer is Runner-Up

The musher and his team of 10 dogs rode across the Grand Portage finish line at 7:30 p.m. It is his second Beargrease one, but the last was in 2004.

Freking was in a strong second for the majority of the 300-mile race, but Ryan Redington's team appeared to have issues on the final stretch, and Freking passed him. 

They ran through fierce wind and below zero temperatures to get to Grand Portage.

"There was a big clear cut that we went through, and it was blowing the sled sideways. I was kind of pedaling alongside the sled, and the sled was getting blown out from underneath my feet," Freking said. 

Despite the challenging conditions, Freking says his team looked great as they came through the finish. 

He gave the ceremonial "flowers" to Eagle, one of his lead dogs, who has led four Beargrease teams. And his 2019 team was a little different as many of the dogs were new to him. 

"I had two of our Siberians that we've run several races with," he said. "And then we had a group of dogs that came from the UP back in August."

Blake Freking is your #Beargrease19 champ!! pic.twitter.com/PhJKTjsbN5

— Baihly Warfield WDIO (@BaihlyWDIO) January 30, 2019

His wife Jennifer Freking was the runner-up, coming in to Grand Portage at 9:20 p.m., two hours after her husband. 

2019 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon finishers as of 10:15 p.m.:

1. Blake Freking
2. Jennifer Frekin
3. Jason Rice
4. Colleen Wallin
5. Erin Altemus
6. Ryan Redington??????

The finish was a bit of a surprise. Ryan Redington had a big lead this afternoon, but Freking leapfrogged him when Redington had some kind of issue with his team on the trail.

— Baihly Warfield WDIO (@BaihlyWDIO) January 30, 2019

Now that’s a Freking finish! Jen Freking comes in at No. 2, two hours after her husband won the #Beargrease19. pic.twitter.com/ycVL2UMIHd

— Baihly Warfield WDIO (@BaihlyWDIO) January 30, 2019