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Jamaican musher sets sights on 2009 Quest
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Whitehorse Daily Star
ECHO ROSS
July 20, 2007
There was an unmistakable buzz of excitement in the air Thursday afternoon at the Yukon Tourism Information
Centre.
“Excuse me, is that Frank Turner?” asked the tourist, pointing at the musher in front of the television camera.
When told no, it was in fact Hans Gatt, the tourist turned into what could best be described as a giddy teenager,
running back to his group of friends and snapping numerous pictures.
You see, this tourist was from Austria, and it turns out Gatt, who originally hails from Austria but now lives in
Whitehorse, has made quite a name for himself back home.
In fact, during Thursday’s press conference, the three-time Yukon Quest champion was described as “one of the most
famous mushers in the world.”
It’s for that reason Danny Melville invited Gatt to take part in his latest adventure, and it should be noted the
Jamaican resident and his crew are now turning their own share of heads across the globe.
Melville is the owner and founder of the Jamaican dog sled team. That’s right, dog sled. Not bobsled – although
they’re used to the comparisons following the blockbuster Disney movie Cool Runnings.“Out-right laughter,” smiled Melville, when asked about the typical reaction to his team. “People just crack up.”
The idea for a Jamaican dog sled team was born a few years ago, when Melville visited a fabrication shop in
Edmonton, where they build dune buggys....."
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