Leading the Pack in Fairbanks’ Sled Dog Scene
Fairbanks, Alaska, In the heart of Interior Alaska, where winter reigns and the northern lights dance overhead, North Star Dog Mushing is carving out a reputation as one of the premier dog mushing outfits in the state. From long distance racing to immersive sled dog tours around Fairbanks and out into the Brooks Range, North Star has become a beacon for mushers, adventurers, and dog lovers alike.
Who They Are & What They Do
Based in Fairbanks, Alaska, North Star Dog Mushing Co. is a full service dog mushing kennel and adventure tourism operator. Their mission is to combine competitive racing, tourism, and educational experiences, showcasing dog mushing in Fairbanks, Alaska, as both an athletic and cultural pursuit.
There are three main pillars of operation: Racing, Winter Tours, and Summer / Fall Tours.
Racing
North Star competes in high end long distance dog sled races, including the Iditarod and Yukon Quest.
They also participate in mid distance events.
Their “Races” section of the site includes stories, results, and updates from past trail adventures.
Tours (Winter / Summer / Multi day Wilderness)
North Star offers a variety of tour products, deeply tied to dog mushing in Fairbanks and beyond:
Winter Tours in the Fairbanks area: They partner with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service and Borealis Basecamp to operate sled dog rides during the winter season.
March wilderness tours in the Brooks Range: For one month each spring, North Star relocates to the Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge in the remote Brooks Range, providing off grid, immersive dog mushing and aurora experiences. Guests may even drive their own team under guidance.
Summer / Fall Tours (Fairbanks / Homer):
In Fairbanks (Goldstream Valley), they provide UTV based tours (side by side off road vehicle) where guests can meet the dogs, tour the kennel, and learn about dog mushing.
In Homer, AK, they run “meet & greet” experiences, beach buggy rides with the sled dogs (along the Homer Spit), and puppy introductions.
Deke & Jonah (and Family)
No dog mushing operation is complete without the people behind it, and North Star is no different. Meet the co owners Deke “Born Naked” Naaktgeboren and Jonah “the Baconator” Bacon.
Deke Naaktgeboren
- Deke is co owner and co founder. He originally founded Nautique Sky Kennel back in 2014.
- Before launching this kennel, he had mushing experience in Colorado and Sweden.
- He breeds his own dogs, raises them, and competes in long distance events including Iditarod, Yukon Quest, Copper Basin, and Two Rivers.
- In the 2023 Iditarod, he won the Leonard Seppala Humanitarian Award for outstanding dog care.
- His race resume is extensive:
- 2024 Iditarod, 2024 Yukon Quest 300 (5th)
- Earlier: 2023 Iditarod (20th), 2023 Yukon Quest 550, 2022 (various Yukon & Iditarod runs), 2020 Cinnamon Bun Run (1st), and more.
Jonah Bacon
- Jonah hails from Wisconsin and moved to Fairbanks in 2021.
- Since 2022, he’s been mushing alongside Deke, doing training runs, tours, and racing.
- His racing credentials:
- He won the Red Lantern and Sportsmanship Award in the 2024 Yukon Quest Alaska 300.
- He also won the Sportsmanship Award in the 2025 Yukon Quest Alaska 550.
- In 2025, he placed 4th in the Yukon Quest 550.
Jonah is known to bring humor to the kennel, he “especially enjoys sharing the goofy personalities of each individual dog with guests and cleaning the yard of doggie turds when the Northern Lights are out.”
Their family is part of the picture too, Nolan, Deke’s son, is deeply involved. Nolan has been a key part of the kennel since childhood, races in kid sled dog events (Two Rivers Fun ale) in costume, and helps raise litters (notably a “Chicago Bulls litter”).
A Bit of History
North Star’s story is relatively young compared to some legacy kennels, but its roots draw from the rich tradition of Alaska dog mushing:
- Deke’s prior experience in Sweden and Colorado suggests he drew from international sled dog culture before bringing that to the Alaskan environment.
- Jonah’s entry from outside Alaska reflects a trend of new mushers moving in from elsewhere to pursue the “Alaska mushing dream.” In an interview, he talks about falling in love with mushing by volunteering in the Iditarod and gradually working toward competing himself.
- North Star fits into the broader Fairbanks, Interior Alaska mushing scene, which historically has been a hub of long distance racing, with the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, Kobuk 440, and Copper Basin events all contributing to the region’s sled dog culture.
Given climate change pressures, tourism demands, and rising costs, combining racing with tour operations, as North Star does, is a sustainable model many kennels are adopting.
Visit North Star Mushings website at northstarmushing.com
