Wrapping Up Some Margaritaville Mushing

Later this month, Alberta-based filmmaker Eppo Eerkes will be heading down to Ocho Rios, Jamaica to celebrate the completion of a second documentary about the island's infamous dog sledding pioneer Oswald “Newton” Marshall. The big difference is that this time around, the account of the 26-year-old's efforts in the 2010 Iditarod were financed by none other than famed singer, part-time Jamaica resident and enthusiastic team sponsor Jimmy Buffett, drawn in by the incorporation of a subplot about how stray dogs used for training purposes are cared for at the Chukka Caribbean Adventures resort.


Marshall, who finished 13th out of 29 competitors in 2009, did not fare quite as well this time around, despite being trained by legendary dogsledder Lance Mackey. However, that is unlikely to dampen spirits at the upcoming wrap party with Buffett, Chukka onwer Danny Melville and, presumably, a bunch of dogs happy to be back in the warmth of the Caribbean. Underdog, Eerkes' film about the 2009 Yukon adventures of the Jamaica Dog Sled Team, premieres this month on Canada's Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

[Eppo Eerkes]