Today we received the sad news that Hans Mast passed away.
He passed away last Sunday, October 2, at the age of 78.
Hans is one of the co-founders of the SSC-NL and also the founder of the Kivo Kempentrail. The Kivo Kempentrail used to be organized on the E3 beach by the ONSS foundation. Afterwards Hans took over and it moved from the E3 beach to its current location in the Molenvelden.
Hans Mast was a pioneer and for years a figurehead for the Dutch sled dog sport. He has been active in the sled dog sport for more than 35 years, he has also described his first 24 years in his book “Winning with your dogs”. Started in the sprint and eventually went to the Middle Distance competitions where he and his teams ran several major competitions such as the Alpentrail, scandream and Pirena.
In recent years Hans was no longer active due to his mental health, but certainly the musher who have been active for a while will remember Hans as an icon. A person who was always present, who organized a lot, who put himself in the spotlight, but was above all a sociable person. Can't get tired and his motto was "we'll get another one". He had learned to talk in his hairdressing business and he always took that fun with him to the stake-out.
Next Thursday, Hans Mast will be said goodbye in private.
As a club we can only be grateful for his enormous commitment and fun all these years. Rest in Peace and Mush Free.
