John Schandelmeier has accepted the position of Alaska trail coordinator for the second year in a row, rounding out the 2010 Yukon Quest race team.

The two time Yukon Quest champion and 20-year veteran of the Quest accepted the position last Friday.

The Yukon Quest sought Schandelmeier to bring back experienced personnel.

"I just can't pass up the chance to have an easy time on the Quest trail,” said Schandelmeier.

Schandelmeier joins Yukon trail coordinator John Mitchell, who announced his acceptance of the position in early November.

The Quest veteran is looking forward to building on what he learned in his first year as trail coordinator.

"All of the personnel and infrastructure are already in place from last season; the Yukon is freezing smooth and we have some early base snow. 2010 will be a good test of the things I learned while dealing with last year's trail,” Schandelmeier said.

Schandelmeier has ran the Yukon Quest 16 times, and is the only musher who has started more than 10 times and never scratched out from the race. He ran his first Quest in 1986 and became the champion in 1992 and 1996. Schandelmeier won the Veterinarians's Choice award in 1994 and again in 1996, and was awarded the Sportsmanship Award – voted on by his fellow mushers on the trail – in 1997 and 2003.

The Yukon Quest International Ltd. Alaska also announced this year's race manager, Josea Busby who was race director in 2008 and the Alaska logistics manager for this year's Quest. Busby has been involved with the Quest for many years.

"I am excited to continue my involvement in this great event with all of its dedicated volunteers and hearty participants and look forward to providing the mushers with solid checkpoint support in between the long legs of open trail,” Busby said.

Busby will be assisted by Greg Schaffer who has been involved with the Quest since 1995, first as a fan, then as sponsor, 1,000-mile club member and volunteer. Schaffer spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force doing logistic work.

"These key personnel complete the core group who are responsible for insuring all aspects of the race and implemented,” said Marti Steury, executive director for the Yukon Quest Alaska. "The assembled team brings so many different talents to this unique event that it is a privilege to be a part of the team.”

The Yukon Quest will be holding a holiday open house on Dec. 11 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the White Pass Depot Lobby, which will be an opportunity for the public to meet with local mushers.

More information and news on the Yukon Quest can be found online at www.yukonquest.com