- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
Alright, I'm going to try and keep this thread updated while the race goes on. The race starts 'officially' on Sunday, with the ceremonial start on Saturday.
The Iditarod will be taking the Northern Route this year, and has a record high of entrees, and it was a record high for rookies. A rookie is defined as a musher who has never crossed the finish line in Nome. That means you can be a rookie for quite a few races though I would assume if you really were bad and never made it to Nome but entered every year for a few years they'd just let you be a half-vet or something. But I don't make the rules. At last look, 96 mushers are slated to start the race (there were over 100, but many have had to "scratch" - which means withdraw)
Interesting observation - the 'accepted' length is 1,049miles... but the Iditarod site lists the milage this year as 'over 1,150mi'. 1,049 is the poetic idea 49 being significant because Alaska is the 49th state (And we're going to be celebrating... um... 50 years of statehood next year - though technically it was 58 that it was voted we'd go for statehood or whatever...)
The Iditarod restart is now in Willow - that is the new official restart. Wasilla was the home for as long as I can remember, but development of that area and the lack of snow in recent years has made that almost impossible. To be honest the snow isn't as hard to overcome as the many streets and driveways the teams would have to cross now. Times, they are a changin!
I will be volunteering again this year at the ceremonial start. Will hopefully have pictures to share...
Anyway here's a basic rundown of names to look out for, and why.
Lance Mackey - He is the reigning Iditarod Champion, and his family is 'legendary' in the sport. He is the third in his family to win an Iditarod, his father and brother won before him. His win was one of those out of a Disney sports movie.
Martin Buser - one of those that dominated sled dog racing in the 90s, he's a 'transplant' Alaskan, and known for how well he treats his dogs. He is even kidded by others on the trail that he babies his team. When the huge fires in his hometown threatened his home, he didn't waste time protecting the structure... he went in and pulled out his 100+ dogs losing only two who got loose and ran into the woods. Two years ago he ran the race a month after cutting off the tips of several fingers. His son, Rohn, was last year's Jr Champ, and will be making his first appearance on the World level. Can you tell Martin's one of my favorites? Did I mention he's a 4 time Iditarod Champ?
Rick Swenson - He dominated in the 80s and 90s, and was Susan Butcher's main rival of sorts. He's one of them 'outsiders' and you either love him or... well... yeah. He's also rather... large... for a musher. He's taller and heavierset, but he's still cool. I guess. For an outsider anyway. This guy has won more Iditarods than anyone else with a total of 5 wins.
Jeff King - Buser's main rival in the 90s, he's also a 4 time champion. He's known for his antics on and off the trail, as well as his innovations. He helped design the sleds you see racing today. He put a seat on the back of the sled so that he could sit, one time he fell asleep and fell out of the sled (the dogs just stopped, which is lucky for him lol) he then designed seat belts that break away if needed. He tried to put hand warmers on the sled handle, but that caught fire. I guess he provides comic relief.
Rachel Scdoris - She is legally blind, and will be traveling with an Iditarod veteran as a trail guide. He will lead up ahead of her and radio back to let her know what to 'look out for'. She had to petition and testify to get to be in her first (IIRC that was in 05) and she's a very sweet girl, I met her over the summer. She took last year off, but she's back baby!
DeeDee Jonrowe - probably the 'hometown favorite' in a lot of ways. She's been plugging along through the years, and always is a contender - coming very close several times to winning. She's a breast cancer survivor!!! And you can't help but cheer her on. This could be her year!
Mitch Seavey - the 2001 Iditarod Champion, like Lance Mackey he has a long family history and investment within the Iditarod. His father, Dan, helped start up the very first Iditarod and ran several times (his best placement was 3rd). Dan is a hoot! Mitch fell in love with racing dogs growing up in Seward, AK... he has four sons, three of whom have run the Iditarod. In 2000, the Seavey's became the first three generation family to run together. Dan, Mitch, and Mitch's oldest son Danny all ran. Tyrell and Dallas have run in past Iditarods as well. Dallas is actually the youngest musher ever to finish the Iditarod he turned 18 one day before the race - which is the age you are allowed to enter the race, and as long as you're 18 before the race starts you're good to go. Oh yeah, Mitch/Danny/Dallas is my boss (depends on who's in charge on what day I guess lol).
Obviously there are many more mushers, for a complete list click here.
And don't forget to check out all the goodies on Iditarod.com !
The Iditarod will be taking the Northern Route this year, and has a record high of entrees, and it was a record high for rookies. A rookie is defined as a musher who has never crossed the finish line in Nome. That means you can be a rookie for quite a few races though I would assume if you really were bad and never made it to Nome but entered every year for a few years they'd just let you be a half-vet or something. But I don't make the rules. At last look, 96 mushers are slated to start the race (there were over 100, but many have had to "scratch" - which means withdraw)
Interesting observation - the 'accepted' length is 1,049miles... but the Iditarod site lists the milage this year as 'over 1,150mi'. 1,049 is the poetic idea 49 being significant because Alaska is the 49th state (And we're going to be celebrating... um... 50 years of statehood next year - though technically it was 58 that it was voted we'd go for statehood or whatever...)
The Iditarod restart is now in Willow - that is the new official restart. Wasilla was the home for as long as I can remember, but development of that area and the lack of snow in recent years has made that almost impossible. To be honest the snow isn't as hard to overcome as the many streets and driveways the teams would have to cross now. Times, they are a changin!
I will be volunteering again this year at the ceremonial start. Will hopefully have pictures to share...
Anyway here's a basic rundown of names to look out for, and why.
Lance Mackey - He is the reigning Iditarod Champion, and his family is 'legendary' in the sport. He is the third in his family to win an Iditarod, his father and brother won before him. His win was one of those out of a Disney sports movie.
Martin Buser - one of those that dominated sled dog racing in the 90s, he's a 'transplant' Alaskan, and known for how well he treats his dogs. He is even kidded by others on the trail that he babies his team. When the huge fires in his hometown threatened his home, he didn't waste time protecting the structure... he went in and pulled out his 100+ dogs losing only two who got loose and ran into the woods. Two years ago he ran the race a month after cutting off the tips of several fingers. His son, Rohn, was last year's Jr Champ, and will be making his first appearance on the World level. Can you tell Martin's one of my favorites? Did I mention he's a 4 time Iditarod Champ?
Rick Swenson - He dominated in the 80s and 90s, and was Susan Butcher's main rival of sorts. He's one of them 'outsiders' and you either love him or... well... yeah. He's also rather... large... for a musher. He's taller and heavierset, but he's still cool. I guess. For an outsider anyway. This guy has won more Iditarods than anyone else with a total of 5 wins.
Jeff King - Buser's main rival in the 90s, he's also a 4 time champion. He's known for his antics on and off the trail, as well as his innovations. He helped design the sleds you see racing today. He put a seat on the back of the sled so that he could sit, one time he fell asleep and fell out of the sled (the dogs just stopped, which is lucky for him lol) he then designed seat belts that break away if needed. He tried to put hand warmers on the sled handle, but that caught fire. I guess he provides comic relief.
Rachel Scdoris - She is legally blind, and will be traveling with an Iditarod veteran as a trail guide. He will lead up ahead of her and radio back to let her know what to 'look out for'. She had to petition and testify to get to be in her first (IIRC that was in 05) and she's a very sweet girl, I met her over the summer. She took last year off, but she's back baby!
DeeDee Jonrowe - probably the 'hometown favorite' in a lot of ways. She's been plugging along through the years, and always is a contender - coming very close several times to winning. She's a breast cancer survivor!!! And you can't help but cheer her on. This could be her year!
Mitch Seavey - the 2001 Iditarod Champion, like Lance Mackey he has a long family history and investment within the Iditarod. His father, Dan, helped start up the very first Iditarod and ran several times (his best placement was 3rd). Dan is a hoot! Mitch fell in love with racing dogs growing up in Seward, AK... he has four sons, three of whom have run the Iditarod. In 2000, the Seavey's became the first three generation family to run together. Dan, Mitch, and Mitch's oldest son Danny all ran. Tyrell and Dallas have run in past Iditarods as well. Dallas is actually the youngest musher ever to finish the Iditarod he turned 18 one day before the race - which is the age you are allowed to enter the race, and as long as you're 18 before the race starts you're good to go. Oh yeah, Mitch/Danny/Dallas is my boss (depends on who's in charge on what day I guess lol).
Obviously there are many more mushers, for a complete list click here.
And don't forget to check out all the goodies on Iditarod.com !