Top 31 Iditarod teams now into Nome
Thu, March 13, 2008
31 teams have made it to Nome in the Iditarod. All finishers take home $1,049 for their accomplishment, but the top thirty earn additional prize money. Number 30 is Melissa Owens, who arrived in Nome at 11:21 this morning. Owens lives in Nome, and was welcomed by a huge hometown crowd who turned out to cheer her on.
Libby Casey, KUAC - Nome
Iditarod’s top 15 are into Nome following Mackey’s second championship
Wed, March 12, 2008
Teams continue to pour into Nome this evening, wrapping up their 1,100-mile run on the Iditarod trail. The latest to arrive was DeeDee Jonrowe, who finished at 4:07 p.m. this afternoon, in 15th place.
Libby Casey, KUAC - Nome
Lance Mackey: Iditarod 2008 Champion
Wed, March 12, 2008
Yet another Lance Mackey win in the Iditarod. This year he did it in 9 days, 11 hours, 46 minutes, 48 seconds (official time).
We’ll have audio updates later this morning on APRN stations statewide. And check out our Special Coverage site for more. We’ll have updates from Libby Casey in Nome, plus more coverage from further back in the race from Ellen Lockyer.
Jeff King has taken 2nd place. A handful of mushers were battling for third place, and are expected in Nome by 9:00 a.m. this morning.
We’re live Twittering the Iditarod victory; Mackey past Safety checkpoint
Wed, March 12, 2008
Join us on Twitter for live coverage right up to the end of the race! And be sure to see our special Iditarod coverage web site. What’s happening?
Lance Mackey has already passed the Safety checkpoint. So far, Jeff King has not poured on enough speed to make up the 1-hour difference in their starts from White Mountain. So it looks like Mackey’s race to lose at this point.
You can see a spreadsheet we’re updating as we countdown to someone’s victory.
If Mackey does indeed win this race, he will set yet another dog sledding record, with this unprecedented winning streak:
- Iditarod 2008
- Yukon Quest 2008
- Iditarod 2007
- Yukon Quest 2007
Unalakleet hosts Iditarod rush hour
Mon, March 10, 2008
The Iditarod trail sled dog race is entering the final push as Lance Mackey checked into Koyuk at 1:19 p.m. this afternoon and Jeff King chased right in behind him 8 minutes later. Checked out of Shaktoolik and heading toward Koyuk now are Ken Anderson, Martin Buser, Ramey Smyth and Hans Gatt. Checked into Shaktoolik are Paul Gebhardt, Mitch Seavey, Kjetil Backen and Rick Swenson. The Iditarod’s Unalakleet checkpoint saw heavy traffic this morning, as the second tier of mushers pulled in off the trail for a few hours rest. There’s plenty of action and a few surprises for race watchers that ought to keep this year’s race just that — a race — all the way to the finish.
Ellen Lockyer, APRN - Unalakleet
Families that mush together, stay together
Mon, March 10, 2008
Mushing the Iditarod is usually a solo journey between the team of musher and dogs. But some racers have family members out on the trail. KUAC’s Libby Casey has more about the unique relationships in this year’s race.
Libby Casey, KUAC - Unalakleet
Iditarod sled dog killed in snowmachine collision
Mon, March 10, 2008
A dog in the team of Minnesotan Jen Freking was killed Sunday night by a snowmachine. Freking was on the trail between Galena and Nulato, near Koyukuk. Iditarod officials say her dog Lorne was killed and another was hurt when they were hit around 10:00 p.m. last night. They said Freking is devastated, but has decided to continue on the trail. This is the second dog death in this year’s Iditarod.
Libby Casey, KUAC - Unalakleet
Fierce competition at the front of Iditarod pack
Mon, March 10, 2008
The competition is fierce in this year’s Iditarod. Jeff King and Lance Mackey left Shaktoolik within minutes of each other last night, headed across the ice of Norton Sound. Behind those two there were more than 12 teams jockeying for the top 10, as they came into Unalakleet through the night. Kjetil Backen led them in, with Mitch Seavey and Rick Swenson closest behind him, then Martin Buser, Paul Gebhart and Ken Anderson. Seavey is down to 9 dogs. Anderson has 15, Buser 14. Scratches include Ryan Redington and some rookies, including arctic musher John Stetson, who had a dog death.
Get the full update by listening to the attached audio report.
Mackey still leading Iditarod
Fri, March 7, 2008
Defending champ Lance Mackey is still leading the Iditarod at this hour. He’s the first, and only, musher to leave Ruby thus far, checking out just after 3:30 this afternoon. Six other mushers have checked in to Ruby. They include frontrunners Jeff King, Kjetel Backen, Mitch Seavey and Rick Swenson.
Libby Casey, KUAC - Ruby
We’re waiting at the river — who will we see first?
Fri, March 7, 2008
Warm temperatures slowed the leaders in the Iditarod as they came through Cripple and headed toward the Yukon River and Ruby overnight. Lance Mackey was out first, but without rest, at 9:05 p.m. last night. Then Hans Gatt, a couple of hours later. Jeff King left a half hour after midnight, then Rick Swenson blasted through, taking no rest in Cripple. Kjetil Backen decided to go out right behind him. Aaron Burmeister was out next. Mitch Seavey and Jessie Royer have completed their 24-hour layovers, and soon Paul Gebhart, DeeDee Jonrowe, Zack Steer and Martin Buser will be finished with theirs, and in the chase. Someone will be first into Ruby this morning, and KUAC’s Libby Casey is waiting for them.
Meanwhile, back in McGrath, APRN’s David Shurtleff chats with some of this year’s crop of Iditarod rookies. Over 20% of the mushers in this year’s Iditarod are running the race for the first time and most first-timers find themselves towards the middle of the pack.
Be sure to listen to the attached audio report for all the details.
Iditarod leaders into Cripple - DeeDee surprised to be first
Thu, March 6, 2008
On the Iditarod trail, DeeDee Jonrowe was the first into the Cripple checkpoint at 6:22 a.m. She was followed in rapid succession by Paul Gebhardt, 6:30 a.m.; Zack Steer, 6:36 a.m.; and Martin Buser, 6:40 a.m. along with Ed Iten at 7:20 a.m. and Ken Anderson at 7:42 a.m. As of late afternoon, the Iditarod report showed 10 mushers in Cripple. All appear to be taking their mandatory 24-hour layovers, perhaps reflecting a difficult trail between Ophir and Cripple.
Len Anderson, KSKA - Anchorage and Libby Casey, KUAC - Cripple
Iditarod frontrunner status scrambled on way to Cripple
Thu, March 6, 2008
It looks like a fast trail to Cripple. A pack of mushers led by Paul Gebhart took off for there yesterday afternoon. We’re not sure yet how that worked out for them. And now another group has taken off for Cripple from Takotna on what may be a better and faster trail. We’re talking about Kjetil Backen, 45 minutes ahead of Lance Mackey and Jeff King. They will pass Mitch Seavey and others, who can’t take off until later from Ophir.
Cripple is the halfway point, and the most remote point, on the trail. Reporting from there is fragmentary and often delayed. Things will become a lot clearer by the time teams reach Ruby and the Yukon River. The front pack that Gebhart led toward Cripple yesterday includes Hugh Neff, Zack Steer, DeeDee Jonrowe, Sylvia Willis, Martin Buser, Ed Iten, Ken Anderson, Rohn Buser and several others. In the past, some have gone all the way to Ruby before taking their 24 hour layover, which is mandatory, and can be a key element of strategy. Though there are other reasons some mushers lean towards Takotna.
Some took their twenty-four hour layovers in McGrath and headed down the trail toward the others in the middle of the night. They’ll roar through Takotna and Ophir, trying to catch up with the pack on the way to the Yukon river. They include Hans Gatt, William Kleedin, Gerry Willomitzer and five-time winner Rick Swenson.
TEAM COVERAGE:
Steve Heimel, APRN - Anchorage
Libby Casey, KUAC - Takotna
David Shurtleff, APRN - McGrath
Be sure to listen to the attached audio update for our full report.
Gebhardt leads the Iditarod for now
Wed, March 5, 2008
Paul Gebhardt was the first musher out of the Ophir checkpoint this afternoon. He left at 12:52 p.m. and is now leading the Iditarod. Mitch Seavey is now in second place. But he was the first into Ophir at 10:00 a.m. this morning. He was followed into the checkpoint by Hugh Neff, Zach Steer, Ed Iten and Martin Buser. But it’s getting tricky to rely on the standings, as many mushers are taking their 24-hour layovers, including a handful at McGrath and Takotna.
David Shurtleff, APRN - McGrath
Lance Mackey leads Iditarod out of Nikolai
Tue, March 4, 2008
Defending champion Lance Mackey has taken the lead in the Iditarod. He left the Nikolai checkpoint at 4:17 this afternoon. Norweigan Kjetil Backen was the first into Nikolai, and is still resting there. Gerry Willomitzer is currently in third place followed closely by Paul Gebhardt, Jeff King, Hans Gatt and Huff Neff. They are all at Nikolai.
David Shurtleff, APRN and Libby Casey, KUAC - McGrath
Backen first to Rohn; McGrath arrivals expected tonight
Tue, March 4, 2008
Iditarod leaders were on the 75 miles between Rohn and Nikolai this morning — lots of them. Among the first ten reaching Rohn last night was Rick Swenson. He stayed for more rest than most. Some just checked in and kept going. Nenana veteran Aaron Burmeister says this is a point in the race where you can’t fall too far behind.
First into Rohn, with a two hour lead on Paul Gebhart, was Team Norway’s Kjetil Backen, back after a three-year absence.
Tonight the leaders will reach McGrath. Among the many who will be there to greet them on the Kuskokwim River will be former Iditarod musher Eep Anderson, now the proprietor of McGuire’s Tavern.
For our complete update, be sure to listen to the attached Iditarod audio report.
Iditarod off to a fast start
Mon, March 3, 2008
Norweigan Kjetil Backen is in the lead of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. He blew through the Rainy Pass checkpoint at 1:21 this afternoon with 15 dogs. Rainy Pass is 180 miles into the race. Backen has placed as high as third in two past Iditarods as part of “Team Norway.” Also through Rainy Pass are Nenana’s Aaron Burmeister, Gerry Willomitzer of Whitehorse, and Paul Gebhardt of Kasilof. At last check 11 teams were resting at the checkpoint, including past champs Mitch Seavey and Jeff King, Sigrid Ekran of Norway, Ramey Smith, and Dee Dee Jonrowe.
Libby Casey, APRN - Finger Lake
Fast trail, fast teams in first full day of Iditarod racing
Mon, March 3, 2008
It’s a very fast trail this year, and last year’s winner, Lance Mackey, was among the first into Skwentna after the restart in Willow. He and others took some rest there, as Jeff King and others came through, stopping briefly, and headed on. After winning the Yukon Quest yet again this year, will the fast trail work in Mackey’s favor?
Steve Heimel, APRN - Anchorage
-
Search
-
datebook49.com
See the full calendar
Submit your event
Dr George -- We guarantee to reduce the High Fuel Costs and Emissions problem for any/all fleet...
Site Credits
Site Policies
Contact Us