Tag Archives: Iditarod 2016

Dog Activities, Dog News

Drunk Snowmobile Driver Causes Iditarod Tragedy

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KTUU has several videos and articles detailing the crash caused early Saturday when a drunk 26-year-old Nulato man drove his snowmobile into Jeff King’s team, killing 4-year old Nash and injuring at least 2 more dogs. King and Iditarod officials claim the attack was intentional and say that the man also harassed Aliy Zirkle, injuring one of her dogs. The man maintains he was blacked out and doesn’t remember a thing. He faces two counts of third degree assault, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of reckless driving and five counts of fifth degree criminal mischief.

Neither musher was hurt in the attacks, and both plan on continuing the race. In fact, Zirkle advanced from 3rd place to 2nd today.

Best wishes to both as they continue their quest, and our sympathies go out to King and his kennel family on the loss of Nash.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2016: Standings as of March 12th at 12:45 Eastern

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Kamchatka Dog Sled Racing Beringia. Russian Far EastThe top five are now scattered between the Kaltag and Nulato checkpoints. From Kaltag, the next waypoint is Unalakleet, on the coast of the Bering Sea. From there, they circle the west edge of the sea, all the way to Nome.


Here are the leaders’ positions:


1 Brent Sass
Bib 32 OUT OF Kaltag
AT 03-12 08:20

2 Mitch Seavey
Bib 19 IN TO Kaltag
AT 03-12 07:41

3 Aliy Zirkle
Bib 13 OUT OF Nulato
AT 03-12 06:16

4 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 OUT OF Nulato
AT 03-12 07:14

5 Wade Marrs
Bib 33 OUT OF Nulato
AT 03-12 07:17

Dog Activities

2016 Iditarod Standings: 09 March @ 3:40 pm Eastern

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Limited North American Championship Sled Dog RacesDallas Seavey has taken over the lead, while his father Mitch has fallen out of the top five, lagging at Takotna checkpoint while the leaders have progressed through Ophir. Four mushers (Gatt, DeNure, Steves, and Koenig) have scratched. The five mushers at the top of the standings are:
1 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 02:21

2 Noah Burmeister
Bib 39 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 05:52

3 John Baker
Bib 66 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 06:02

4 Robert Sorlie
Bib 37 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 08:24

5 Jeff King
Bib 61 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 08:50

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2016: Standings as of 8 March @ 3:30 pm Eastern

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husky race 4The lead mushers are all clustered around the checkpoint at Nikolai. Brent Sass has broken into the lead, and is the only one to have left the checkpoint thus far. Many people are expecting the Seaveys to go 1-2 this year; they are currently running 3rd and 4th, but it’s very early in the race.

Here’s the order for the top five as of late this morning in Alaska.

1 Brent Sass
Bib 32 OUT OF Nikolai
AT 03-08 10:57

2 Nicolas Petit
Bib 12 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 08:41

3 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 09:05

4 Mitch Seavey
Bib 19 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 09:23

5 Wade Marrs
Bib 33 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 09:28

Dog Activities

How do you start a sled race when there’s no snow?

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video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player KTUU is reporting that seven rail cars full of snow had to be brought into Anchorage from Fairbanks for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod this year. (Global warming: myth or reality??) Continue reading How do you start a sled race when there’s no snow? →

Dog Activities

Iditarod 2016 Ceremonial Start

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Dog SleddingI wish I had known this earlier, I would have given you advance warning. For the first time, the Iditarod ceremonial start is being live-streamed FOR FREE at Iditarod.com. Take a few minutes and check out these powerful working dogs and their handlers. The last racer is scheduled to take off at 1:04 pm Alaskan time, which is 5:04 pm in the East.

The actual timed race will begin on Sunday at 2 pm Alaksan time (6 pm Eastern). I’ll be bringing you the standings every day until it’s over – usually about 10 days.

One of the problems for planners this year has been the lack of snow, leaving a very icy trail. We’ll have to see how that impacts the race as it progresses. This being an even year, they are taking the Northern Route, which one would assume would mean more snow.

The live stream broadcast is really a good idea, I think. For all of the haters who think the dogs are being forced or whipped to do something they don’t want to do, this shows that the dogs CANNOT WAIT to get started. There are, in fact, people holding them back until it’s their turn to go.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!