2026 Kobuk 440 musher roster & race preview

And now, the end is near, and so we face the final curtain. Yup, it's that time of year. The last "big race" of the season is upon us and that means it's truly Springtime in Alaska (where it has been 40 below). The Kobuk 440 kicks off Thursday afternoon and it's going to be another exciting race that's seen some pretty epic runs the last few years.

Eleven teams are set to hit the trail at 12:30pm Thursday, with snow forecasted Wednesday (only an inch) and mostly clear skies Thursday with highs in the mid twenties, it's going to be a much warmer run than what the Iditarod teams faced a few weeks ago. Accuweather also forecasts a steady 8mph wind, which sounds pretty mild for this part of Alaska, so it should be an overall plesant race this weekend.

Of the eleven teams, eight are teams lead by women. There are also three teams that ran the Iditarod (four if you count that Sadie Lindquist's team will be with the Daugherty mushers). Two-time Iditarod Champion (and four-time Kobuk champion) Jessie Holmes is back to try and keep his streak going (he's won the last three races in a row). Local Kotzebue musher Kevin Hansen is the lone hometown team this year.

This is one of the races this year that has a mass start - there's no time differential at play, no two minute intervals at the start. The race says GO and teams can all take off at the same time, though some hold back a beat or two to keep from getting caught in a traffic jam. The race starts on the ice so there's a lot of space. It's an exciting start to watch and it's over almost as quickly as it begins.

Teams can start with a max of twelve dogs and must finish with five dogs pulling in harness. Teams have a mandatory total of 20 hours of rest. Teams must complete the race by 2pm on April 6. A full list of rules can be found on the race's website.

But enough about all that let's take a look at the roster. As always the post will be edited after the bib draw (which takes place later today).

Musher Roster

Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
Jennifer Nelson	Northern Lone Star Mushing		Facebook	Instagram
Jessi Downey	Aimaagvik Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
Calvin Daugherty	Seavey's Ididaride	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Jody Potts-Joseph	Raven Clan Kennels	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Larry Daugherty	Seavey's Ididaride	Website	Facebook
Sam McLain	Skookum Expeditions	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Kevin Hansen	Hansen Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
Kristy Berington	Hansen Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
Virag Racz	Mille & Co	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Jessie Holmes	Can't Stop Racing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Annette Llanes	Honky Tonk Kennel		Facebook	Instagram

*Roster as of March 31, 2026 at 10pm AKDT.

You know who's racing, but how are you going to watch if you can't get up to Kotzebue? So glad you asked!

How to Watch

Unlike what we just had with Iditarod (if you paid for Insider), the Kobuk like most of the mid-distance races relies more on social media posts and radio updates than they do video. Depending on weather and internet connection there may be live video of the start and finish. A frozen feed (pun somewhat intended) is possible, though the volunteer social media crew have gotten pretty good at making videos happen even if the livefeed doesn't. Along with the video feeds there are ways to keep up with the race happenings, so let's make sure we have all of the links you need.

Official Website
You can find the rules, links to all ways of following the race, and the history of the Kobuk 440 here. Musher bios are also available. The official website may have links to live feeds, so also keep a look out for that. Click here for the link.

GPS Tracker
We're all attached to this bit of technology. If you wonder where the term "tracky boi" came from, you can thank the Kobuk 440. Their social media team were the first to coin the phrase... the phrase that sets some fans' teeth on edge, but it's becoming more endearing each year. Once again, you can follow the race thanks to TrackLeaders. Beep-boop-beep.

Radio Broadcast
Race updates throughout the weekend will be broadcast over on KOTZ-AM. They have a livestream. They may broadcast the start, but it's unclear. Click here to listen in. (If that link doesn't work, try this one.)

Social Media
This is where it's at. The most entertaining race has to be the Kobuk 440 for their amazing social media team. The volunteers know how to get and keep your attention. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter where they are most active as well as Instagram. KOTZ-AM also has a Facebook page that should share some race info throughout the weekend.

You know HOW to watch, but let's make sure you catch all the action by giving you the days and times of what is planned.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, April 1
1:00pm - Meet the Mushers (Radio Interviews)
5:00pm - Musher Meeting
6:30pm - Bib Draw & Dinner

Thursday, April 2
12:30pm - Race Mass Start

Monday, April 6
2:00pm - Finish Cutoff
6:00pm - Awards Ceremony

Who are you excited to follow? Thoughts on who may take home the top prize? Comment with your thoughts below!

And, as always, you can Buy me a slice of pizza to help keep the blog up and running. It's always appreciated but never expected.

2026 Copper Basin 100 musher roster & race preview

After last year's lack luster winter (did we even HAVE winter in Alaska last year?) the Copper Basin 100 is excited to host the inaugural 100 mile event. Juniors mushers are welcome to join the competitive field in this event and the first ever race roster has a nice mix of seasoned and rookie competitors. Unlike the Copper Basin 300 (the CB100's older bigger brother), the CB100 should see much milder temps for teams to race in. The joys of early spring vs mid-winter!

Created to fill the need of entry level mid distance length races, the CB100 will run from Eureka Roadhouse in two fifty-mile loops where they will start, end, and finish at the roadhouse. There are reports of overflow, so it won't be a completely simple race. The views are said to be pretty incredible, though.

The rules state that the start will be in two minute intervals *unless* conditions allow for a mass start. The decision on what type of start the race will have will be decided ahead of the musher meeting and announced at the meeting. Nothing like a little pre-race suspense! The race will have one mandatory six hour stop at the halfway point of the race (at Eureka Lodge). Note that mushers have four hours after the first musher signs into the midway point to be allowed to finish the race. 

Teams must start with a minimum of seven dogs and no more than ten dogs. Teams must finish with at least five dogs pulling in harness. Firearms are not permitted to be carried by mushers under the age of 18 (and no team is allowed to have pyrotechnics - ie roman candles - in their sled....do we want to know why they had to have that rule?).

First through Third place will receive awards, as well as red lantern, sportsmanship (voted by mushers), vet care (voted by vets), and Golden Rake award (voted by checkpoint for which team's handler does the best clean up).

"The spirit of the CB100 is one of encouraging and empowering young mushers to accomplish big goals with their dog teams," the race writes in their rules. "We will have accomplished mushers around the race and at the checkpoint to offer advice about racing and to inspire the junior racers."

As with any first time race, it will just be fun to watch as we armchair mushers learn the trail with the teams. So, before this gets much longer, let's take a look at the roster. Note that bib numbers will be drawn at the musher meeting on Friday afternoon, so this blog will update to reflect bib/start order as soon as they are published.

Musher Roster

Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
Bruce Carlton	Trails End Kennel (Junior Musher)		Facebook Bio	Instagram
Nathan Helmer	Copper Eagle Kennel		Facebook Bio
Nick Ness	Dream a Dream Kennel		Facebook
Cim Smith	Perserverance Springs Farm		Facebook
Joanna Weber	Motley Crew Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Noah Spies	(Junior Musher)	?	?	?
Miguel Isla Casares	AK Sled Dog Tours Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
William Baker	49th State Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook
Eddie Burke	Off the Rails Racing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Emma Lewis	Wildwoods Mushing			Instagram
Justin Olnes	ReRun Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Grayson Bruton	The Cure Racing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Sean de Wolski	Bouncing Bumbles	Website

Roster as of March 25, 2026 @ 9pm AKDT. 

So what can we expect on how to follow the race? Glad you asked. Let's take a look at what we know, and what we hope...

How to Watch

Official Website
The Copper Basin 300's website now has a full section dedicated to the inaugural CB100. You can find the musher roster, the race rules, trail description and map - among other things. 

Trackers
There doesn't seem to be anything saying there will be trackers. We may have to go completely old school on this one, folks, and wait for reports from the race to tell us how things are playing out. Waiting to get official word before giving up all hope. Have no fear! Trackers are here! 

Social Media
The Copper Basin is most active on Facebook and Instagram. Expect that updates will be mostly on their Facebook page, it is unclear if they will try to go LIVE.

Schedule of Events

Friday, March 27, 2026
9am - Vet Checks
Noon - Musher Meeting
2pm - Race Start

Saturday, March 28, 2026
Finishes throughout the day.
5pm - Finisher's Banquet

We've had several new races this season, are you ready for another one? Thoughts on the roster? Who do you expect to win? Who are you cheering for? Comment below with your thoughts!

If you like what you see and want to support my addiction (I mean HOBBY) of following these races and stalking (I mean cheering on) the mushers, you can buy me a slice of pizza (that really goes to paying for my internet/web expenses).

2026 Nome-Golovin 200 musher roster and race preview

Nome bid farewell to the hoopla of Iditarod Week Monday with officials, sponsors, and most of the teams and fans back home by Monday - but not everyone has had enough of Nome and her mushing trails. Put on by the Nome Kennel Club, the Nome to Golovin 200 mile sled dog race is set to take off Thursday night with seven teams vying for the top spot.

Of the seven teams running this year's race, one just completed the nearly thousand mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race. After almost a week long "break" from competing the team will be back out on the trail covering some of the same miles they just ran across days earlier.

Several other teams flew in for the race hoping to keep their season going just a little bit longer. And then there are the local teams, many attached to the kennel club as members of the board. It's a celebration of local and statewide talent that this year hopes to also bring a light to the opiod epidemic. The race plans to have each team carry Narcan in their sleds as a way to bring awareness and education to the area.

Teams will run from Nome to White Mountain and onto Golovin where they will have a mandatory six hour rest before turning around and heading back to Nome. Team must also take an additional six hours of "floating rest" which mushers will log in their logbook and it will be verified using the trackers. For the whole set of rules you can find them via the kennel club website. 

The mushers have their bib numbers already, though they won't have their musher's meeting until Wednesday. Vet Checks will happen Thursday before the teams take off Thursday Night. They expect a finish on Saturday.

So let's take a look at this small but mighty roster.

Musher Roster

Bib	Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
1	Garrick Fuller	The Dog Lot		Facebook
2	Bailey Vitello	Team Bailey	Website	Facebook	Instagram
3	Burr Lemaire	Comstock Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
4	Jennifer Nelson	Northern Lone Star Mushing		Facebook	Instagram
5	Sarah Richards	Deja Vu Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook	Instagram
6	Annette Llanes	Honky Tonk Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
7	Diana Haecker	Artic Sky Kennel		Facebook

*Roster as of March 24 @ 8:30pm AKDT.

How to Watch

Official Website

There's not a whole lot of information on the race via the website, but the basics are there. You can also learn about the Nome Kennel Club - including its impressive history. 

Trackers

The race has confirmed that there will be trackers provided by trackleaders. Considering fans have gone into major tracker withdrawl after Iditarod finished, this will no doubt give great relief to many.

Social Media

The Nome Kennel Club's facebook page has given great info on each team running this weekend as well as info on the race itself. They've become pretty active lately and hopefully that will continue during the race.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
6PM - Musher's Meeting

Thursday, March 26, 2026
9am-12pm - Vet Checks
6pm - Race Start

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Finishes to happen throughout the day.

Sunday, March 29, 2026
2pm - Musher's Banquet

Are you ready for another race? Who are you looking forward to seeing race down the trail? Comment below with your thoughts!

If you like what you see and want to support my addiction (I mean HOBBY) of following these races and stalking (I mean cheering on) the mushers, you can buy me a slice of pizza (that really goes to paying for my internet/web expenses).

Mille Porsild shares tribute of dog Charley

Mille Porsild and team have, understandably, been silent since her scratch from Iditarod 54 after her dog Charley died while running. The gross necropsy performed by a licensed veterinarian has found no cause for why the four-year old dog died, and further tests will be conducted to try and pinpoint what happened.

Mille posted to Facebook Sunday evening explaining that her scratch was not due to a rule, the musher stated she just could not continue without Charley. The post also gave more insight to what the necropsy found (or didn't find); " no physical trauma, clear lungs, great body condition," Porsild wrote, "no nothing, no answer."

Porsild's post did go into the event of Charley's passing, and raw emotion was still evident behind every word. It's every dog owner's worst nightmare realized. Any pet owner who has experienced a similar event with their pet can understand Mille's anguish. (This is your trigger warning, if you will, before you choose to read her post.)

Porsild is known for her dog care and her storytelling. Mille was awarded the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian award for her dog care at the 2021 Iditarod. She often shares photos and stories of her dogs on her social media and gives interviews praising her dogs throughout races. The shock and pain of the loss of Charley rippled through the Iditarod community. 

"Charley was light. She was a beautiful soul - a force of nature teaming with radient energy and electric vitality," Mille wrote in tribute. "She was wonderfully quirky.  A brilliant autistic being whose mind moved in its own ways with a most often very singular purpose. And yes, this made her an absolutely incredible sled dog. It also made for her being shy and uneasy with ‘new.’ But once you gained her trust, two - or four legged, she was a bestie. Her and Lion share a very special bond, this is a gigantic loss to Lion. She looked to him for guidance and sense of safety… and she has guided Lion to a little less drama and a lot more lightness in the moment with her gentle very joyous heart."

When a dog dies in the race, according to Rule 42 the team's race is automatically done unless it was clear outside forces were the cause (moose, snowmachine, etc). The race gives the musher the choice of having it be considered a scratch (musher's choice) or a withdrawal (race official). It is not a disqualification unless necropsy/tests find the musher to be at fault. The rule is controversial to some fans and mushers. Mille, apparently, was aware of the discussion going on after her scratch and wanted to set the record straight.

"I scratched Iditarod 2026 in Elim," the musher wrote. "The reason provided “The loss of our beloved Charlie.” I was not forced to scratch, I did not scratch because of a rule. I appreciate that some think it unfair that we could not continue on to the finishline because of Iditarod rules… but please know, of that I was simply not capable."

It is too soon to be asking Mille if she will race again. It is too soon to ask much of anything from Mille at this point. The waiting and the wondering will haunt her - as it does ever pet owner when something like this happens. 

At the Musher's Banquet in Nome, Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach in his speech Sunday Night asked for a moment of silence for Charley ahead of the celebration.  All of Iditarod mourns with Mille and it was evident Sunday.

"I wish people love and celebrate Charley for who she was," Mille finished her statement, "For her love and utter joy. 

This, our time together, her spirit, is in my heart.

Charley is part of me forever."

2026 T-Dog 200 Musher Roster

With all the Hoopla for the Iditarod, the T-Dog got a little overlooked on the blog. HUGE apologies as this is a fun an exciting race that deserves its time in the spotlight. Look for this blog to hopefully get edited Saturday with more information on how to follow the race, but for now, ahead of the start Saturday morning, let's take a look at the roster of the 200 mile race that can be used as an Iditarod Qualifier.

Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
Mike Parker	Northern Whites Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Holly Lynn	Dallas Seavey Racing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Torleif Bentzen	Whiskey Jack Kennel		Mom's FB
Anna Berington	Seeing Double Racing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Tyler Berger	Skookum Expeditions		?	?
Hunter Keefe	Look Out Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Meghan McClelland	Northern Whites Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
James Seale	Crooked Creek Kennel		Facebook
Matt Rapelje	?		Facebook
Matt Riess	Turning Heads Kennel	Website	Facebook

*Roster as of March 20, 2026 @ 10:15pm AKDST.

Are you going to keep up with all the happenings at the TDog? Who are you excited to see? Comment below with your thoughts!

Widow's Lamp extinguished, Red Lantern awarded

Richie Beattie at the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54.
March 7, 2026. Anchorage, Alaska.

The 54th running of Iditarod has all but come to a close. At 7:49pm AKDST Friday, Richie Beattie and his team of eight Alaskan Huskies crossed under the Burled Arch in Nome as the final team of Iditarod 54. The re-run rookie was all smiles and excitement as he was greeted by friends and family in Nome.

The team out of Wildthingz Kennel spent much of the race towards the back of the pack as Richie wanted to make sure his dogs were healthy and happy throughout the entire race. The musher would say in his interview at the finish that it was a mental challenge after what happened in his true rookie year.

Beattie did not come into White Mountain Wednesday as the Red Lantern placement, but Beattie mentioned that being a little older and possibly more experienced played a part in his decision to be one of the last to leave. "If you're in the back of the pack it's way cooler to get the Red Lantern than getting third, fourth, or fifth from last!"

Beattie also mentioned that it was night to just take his time in White Mountain Friday morning, to stretch and to not be in a rush. The White Mountain Nine spent 30-43 hours in White Mountain waiting out the storm. Richie said coming into Nome was great to be out of the wind and that it felt "downright warm!" in Nome. 

After going through the red tape of checking off mandatory equipment and handing over the promotional materials, trail mail, and vet book to the race marshall, the ITC asked one more thing of the musher - extingquish the Widow's Lamp. 

Iditarod Education Co-Director Jim Deprez wrote about the significance and history of the Widow's Lamp saying in part:

"The Widow’s Lamp is a reminder of, and connection to the older days of mushing. It is said to have served a dual purpose. Years ago, roadhouses used to keep a kerosene lantern hanging outside through the night. The first reason was to help light the way for the mail and supply teams still on the trail; to aid them in finding the location of the next stop. The second intention was also to help show others that a team was still on the trail. News of the mushers on the trail was relayed ahead, to have a lamp hanging outside for the weary mushers. The lamp was then blown out once the dog sled team arrived safely. A correlation can be made in this case to the Olympic torch, which is lit during the opening ceremony, and then is extinguished at the closing ceremonies to symbolize the end of the events. The Widow’s Lamp serves a similar purpose in the Iditarod. It is lit when mushers get closer to Nome and is blown out by the final musher to cross the finish line on Front Street. This signals to everyone that there are no more teams still on the trail, and the race is now officially over."

The Widow's Lamp is not the lamp awarded to the final team, however. The red lantern is a tradition in sled dogs races that started off as a joke. If you were last, you were the one that got to extinguish the lamp and it meant you were the slowest/latest. It wasn't a badge of honor... until long distance races came along.

Just finishing Iditarod is a feat - no matter the placement - and being the red lantern winner has become something that awardees take great pride in. In the last few years it even comes with a cash prize and not just a red lantern one can use as a paperweight.

Saturday mushers will continue to care for the dogs that brought them nearly a thousand miles over Alaskan terrain as they wait to fly out. The mushers will continue to heal from brutal windburn, sleep deprevation, calorie depravation... hopefully they all get showers (can never be too sure they will). There's a meet and greet set for Saturday afternoon for fans to meet all of the mushers who finished the race. Sunday will be the finisher's meeting, and then the musher's awards banquet.

And then....

...then Iditarod 54 will truly be over. And mushers, dogs, family, friends, and fans will have to go back to reality. Back to the grind. 

And maybe, just maybe, they'll countdown to Iditarod 55. 

Results of gross necropsy released

In a press release Friday morning, Iditarod shared the results of the gross necropsy performed on Charley a dog who expired on the trail from Mille Porsild's team. Persuant to Rule 42, Porsild was given the option to scratch in Elim. The dog was flown to Unalakleet where the necropsy was performed. With the results being unable to determine cause of death further testing needs to be done - we may not know the results of those tests for many weeks to come.

 "2026 IDITAROD MEDIA ADVISORY  

Date:   March 20, 2026 

From: Dan Carter, Race Marshal, Iditarod Trail Committee  

Unalakleet, Alaska –  Charley, a four-year-old female from the race team of Mille Porsild (bib #15), expired en route to the Elim checkpoint on March 17, 2026.  Charley was flown to Unalakleet where a necropsy was conducted by a board-certified veterinary pathologist.  The necropsy did not identify any obvious traumatic or medical abnormalities to explain Charley’s death. 

Further laboratory testing is being conducted in accordance with race protocol to support a thorough investigation and complete the necropsy, with every effort made to determine the cause of death.

 ###  

Media contact:   

Shannon Noonan Iditarod Trail Committee

 shannon.noonan@iditarod.com"