24 mushers sign up opening day for Iditarod 53

It may be the last weekend in June, but thoughts have turned to snow and sled dogs in Wasilla Alaska as the Iditarod hosted their annual picnic and sign up event. Overall nineteen mushers signed up in person with another five submitting their applications online.

As with the last few years of the event, the sun was out and it was a hot one. Fans, volunteers, and mushers alike spent much of the day chasing shade - many wishing for the cooler temps of race season. The grill masters filled plates with hot dogs, burgers, and fresh caught Bristol Bay salmon. Many familiar faces mingled with volunteers and fans, retired mushers like Dick Mackey and Vern Halter were on hand to share in the festivities.

An air of tension surrounded the event as sign ups were slow to happen, for several hours only a single name - Riley Dyche - sat on the list. All worry was for naught as the mushers were all just fashionably late and a whirlwind of activity at the sign up table hit about a half an hour before the close of sign ups for the door prizes. Each year two mushers win their entry fee back in the drawings. 

Nicolas Petit was drawn for both the box of dog booties as well as his entry fee, as well as Travis Beals. 

Overall 11 rookies and 13 veterans are signed up. A single returning champion is on the list - Ryan Redington.

Six time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey was in attendance, and he did pay at least one entry fee at the sign up table, but he did not sign up at the picnic. Seavey said he wasn't not signing up, just not signing up today - however he was coy as if he truly meant he'd be signing up in the coming months. He is the master of keeping everyone guessing.

2024 Rookie of the Year Josi Thyr will also return for another go at the race, with a top 10 finish for her first outing she will definitely be one to watch for her sophomore run.

Isaac Teaford, the rookie out of Dallas Seavey's kennel who had to scratch in 2024, is returning. The musher had a difficult Iditarod this year with a dog expiring in harness and Teaford told Insider shortly after he needed to reevaluate. Teaford went on the race in the Kobuk 440 and assured fans he was not letting the hardships of the 2023-24 race season take him out. Joining Teaford from Dallas's kennel will be Samanta LaLonde.

Mushers can continue to sign up through December 2 - at which time the entry fee doubles for late entries and no rookies may add their name after December 2 (unless ruled otherwise by the race officials). To view a current list of teams, click here.

Junior Iditarod also opened registration today and four returning teams committed to racing Saturday. Not currently on the list is reigning champion Emily Robinson, but there's no reason to worry just yet about that.