Season openers may be delayed

The Delta Championship Series - coordinated by the Kuskokwim 300 board - announced on social media this week that in all likely hood the season opener would have to be rescheduled due to unsafe trail conditions. Alaska is having an unseasonably warm December with much of the state seeing rainfall instead of snow, and most bodies of water (including rivers) are still open. 

On the road system the Knik 100 is set to kick off on December 21. the Forecast betweem now and then shows no sign of cooling down, with several days of sleet and freezing rain predicted. Many teams in South Central Alaska are looking for alternate parts of the state to continue training in better trail conditions.

After several years of decent weather early on in the season, fans and mushers all were hoping to see that weather trend continue - but it appears to be a wet and sloppy holiday season in Alaska, with races having to rethink the season.

If things do not drastically improve January races may face a similar fate.

Iditarod 53 roster locked in with thirty-five names

The deadline closed Monday night for Iditarod mushers to sign up for Iditarod 53. Five names were added just under the deadline and announced Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. The five last minute sign ups brought the total to thirty-five, making this the third smallest field in race history. 

The roster has two returning Iditarod champions, 2023 Iditarod Champion Ryan Redington, and three-time champion Mitch Seavey. Seavey was a last minute addition to the roster shocking many fans on social media when his name was spotted. Mitch last ran in 2022 where he placed 16th. Redington placed 14th in this past Iditarod after having that magic run the year before becoming the first of Joe Redington's family to win "his race".

Eleven of the thirty-five mushers are women. Seventeen mushers are considered rookies (though several are second year rookies determined to make it all the way this time). 

The Iditarod is in an interesting period of race and culture history. As another generation retires out of long distance mushing, a whole new generation of "younger" competitive mushers are filling those roles that at one time were held by only a beloved few. While Iditarod rosters were larger, the pool was small for those truly competitive teams. Now, fifty plus years into the race it feels like we're coming back to those early years of the race where it was anyone's ball game. Experience means a great deal, knowledge too, but the teams are so well matched it has many scratching their heads trying to come up with who are the outright favorites.

There is some excitement to that.

The deadline for applications have passed, but that does not mean names cannot be added - it just comes at a price. Veteran mushers may continue to sign up through the new year but must pay a double entry fee. The rookie musher meeting is later this month. The ceremonial start is in 88 days. In 88 days 35 teams will celebrate one of Alaska's greatest traditions. In 89 days, the race is on.

Mushers listed in order of sign up.

Riley Dyche
Jenny Roddewig
Jason Mackey
Gabe Dunham
Mille Porsild
Matt Randall
Keaton Loebrich
Mike Parker
Dane Baker
Nicolas Petit
Matt Hall
Travis Beals
Sydnie Bahl
Anna Berington
Samantha LaLonde
Jessie Holmes
Michelle Phillips
Ryan Redington
Daniel Klein
Ebbe Pedersen
Brenda Mackey
Lauro Eklund
Charmayne Morrison
Ashley Dove
Justin Olnes
Emily Ford
Jeff Deeter
Hunter Keefe
Connor McMahon
Calvin Daugherty
Bryce Mumford
Mitch Seavey
Bailey Vitello
Matthew Failor
Quince Mountain

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