Bethel's Season Opener and Knik 200 to ring in 2025

Several races took to social media this weekend to announce the first races of 2025. In Bethel the Season Opener has been rescheduled to January 1. The race had to be postponed in mid December due to warmer than normal temperatures making the river ice unstable (and in some areas nonexistant). 

For much of Alaska the above normal temperatures brought rain and very little snow seeing races canceled. For Knik, they were able to make their 100 mile race work - and saw their young repeat champion Emily Robinson defend her title. The Junior mushing phenom is scheduledto run in the Knik 200 - another race she will no doubt be in to defend her title.

The Knik 200 has had to reroute the race to keep teams off the waterways. The race will still be considered a qualifier for Iditarod and the Yukon Quest as it will be 150 miles long. The changes were posted to their facebook page Saturday evening.

Both races are currently taking registrations.

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).

Fast trail sees junior mushers take the lead

Twenty-eight teams took off down the trail Saturday morning on the first leg of the Knik 100. By Saturday afternoon the leaders charged back to the starting line finishing their first fifty miles of the stage race. 

Just over a minute and a half separate the top two teams. Junior mushers Isaac Redington and Emily Robinson will battle it out for the win Sunday, but it's far from their race to lose. The top five teams are close together with about thirty seconds to a minute separating each team. Mushers reported a hard and fast trail for Saturday's start with a packed trail with just a small dusting of snow (making the start a slippery one for handlers).

Isaac Redington will be the first team out at 10am Sunday. The junior musher has a 1min37sec lead over reigning Knik 100 champion Emily Robinson. Robinson, of course, is the junior musher everyone has eyes on as her legend has only grown since she hit the trails several years ago. Last year Robinson played with "the big dogs" and has even bigger racing plans this season. Both junior mushers have a long history with the sport with families that have helped grow their knowledge in the sport. Redington, of course, is a fourth generation musher in his family. Redington's team flew out of the start Saturday morning with the junior musher looking very much in control of the team. Likewise, Robinson looked like a seasoned professional dog musher.

While the juniors were battling for first, "old men" Eddie Burke Jr. and Riley Dyche were close behind coming in third and fourth respectively. Burke is just thirty seconds behind Robinson, with Dyche 1min1sec behind him. Ryan Redington rounds out the top five sitting 1min34 seconds behind Dyche.

Unless weather predictions are completely off, the trail should be much the same Sunday. Teams will leave in the order of their first day placement begining at 10am on Knik Lake. Buckle up, fans, the kick off to the season promises to have a very dramatic finish.

To view a full list of results click here.

Kale Casey will try to go live Sunday on his Facebook page.

Knik 100 takes off tomorrow

Even though the snow fall has been minimal, the temperatures dropped and what little snow that has fallen is enough to make trails acceptable for two days of 50 mile runs for 32 teams. The Knik 100 will take off from Knik Lake on Saturday at 10am for the first leg of the stage race. Teams will meat again on Sunday at 10am to take off from the lake. The winner will be determined by the fastest of the combined times. 

The Knik 100 boasts a stacked roster of well known names in both long distance as well as junior mushers. Iditarod champions, Iditarod Rookies of the Year, etc are among those that will race this weekend. Last year's Knik 100 champion Emily Robinson has returned to defend her title. 

Unlike most of the middistance races, this blog does not have a link list for the teams (due mainly to time constraints). It is unclear if the race will have trackers, however Kale Casey Live hopes to be able to keep everyone informed with camera footage and commentary. You will be able to catch the action over on his Facebook page.

You can read up on all of the race rules here, and information should be posted on the Knik 200 Facebook page.

It was unsure the race would take place due to most of November and December brining abnormally high temps to the region and lots of rain. The race announced that the would make a final decision this past Monday with many of the mushers living close to the race route saying they felt confident they could run a safe race. By Monday evening the race was on and they were all looking forward to hitting the trails this weekend.

There seems to be no lack of excitement to kick off the mushing season.

Mushers hitting the trail tomorrow:

Bib	Musher
2	AddieAnn Randall
3	Emily Krol
4	Katie Wilcox
5	Mazzy Bailey
6	Aidan Kosciolek
7	Baydon Ketts
8	Rohn Buser
9	Alison Lifka
10	Joe Weber
11	Joanna Weber
12	Ryan Redington
13	Isaac Redington
14	Casey Randall
15	Mckena Hanson
16	Addy Pederson
17	Madeline Knolmayer
18	Jessi Downey
19	Matt Riess
20	Sarah Stokey
21	Stanley Robinson
22	Riley Dyche
23	Eddie Burke Jr.
24	Hunter Keefe
25	Sarah Keefer
26	Josh Daily
27	Dean Osmar
28	Anna Hennessy
29	Mary Boniface
30	Isabell List
31	Travis Beals
32	Emily Robinson
33	Kelly Ridley

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

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).