Only two returning champions are on the roster. Three-time Champion Mitch Seavey last won in 2017 and last ran the Iditarod in 2022 where he placed 16th (the first time he'd been out of the top ten since 2003 - not counting the year he was WD due to a severed finger in Ophir). 2023 Iditarod Champion Ryan Redington is also back for another try at a win. Redington has taken it "easy" this season, often letting his handler team take top positions while he rode further back in the pack of the mid-distance races, last year Ryan placed 14th in a very competitive Iditarod.
While we won't know which junior musher will start the run off down 4th Avenue in Anchorage until after the completion of the Junior Iditarod scheduled for February 22-23, we do know who the honorary musher will be. Each year the race chooses a person to be the honorary musher "wearing" bib number one. In the early days of the race, the Iditarod chose to honor the mushers of the Serum Run, but now includes a host of names celebrating men and women who helped make the Iditarod what it is today. Mushers, volunteers, and community members have all been honored over the last 50 years. This year the race has chosen Dr. Stu Nelson as the Honorary Musher.
Dr. Stu Nelson was Iditarod's Chief Veterinarian from 1995 until 2024. In the nearly thirty years in his role Nelson championed greater veterinary care on the trail and in kennels. He studied tirelessly to figure out the causes of dog expiration, and was brought to tears many times when speaking of how hard he and all of the vets worked to create a safe event for all canine participants. Stu could be seen not just at the starts and finish of each race checking out the dogs, but he also spot checked most of the checkpoints. He was available to mushers during the race and year round. Because of Dr. Stu Nelson sled dog care and health has never been better - and by association many of our pet dogs have benefited as studies on Iditarod dogs helped in the fields of canine nutrition and medical care.
Dr. Stu Nelson unexpectedly passed away in September of 2024 while out on his usual run. He was known by mushers, volunteers, and fans alike as being a kind, compassionate, friendly persona. His passing shocked the Iditarod and Mushing community. Nelson's work will live on with the race. Read the full press release on Dr. Nelson being chosen as this year's honorary musher here.
With nearly two weeks until the Ceremonial Start, the roster may change. There are several unknowns about the trail and that has some mushers extremely concerned and contemplating a late withdrawal. All eyes have been on the Iron Dog as they traverse over a lot of the same trail dog teams are set to run on. The Burn especially is the focus of many musher fears, some are hoping for a last minute change to running the Fairbanks route (which would pair well with this being the 100th anniversary of the fame Serum Run that much of the Fairbanks route would follow the same trail). **Edited to add: Iditarod has officially changed the race from the traditional Southern Route to a route leading out of Fairbanks and looping on the Yukon River before heading to Nome. It will be roughly 1128 miles total, which is said to be the longest trail in race history.)
Bib #1 is set, however the rest of the teams won't have their number until the Musher Banquet on February 27. As such, the roster below is listed as it stands now on the Iditarod website - in order of sign up. This post will be edited with the final roster and bib numbers after the banquet in just 11 days.
Musher Roster
*Bold indicates past Iditarod Champion
**Roster as of February 16 @ 12pm AKST.
**Roster as of February 16 @ 12pm AKST.
Who are YOU cheering for? Do you think Ryan or Mitch will run away with another win? Do you have a story about Dr. Stu Nelson? Comment below with your thoughts and stories!
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