Where to watch Iditarod - Online

Champion Sled Dog - Feb 25, 2019.

So maybe you can't make it to Alaska to see the Last Great Race, or you've come up for the start but now you're back home and want to keep tabs. Thanks to the invention of the Internet, it's a whole lot easier to follow the race than it was 20 years ago (or more). Still, you may not know exactly where to look, so here's a basic rundown on sites that will be sure to give you the best information.


Official Links

This should come as no surprise, but the best and most accurate information can be found from Iditarod.com. The Official website keeps the standings as current as possible (logistics of some of the checkpoints can cause delays), as well as offer ways to follow the race "in real time" or close to it. The biggest downfall is in order to truly follow along with the race you have to be able and willing to pay for a subscription to the Iditarod Insider. There are several levels of subscription.

Free - If all you want is to follow your favorite musher, you can sign up for free and receive updates on their race via email. You will only get official standings, so you won't get info while they travel in between checkpoints, no interviews, etc. Basically you get to experience the Iditarod the way fans did before Insider existed. They DO offer a few videos (with commercial breaks) and articles, but you're getting the bare minimum with this option.

Video Insider - For just $19.95 you get all of the videos commercial free, some of which are live feeds, and you can get up to five mushers updates in your email. Videos include interviews with different mushers on the trail, trail updates from the commentary team (Bruce and Greg do a very good job of explaining the race), as well as some beautiful montages of the scenery and dogs.

GPS Insider - If you follow other races, you'll know how important the GPS trackers are. Unless you like watching the race like we did in the 80s and 90s, waiting for new updates of official times in and out of checkpoints as your only guide, then this may be the option for you. Watching teams travel towards Nome becomes addicting, and frustrating, and exciting, and nerve-wracking. Like the video insider, the cost is $19.95, you also get to choose up to five mushers to follow, and you have access to a few videos with commercials.

Ultimate Insider - For a small savings, you can get both the GPS and Video for $33.95. If you can swing the cost, this is most definitely your best option. If you want to keep up-to-date with the race, it's a must. If you're into analyzing, it's a must. If you like being completely obsessed with mushing, it's a must. Both the video and ultimate insider get the live feeds of the start and the finish. Each finish in Nome goes live, though only the champion gets the bells and whistles. The rest are done with a webcam on the burled arch. Ultimate Insider also allows you to follow up to five mushers with email updates.

News Media

KTVA - The official TV Station for the Iditarod is the Anchorage CBS Affiliate. Being owned by Iditarod Sponsor GCI has its perks. They have updates every few hours throughout the race, as well as musher profiles and interviews. They have a dedicated page on their site for all of their Iditarod coverage.

KTUU - Before GCI bought KTVA, KTUU was the official channel for all things Iditarod. Their coverage is pretty stellar even without the title. They live feed the finish, though not at the same angle as the Insider/KTVA feed. Still, if you can't afford the Insider, this is the next best thing. Honestly, I prefer KTUU to the official channel. Not for any real reason other than I feel they have more coverage, plus I like more of their reporters. I'm biased, and proud. They, too, have a dedicated Iditarod section on their website.

Anchorage Daily News - The largest newspaper in the state is also the largest source of print media surrounding the race. They now require a subscription to be able to read their articles (I believe you get five free reads before they lock it down), and at $1.99 an article it can add up. However, they are advertising a Rondy & Iditarod special for $11.99. They, like the others, have a dedicated page for Iditarod (and Rondy).

Iditapod - Alaska Public Media is in their third season of hosting a podcast all about Iditarod. A lot of work goes into not only the podcast but their social media coverage of the race. They have a dedicated page for all things Iditarod, and you can find the podcast on iTunes (FREE!).

Dog Works Radio - Another fantastic podcast by musher Robert Forto and Iditarod documentarian Alex Stein. During Iditarod they have a podcast dedicated to the race.

KNOM Radio - On the other side of the state where teams finish is this awesome radio station that covers the race as well. They typically broadcast the finish of the winner, as well as do a lot of indepth interviews of mushers on the last leg of the race. http://www.knom.org/

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - While they focus more on coverage of the Yukon Quest, the News-Miner is another excellent resource, especially in years when the Iditarod has to take drastic measures and prepare for a restart that far North. They have a dedicated page for Iditarod coverage, but it's a little lighter than the other pages linked here.

Social Media

Iditarod Trail Committee - Their facebook page does have a lot of posts throughout the race, but not up to date action. More along the lines of official updates and posts. There are, however, a lot of fan discussions within the comments. This is their official page for the race, and the organization.

Iditarod EDU - For the Iditarod Educators program, this facebook page keeps teachers up to date on all the happenings with the Teacher on the Trail as well as lesson plan ideas, etc. They give some pretty fun insight into the race as well as just neat activities that don't just have to be used in a classroom. This is another official social media page of Iditarod.

Alaska Mushing News - Run by Helen Hegener a local race nut and historian/author, this facebook group is a great source to run to to find links to all articles relating to any and all mushing topics - which this time of year is basically Iditarod.

Seavey's Ididaride Sled Dog Tours - Yes, this is a musher specific facebook page, however it is run by Danny Seavey and he blogs not just about Mitch's race but about the race in general - mainly about front runners. Still, if you want someone to explain and analyze what you're watching on videos or via GPS, this is a great place for info. Like the rest of us, Danny is a huge fan of this sport and especially the Iditarod.

@ADNIditarod - If you're a fan of twitter, Alaska Daily News has a twitter account dedicated to the following of the race. This will keep you up to date on any big news on the trail as well as links to all of their Iditarod specific articles. Photos and videos show up here often as well.

@IditarodKTVA - As the official news channel, KTVA also follows the race via twitter. Video, photos, and article links.

@DannySeavey - Like the Seavey facebook page, I expect Danny to be able to tweet out a few tidbits every now and then. He's recently started replying to fans. We'll see if it sticks, he can be wordy and twitter really doesn't encourage that. But ask questions, he'll probably answer (just don't always expect promptness, he's got a few businesses to run).

@coldfootfilms - Alex Stein directed a documentary on Iditarod entitled MUSH a few years ago, and is one of the hosts of Dog Works Radio's Iditarod coverage. Stein is an active voice on twitter about mushing and Iditarod.

#MusherTwitter - If you want to see a lot of great mushers and mushing enthusiasts come together and share information, follow the MusherTwitter tag on, well, twitter. Several Iditarod mushers chime in throughout the year giving updates on their team as well as the sport at large. (Stay out of the Iditarod tag, a lot of antis and haters spreading really incorrect info on there. I warned you.)

Sebastian Schnuelle - Another great musher turned blogger in retirement, Schnuelle has been somewhat silent on the race in the last couple of years due to his being a race judge, however he does share photos of his time on the trail on his facebook page.

@ZachHughesAK - Part of the Iditapod team, Zach is very active on twitter and should offer some great info on the race.

@kcgrove - The other part of the Iditapod team. Casey is another fantastic reporter who should offer some humor as well as insight into the race on twitter.

@QuinceMountain - Husband to an Iditarod musher, Q is very active on twitter, he is also a trail correspondent (as of 2019) for the Iditapod.

Jeff Schultz Photography - The official facebook page for the Iditarod's official photographer. His photos are incredible. He is the reason I am a sled dog photographer.

Kale Casey Live - Kale works for a company that sponsors a lot of races and dog team, and live feeds from most races. He typically does a lot of fun interviews in Nome. All feeds are found on his facebook page.

This is just a sampling as it changes all the time who is covering the race, but these are safe bets every year. Shameless plug - you can also follow me on twitter for updates on the race, photos, and I retweet a lot of the links listed in this blog. I'm sure I've missed someone, but my eyes are crossing so I will close for now. Comment below if you think a link should be added.

Keep up with the Last Great Race

With the world's technology ever improving, there are more ways than ever to follow along with Alaska's greatest race. I've listed my favorite sources below, but you can also follow the race with ME! Not just here on the blog, but from time to time I will be broadcasting LIVE on periscope.

@tonichelleak You can also chat along with me and other Iditarod enthusiasts on twitter, just follow the hashtags: #Iditarod and #Iditachat (just be aware there are trolls on the tags)! Follow me at @tonichelleak to keep up with all of the latest race updates. You can tweet me questions and I can answer them on twitter and depending on the topic it may prompt a blog post or who knows I may even use it on periscope!  But, you don't want to just get MY take on the race, that would be crazy. So how should you follow Iditarod 45?
Iditarod.com - this is a no brainer. If you aren't an Iditarod Insider, I highly recommend it. (No, I don't get a commission on sales.) The GPS and videos give great insight into how the race is going. This is where all official releases are posted, as well as blogs by several experts, the teacher on the trail, and ITC leadership.
Facebook - There are several folks on facebook worth following during the race, most of them are mushers themselves, or are family members of the musher(s) on the trail. Normally I'd say follow Danny Seavey and you're good but he's not going to be available this season. So here's a few alternatives this go around.

• Jake Berkowitz - He was a top ten finisher before he started a family and decided to get out of running dogs. Now he watches via the internet. He will be writing for the Alaska Dispatch but I believe is also planning on posting thoughts on Facebook. 
• Dallas Seavey - This is Dallas's racing team page. It's run by his wife Jen. Jen is an Iditarod finisher, now she's super mom who manages her home, family, and the team. She manages to blog at least twice a day during the height of the race. She gives insight not just to Dallas' race, but to the rest of the field. While biased for Dallas, there's still some very fair reporting of what is going on done by Jen's blogging.
• Sebastian Schnuelle - though I believe most of his posts will be done on the Iditarod website, he posts more photos to facebook when he has a strong enough internet connection. I'm not sure if he'll be out on the trail this year, though. But Danny Seavey said to follow him so I'm going to assume that Seb is doing what he's done the last few years and chasing the teams on his iron dog.

Twitter - Like Facebook, there are a few folks on Twitter you NEED to follow. (Aside from me and my friends, we're pretty amazing, but for news...)

• KNOM - Nome media, their social media definitely keeps up with the race, and they seem to know what they're talking about. Makes for a good source of info.
• ADNIditarod - The Iditarod specific social media for the Alaska Dispatch. Another fantastic source. 
• Kyle Hopkins - he works for KTUU, but he worked for a long time for the Anchorage Daily News (now the Alaska Dispatch). He has covered the Iditarod for years.
• Alex Stein - He directed a documentary on the Iditarod a few years back. He's one half of dog works radio podcasts about the Iditarod. 
• Fairbanks News-Miner - They also post a lot of Iditarod stuff, especially when the race starts out of Fairbanks.

Fantasy Mushing - THIS IS THE NEW HOME OF DANNY SEAVEY'S FANTASY IDITAROD GAME. 'Nuf said.
Alaska Dispatch - The official website of Alaska's largest newspaper. They have an Iditarod specific section (which is what I linked). 
KTVA - the official news channel of the Iditarod. (Personally I am not impressed with their coverage or their news casters having very little understanding of the sport/race. The only reason they're the official channel is they are owned by GCI which is a major sponsor of the race.)
KTUU - The best local news station in Alaska, IMO. The sports crew GET the Iditarod, love it, and it shows. I prefer KTUU, but they don't have access to the start, restart and finish.
Dog Works Radio - Robert and Alex have an Iditarod specific podcast during the race. They discuss it in depth. If you aren't into reading - this is one way to keep up with the race.

Or just follow along on my twitter and blog. Twitter I share from all of these people/sites throughout the day. And when I have a chance to blog, I do. 
We're a week a way, guys ONE WEEK!