Kaduce and Naaktgeboren race to the finish, Neff gives chase

 

The Summit Quest should see its champion crowned tonight. Dan Kaduce of Dew Claw Kennel lead the charge out of the final checkpoint of Circle at 10:34am. Deke Naaktgeboren of Nautique Sky Kennel followed at 10:50. With needing an hour more than Deke, and half an hour more than Dan, of mandatory rest left on his plate, Hugh Neff (of who knows which kennel he is using these days he has so many different ones on social media) was third to leave Circle at 11:21am. 

The teams will now run back down the trail to finish in Central. Of the top three's runs INTO Circle, Dan was fastest at 8hr40m, next fastest was Hugh at 9hr5m but Deke is right there with him at 9hr 7m. If they keep their current speeds Kaduce looks to have this one in the bag and it will be a photo finish for second. Still, so much can happen in the switchbacks, and there's still a lot of trail left. Any one of these top three could end up pulling off a win.

Should Neff manage to catch and surpass both of the front runners, this will be the first significant win in his return to the Quest. The musher was suspended from the race in 2019 following the death of his dog Boppy. Neff's application to run in the 2019 Iditarod was denied by their Qualifying Review Board citing concerns over dog care in the 2018 Quest. As part of his censure, Neff has to complete the Yukon Quest 300 (this year called the Summit Quest) before he can apply to run the full thousand mile race again. Neff's wife, Olivia Webster (Shank) was allowed to enter in both the 2019 and 2020 races - she completed her first Yukon Quest last year. 

Should the teams keep pace with their outbound time start paying attention around 6:30 to see how close teams are. We could have a champion just a little after 7pm tonight (Alaska Time).

Richie Diehl wins the Kuskokwim 300

Setting a pace almost equal to his starting pace, Diehl and team flew down the Kuskokwim River to land a strong finish. The team came under the arch (after trying to detour into the crowd) with energy and tight lines. He was met under the arch by a fan who gave him a red rose and wished him a Happy Valentine's Day - Richie passed the rose onto his Partner Emery.

When asked what made this team the one he knew could win, Richie said he didn't know if there was one thing as it is a combination of feeding, training and breeding. When further pressed he said it was the breeding. 10 of his team are direct siblings ages 3 and 4. He did the same breeding twice and ended up with a group of highly energized dogs. He calls them the Spring Breakers because, "everyday is a party with them."

Richie is the first of several local mushers in the top five, reporters asked how he felt to see such a strong local showing. Diehl credited the sign up as being due to the Bogus Creek 150 being run almost 2 weeks ahead of the Kusko. He suggested it continue that way as the Bogus saw far more entries and more local teams joined the Kusko. "There's definitely something to be said about that," he stated.

When asked how it felt to beat five-time champion Pete Kaiser, Richie said it felt good. He said you always want to win by competing with the best, and Pete has dominated this race. Diehl noted that Pete is his "best friend" and said Pete told him thay this was the best Kusko (Pete) had ever had so to win after that, it felt really good.

Richie Diehl was quick to shut down questions about winning the Iditarod next month. "I'm not even thinking about that," he said. Diehl pointed out he grew up with the Kusko, that this was his race, he wanted to take the next few days and just think about how he won his race.

Next into the chute should be Pete Kaiser followed closely by Nicolas Petit. 

Could be an early morning finish for the Kusko

Richie Diehl is the first to make it to the final stop before the finish. His official time in is 10:24pm AKST. He will take a mandatory 4 hour rest before he can continue. He can leave at 2:24am Sunday. There's 46-48 miles of trail left for his team, so that gets him into the finish in possibly five hours or less. Start watching around 7am AKST just to be sure.

Pete Kaiser looks to be the next team in followed by Father Alexander Larson and Nicolas Petit. An official press release posted tonight that earlier today Petit took a wrong turn coming into the halfway point and lost up to potentially 16 minutes. It was determined that his mistake was due to a poorly marked trail (reported by Richie Diehl) and race officials decided to "give back" 10 minutes to Petit who only had to take a 50 minute layover in Tuluksak #3 checkpoint this afternoon. 

Isaac Underwood rounds out the top five. It's anyone's guess who can push and make it into 2nd place. As with a lot of races, it seems 2nd is where the real excitement will be.

So get a couple minutes of shut eye and be ready for an early morning finish! Looks like another Homegrown Team will be taking this championship.

Diehl leads in the Kusko

 The newly crowned Bogus Creek 150 champ Richie Diehl blew past front runner Nicolas Petit earlier this evening to take the lead of the Kuskokwim 300 race. Diehl came in on the heels of Petit into Tuluksak #3, but Petit had a mandatory hour of rest left to take - Diehl's rest is up. After taking only a couple of minutes to leave a dog with handlers, Diehl and his team of 11 dogs left the checkpoint taking the lead. All Petit could do is watch.

Petit was not alone in his rest strategy. Former Kusko champ Jeff King also must take an hour in Tuluksak #3. Diehl has been joined by 5-time Kusko Champion Pete Kaiser, and Kusko 300 rookies Father Alexander Larson and Issac Underwood. Just recently Petit and King gave chase. Each team will have a 4 hour mandatory layover in Tuluksak on their return before running into the finish.

The race is far from over, buckle up. The finish looks to be dramatic. Still a lot of race left, but it's quickly being eaten up.

Who needs sleep?

2021 Summit Quest musher roster

My apologies for the lateness of this roster. Always difficult to share attention with two races in the same weekend, and I'm not very good at that kind of multitasking.

2021 has been a strange year for the sled dog race season, and one of the biggest changes was the cancellation of "the other thousand mile race", the Yukon Quest. It came really as no surprise to many race fans for the simple fact that the Quest has a border crossing, and with Canada's continued closure of the border for non-essential travel to and from the States, there would be no way for the Yukon Quest to run in the year of Covid. 

Quickly talk started on continuing the tradition of the Yukon Quest 300, the mid-distance race run by the organization that is used by many as a qualifier for both the Quest and the Iditarod. The powers that be decided to go ahead with the YQ300 but rebranded it and renamed it. Now the Summit Quest 300, it signifies the Alaska version of the 300 race. 

You can follow the race via the lovely trackers run by trackleaders.com, and on the race's facebook page. No preview for this blogger... I've run out of time (obviously).

Without further adieu, the musher roster in Bib order.

Musher Roster

1. Jodi Bailey - Website / Facebook / Instagram
2. Hugh Neff - Facebook / Instagram
3. Eddie Burke Jr. -  Facebook / Instagram
4. Marla Brodsky - Facebook 
5. Kai Leddy - Website / Facebook / Instagram
6. Tabitha Hughes - Website / Facebook (I assume based on race fb posts)
7. Dan Kaduce - Website / Facebook / Instagram
8. Vickie Justice - Facebook / Instagram
9. Lauro Eklund - Website / Facebook / Facebook 2 / Instagram / Instagram 2
10. DJ Starr - Facebook 
11. Misha Wiljes - Website / Facebook
12. Leigh Strehlow Pagel - Website / Facebook / Instagram
13. Benjamin Good - Facebook / Instagram
14. Phillip Hanke - Facebook 
15. Dan Powell -  Website / Facebook / Instagram 
16. Deke Naaktgeboren - Website / Facebook / Instagram
17. Adam Lindenmuth - Facebook / Instagram / Youtube 
18. Bridgett Watkins - Website / Facebook / Facebook 2 / Instagram

2021 Kuskokwim 300 musher roster

While there are a number of well known mushers who often grace the race rosters, there are just as many (it feels) newcomers to this year's Kusko (and 300 mile races). They are listed below in sign up order via the website as of February 9. If there are any changes to the roster I will edit as they become known.

As always, this page will be updated with bib numbers as they become available.

Kusko Musher Roster

Dennis Kananowicz - Facebook 
Dave Turner - Facebook
Pete Kaiser - Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Jessica Klejka - Website / Facebook / Instagram
Aaron Peck - Website / Facebook / Instagram
Richie Diehl - Facebook
Matthew Failor - Website / Facebook / Instagram
Jeff King - Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Joshua Cadzow - Facebook 
Reese Madden - Facebook / Instagram
Isaac Underwood - I'm at a loss to find an online presence
Robert Redington - Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Nate DeHaan - Facebook / Instagram
Lewis Pavila - Facebook 
Father Alexander Larson - Need help with this one too
Nicolas Petit -  - Website / Facebook / Twitter

2021 Kuskokwim 300 Race Preview

Mushers and teams arrived today in Bethel, Alaska ahead of the 2021 Kuskokwim 300. The race always boasts an impressive roster of competitive teams, and even in this year of Covid it's no exception. While normally run in January, with rising Covid numbers happening early in the New Year, the race organizers chose to push back the race date to February hoping that Alaska would get the numbers under control (and a vaccine). The Kusko has one of the most intensive Covid-19 mitigation plan of all of the mid-distance races. Being off the road system, the race wants to take every precaution to protect the peoples of Western Alaska. 

Even with all of the changes to make sure they keep the communities along the trail safe, the Kusko still plans to make this a party for the ages. The fireworks are still planned for Friday night after the teams take off, and there will be a pre-recorded virtual awards ceremony on Sunday after everyone completes their race. As always, Bethel knows how to throw a dog race.

With a roster of 16 teams (as of February 7), the race is a balance of top names most everyone recognizes and some local heroes all running their first Kusko. It's promising to be another stellar race and the only bummer is it has to share the weekend with the Summit Quest (the new name of the Alaskan Yukon Quest 300).

So, let's do as we always do and take a look at the teams that are a safe bet to be near the top...

Dave Turner - The 2019 Tustumena 200 champ made Rookie of the Year in last year's Kusko. Turner has already withdrawn from one race this season, and his social media has been quiet since Christmas. I'm unsure if he's actually gone to Bethel, but I look for that info to update by morning one way or the other. Still, if Turner starts on Friday, but sure that he'll once again challenge for a lead spot. 

Jeff King - the 9-time Kusko Champion (and 4 time Iditarod champion among countless other races won) has been busy behind the scenes of this year's race season. He hosted the Denali Doubles at the start of the season, and he's created a new mid-distance qualifier race to take place in March (called the Ididn'trod, because of COURSE he did). But Jeff is now ready to get on the back of a sled and no double cause some trouble for the young guns currently dominating the racing scene. I don't know that I will ever keep him off the "to be watched" lists. (I mean, he DID come in 4th last year. Not too shabby for the "old dawg".)

Matthew Failor - the 2019 Kusko champ came in second sandwiched between two homegrown heroes in last year's race, proving that his win two years ago wasn't an anomaly. Failor has also had an easier season - choosing to send his dogs off with other mushers, but I expect that he'll be ready to go for another title this weekend.

Nicolas Petit - Let's just dub him the King of the Mid-Distance race, okay? One of the few he hasn't won, however, is the Kusko. He should probably be considered an underdog for this race, but he's been hot (as always) in his earlier races. Expect him to start fast early and try to jump to the front and stay there.

Pete Kaiser - the 5-time and reigning champion (and 2019 Iditarod Champion) dominates his home-town race. The homegrown musher is the odds on favorite to make it a 6-Pete, but he'll have his work cut out for him. This is Pete's backyard and he owns it. Do not expect him to be far from first.

Richie Diehl - the other hometown hero, while he's yet to win the Kusko, he did just win the Bogus Creek 150. Do not count him out. His team came in third in last year's race. It would be a huge deal to see Richie and Pete charge to the finish in a 1-2 order. And it's kinda what I'm rooting for. 

How to Follow

Unlike the bigger races like the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod, there is very little promise of any video coverage. With the temps dropping so low, even the facebook live feeds we've grown accustomed to cannot be guaranteed. Cold air zaps batteries faster than lighting, and who has the time or ability to keep their fingers exposed long enough to even press "start"?! That being said, the Kusko crew do their best to give us a looksee into the start, fireworks, and finish. So, how can race fans follow along when a race doesn't have Iditarod Insider like coverage?

Official Website

The Kusko's website is pretty slick. You can follow all of the races, fundraising and news from their site. It's easy to navigate and they have great musher bios. Be sure to check it out.

GPS Tracker

Real time updates will come through the trackers as always. With the cold there may be more glitches than we'd like (I blame the aliens!) but there's not much we can do. Cold and technology don't get along. You can follow the trackers here, but they won't go live until closer to go time on Friday.

Radio Broadcast

KYUK Radio will broadcast the start which begins at 6:30pm (start listening at 6pm for pre-race info). You can listen to the broadcast online through this link.

Social Media

Updates will most likely be posted on the race's facebook page, and possibly their twitter account. Photo updates should come from Instagram. They typically try to have a facebook live feed. If you are tweeting, instagramming, etc. the traditional hashtag is #K300.

KYUK is also plans to post updates on their facebook page, including facebook interviews with the mushers from the last week or so.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, February 10
2pm - Covid Tests for Mushers

Thursday, February 11
11am - Food Drops
2pm - Covid Testing
6pm - Musher Meeting (Bib Draw?) 

​Friday, February 12
6:30pm - 2020 Kuskokwim 300 START
8pm - "The Lead Dog Light Show" presented by First National Bank Alaska

Saturday, February 13
2pm - Akiak Dash Mass Start

Monday, February 14
7pm - Virtual Awards Ceremony via Facebook

Which teams are you cheering for? Comment with your thoughts and questions below.

Iditarod Ceremonial Start canceled

For the first time in 49 years, Iditarod will not start in Anchorage. The Ceremonial Start has seen its share of changes over the decades. Originally a traditional race starting point, it then took on a celebratory feel that was part opening ceremony while still also counting towards the overall mileage and times for teams. The new millennium saw even more changes when the Anchorage start became Ceremonial only and times were no longer counted. Teams were trucked from Anchorage to Wasilla or Willow (and sometimes Fairbanks in bad snow years) after the teams paraded 11 miles through Anchorage in what's considered one of the largest tailgating (or as we say TRAILgating) events in the world.

The Anchorage Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod is the finale event of the two week Fur Rondeveux winter festival (well, okay, they SAY it's the Running of the Reindeer is the finale, but pfft, we know that's not true). Alaskans come from all over the state to watch the teams take off. Fans spend hard earned dollars to win auctioned off rides in the sleds. Bystanders roast hot dogs, drink beer, eat muffins -and share all that and more with the passing teams. It's a PARTY. It's JOY. It's a CELEBRATION.

Last night the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) announced that this year, there would be no start in Anchorage. The ITC released a statement saying:

"While the Iditarod believes the future does not belong to the fainthearted, we take the health and well-being of our racers, volunteers, staff, and spectators very seriously. After consulting with our stakeholders and in consultation with the Municipality of Anchorage, we decided to cancel our traditional ceremonial start in Anchorage due to the COVID-19 concerns of a large gathering.

The Iditarod looks forward to its 50th anniversary event in Anchorage to be held Saturday, March 5, 2022. For now, it’s up to all Alaskans to come together and embrace the spirit of the 20 mushers who travelled the Iditarod Trail to Nome in 1925 to deliver the precious life-saving diphtheria serum. Let’s all do our part and make sure we wear our masks, practice social distancing, wash our hands, and keep our spirits high."

The race promises this is a one year issue, and that they plan to be in Anchorage next year for the race's 50th event.

As many of my readers know, the Iditarod start is something I look forward to all year. Growing up in Alaska, winter meant Iditarod for me and for my family. My grandparents were Iditarod volunteers from the 70s up until my grandmother passed away in 2012. My grandfather was the area coordinator for a section of the Iditarod Anchorage trail for decades. His team saw their section grow up from being just a residential area with a few driveways and a semi big road that meant they had to do traffic control to now a huge hub of medical buildings and a dog park. Lots of changes.

But this is the biggest change. For the first time in my adult life, I will NOT be at the start of the Iditarod. The ITC is asking spectators to stay away and they are not giving out media passes. There's really no reason for me to attend, and I respect the ITC's wishes to keep the bubble secure. Covid has changed a lot and this is just another one. I would much rather see the race go on and me have to be at home than the thing be canceled in its entirety.

This just gives me more time to blog about the first few days of the race, and watch along with everyone. I'm thinking about doing some sort of live watch party if I can figure out how. (Anyone with any experience, hit me up and let me know how it all works.) 

It's been a huge blow as this is the one "vacation" I was sure would happen (Iditarod had a strong covid-19 plan in place for the ceremonial start) and I really needed this weekend. But I'd rather just really go all out for the 50th. I have over a year to plan and make my section the best it's ever been. 

2021 Willow 300 Musher Roster

The season is rolling along, and we have another weekend of big races in the sled dog world. While the Willow 300 is one of the newer races (as in, less than 10 years old) it has become one of the most popular mid-distance races in Alaska. Not only is it used by veteran teams to train for the big races - but it's a race that sees a lot of teams looking to qualify for those races. This year is no exception even with all of the uncertainty brought on by that lovely little concern called Covid-19.

The Willow 300 does not do a bib draw, mushers are given the bib number in order of sign up (makes it easy for me as I don't have to come back and edit this list just hours before the start!) Of course, we won't know if all of these teams show up or are who they say they are until race day, but this is the roster as of January 29 February 1.

Willow 300 Musher Roster

1. Grayson Bruton - Website / Facebook
2. John  Lloyd - Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 
3. Dave Turner - Facebook*
4. Casey Randall - Facebook / Twitter 
5. Deke Naaktgeboren - Website / Facebook / Instagram
6. Jacob Witkop - Facebook 
7. Eddie Burke Jr - Facebook / Instagram
8. Amanda Otto - Facebook / Kennel Facebook / Instagram 
9. Misha Wiljes - Website / Facebook
10. Julie Nelson - Facebook 
11. Gerhardt Thiart - Website / Facebook 
12. Sean Williams - Facebook
13. Allen Lau - Facebook
14. Jessi Downey - Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram**
15. Gabe Dunham - Website / Facebook / Instagram
16. David Hassilev - Facebook / Instagram 
17. Hunter Keefe - Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 
18. Nic Petit - Website / Facebook / Twitter
19. Rick Casillo - Website / Facebook / Instagram
20. Cim Smyth - Facebook
21. Jim Lanier - Website / Facebook*
22. Rebecca Rowin - Facebook
23. Julie Ahnen - Facebook / Instagram 
24. Victoria Hardwick - Facebook
25. Susannah Tuminelli - Website / Facebook / Instagram
26. Samantha La Londe - Facebook / Instagram
27. Elliot Hubbard - Website / Facebook 
28. Kai Leddy - Website / Facebook / Instagram
29. Linwood Fiedler - Website / Facebook / Instagram
30. Katie Timmons - Facebook*
31. Dane Baker - Facebook / Instagram
32. Anja Radano - Facebook / Instagram
33. Wade Marrs - Website / Facebook / Instagram
34. Michaela O’Connor - Facebook 
35. Karin Hendrickson - Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
36. Eric Kelly - Instagram / Facebook
37. Lev Shvarts - Website / Facebook
38. Josh Armstrong - Facebook
39. Travis Beals - Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
40. Aaron Burmeister -  Facebook
41. Josh McNeal - Website / Facebook / Instagram
42. Adam Worsell - Facebook
43. Unknown*
44. Joshua Robbins - Facebook
45. Mike Dolinar - Facebook / Instagram

*Edited to remove teams who chose to Withdraw as of February 1. 
**Edited to add links for Jessi Downey (thank you Jae March) 

2021 Willow 300 Race Preview

Mushing fans are excited that, once again, we have a mushing weekend to celebrate. Covid-19 will not win against the sled dog season as  another race with a very healthy roster is set to get underway on Thursday. The Willow 300 in a relatively new race, but very popular among veteran and rookie mushers alike. The race came to be after several mid-distance races stopped running due to funding and lack of interest. They've had no problems filling their roster each season.

There were concerns the race would not run this year due to a lack of volunteers (a struggle this race has had since its inception), however an early season plea by the race saw a good number of people sign-up. With Covid-19 still a concern, the race adopted a similar mitigation plan to what the Copper Basin 300 implemented earlier in January. 

Because of construction at Willow Lake, teams will leave from Deshka Landing just a little way up the trail. With this change comes the change from starting with a Mass Start to the more traditional staggered start with teams leaving in two minute intervals with a mandatory rest with time differential. For a full look at the rules for this year's race you can read up at this link. 

As stated, the 2021 Willow 300 has a healthy (and FULL) roster of 45 teams. A good mix of veterans and rookies grace the list, so the Iditarod/Quest qualifier will be an exciting race to follow. As with most of the mid-distance races we can't be 100% sure who will show up on race day, but don't expect a lot of changes past today as they closed the window to switch out names at Noon. 

With so many teams, it makes it interesting for who will come in the top spots, but let's shake out a few of those teams that could easily take the top prize.

Aaron Burmeister - Burmeister is one of those solid teams who you can count to challenge for first place in many races. He's come close in the Iditarod several times in the last 10 years, and manages top ten finishes. Burmeister has a "puppy" team in this race as well so it's unsure if he'll hold back to keep an eye on his "rookie" musher or if he'll be racing, but I expect if things are going well Aaron will work to take the lead.

Cim Smyth - Never, ever, ever count out a Smyth. No one can close out a final leg like Cim (okay, except maybe his brother Ramey), it's been said he trades out his boots for running shoes. Cim is a five-time Tustumena 200 champion, so he's very capable of winning mid-distance races. Never, ever, leave him off of a prediction list. (I'm also wildly biased as I just think he's one of the really good ones all the way around.)

Dave Turner - Dave is also a former Tustumena 200 champion (winning the very last running of that race) and has steadily risen up the ranks of other mid-distance races. Expect him to run for the lead and stay there. He's run against and beaten several of the teams listed here, so it's anyone's guess how he'll do in this race.*

Julie Ahnen - It's not every day you want to put a rookie musher who's working on qualifying for the BIG race up as a team to watch to win, but she's proven that she has a team and the knowledge to be right up there with the big names. Running Jessie Holmes' team doesn't hurt either. Ahnen really challenged Nic Petit in the Copper Basin 300 and had the possibility of beating him if not for a mistake in calculating her differential (a classic rookie mistake). Do not expect her to make that mistake a second time.

Nicolas Petit - Another speed demon on the trail, Nic just won his fourth consecutive Copper Basin 300. He's almost always near the top when he's racing. Look for Nic to continue that streak in this race. There's not much more to say, he seems to be the king of mid-distance right now, and it's doubtful to change any time soon.

Travis Beals - Travis is part of that up and coming now they're here group of mushers proving time and again that you don't have to be an old dog to win these races. The musher from Seward named his kennel Turning Heads, and he certainly has over the years. Expect Travis to be near the top at the finish.

Wade Marrs - New Dad Wade Marrs is looking to start his season off strong in his backyard. Another solid front of the pack team, expect Wade to be there with the others and could easily take a win away from anyone who makes even the minor-est of mistakes. (Plus he has this super cute puppy named Stitch so he wins all the awards from me!)

How to Watch

Unlike the other races that have established media sources and big sponsorships that garner attention from outside media, the Willow 300 runs mainly by its volunteer staff to keep fans updated. Here are the links you need to know to be able to follow the race.

Official Website

Unlike the other races, the Willow 300 just has a web page as part of the Willow Dog Musher Association's website. It holds links to the official rules, the tracker map, the forms and applications for mushers, and ways to sponsor the race (including purchasing a mile of the trail for $30.)

GPS Tracker

Where would we be without our wonderful GPS trackers from TrackLeaders.com?

Social Media

For the Willow 300, Social Media is the race's life blood. They post mainly to their Facebook Page, but are also active on their Twitter account at race time. They also share a few photos and posts on their Instagram Page. Expect a live feed for the start and finish on their facebook page - though they have not announced that to be planned. 

Start begins at 11am (a one hour difference from years past) on Thursday, February 4, at Deshka Landing up in the Willow, Alaska area. As with all of the races during Covid all other festivities have been canceled and they ask that spectators keep away from all official checkpoints and staging areas.

So there's your 2021 rundown, hopefully this helps a little in choosing your Fantasy Mushing team. Who are you cheering for? Comment below with your favorites.

*Edited to acknowledge that Dave Turner has withdrawn from the race.