We've relied heavily on sports - even folks who aren't "sports fans" found themselves waiting for a weekly football game this fall... I even tuned in (almost willingly) to Golf. It's been a rough year. We're coming up on the one year anniversary, and what better way to kick off that celebration than by a completely revamped Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The race has so many changes it's almost unrecognizable but for the dogs and the mushers running them. There will be no finish in Nome. There will be no Ceremonial Start in Anchorage (I'm still crying). No start at the Willow Community Center. No large crowds at the start or finish. No checkpoints inside villages. Teams are running to the ghost town of Iditarod before returning to Deshka Landing (with a short jaunt around "the Flat"). We get the happy river steps and Dalzel Gorge going and coming.
Mushers have returned after self imposed hiatus, others have declared this their last hurrah.
What's the same are the dogs, the men and women who train/coach/run them and the SPIRIT of the Last Great Race.
Let's take a look at the roster as it stands as of February 26, 2021. I've added links to their known websites/social media so that fans can get to know the 47 teams ahead of race day. As always, once bib numbers are announced (I hear they are being selected at random by computer today) I'll edit with the teams in bib order. Edited to add bib numbers. This is how the roster stands as of February 27, 2021.
Are you ready? Who are you cheering for? Comment below with your hopes and predictions!
