Iditarod: What You Need to Know

With five days until the Ceremonial Start to the 38th Iditarod, it's time to get a few FAQ's out of the way. These are compiled from my crazed brain, with the help of working with Alaskan tourists for the last four years. If I miss anything, feel free to comment and ask away. If I don't have the answer I'll BS my way through it, just like I do all summer long! (Only half kidding, I will do my best to answer your questions with the right answers, unlike in the summer where I make it up as I go along and you'd never know it).

First off the Iditarod Trail is longer than the race actually runs. Mile 0 of the trail is actually in Seward, AK - not Anchorage. In 2004 -the year he won- Mitch Seavey ran his team from Seward to Anchorage before the ceremonial start began. He is - as far as I know - the only musher to do so for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

The official mileage of the race is 1,049 (a nod to Alaska's being the 49th state), but is closer to 1,100 miles.

The first race was run in 1973, and was basically a test to see if it could even be accomplished. It took over two weeks to get from Anchorage to Nome, and the mushers weren't so much racing as helping one another out.

Joe Redington is the Father of the Iditarod and gets the credit for starting the race - he went into debt so that he could afford to pay the winner - as well he should, however the first teams to ever attempt it all had a hand in the history making race, and many still continue to see her through.

There's a sort of Mushing Family Royalty in the Iditarod. The Redingtons, Mackeys, Seaveys and Busers all have multigenerational mushers within their families. All but, ironically, the Reddingtons have at least one Iditarod champion (The Mackey's win with the most - three). In 2000, the Seavey family became the first family in Iditarod history to run three generations in one race. Dan Seavey - who helped Redington coordinate the first race, and ran in that race - his son Mitch Seavey and his grandson Danny Seavey were the ones to all make it down the trail and into Nome.

Tyrell Seavey holds the record as being the first, first-year rookie to make the top 20.

Dallas Seavey - yes, another Seavey - is the youngest musher to finish. He turned 18 the day before the race started in 2005.

A musher is considered a rookie - no matter how many times they run - until their first Nome finish. If you scratch (quit the race) you will return in your next race again as a rookie. Rookies that finish receive an "Iditarod Finisher" buckle. You can only get it once, and it's highly coveted and is more prized -possibly- than a win. It's said that there have been more people to climb Mt. Everest or go into space than there are who have finished the Iditarod.

Rick Swenson is the only musher to win five Iditarods, and is the youngest musher to win at age 26. He also was part of the historic one second finish in 1978 - the year Dick Mackey won - where it was also decided that the winner would be decided by the nose of the first dog over the finish line and not the first musher. This finish was inducted to the Alaska Hall of Fame in 2010.

Libby Riddles was the first woman to win in 1985, it would be the only championship she'd win, and it was almost a fluke. A freak storm blew in in the last possible moment and Libby was caught out in it, but not wanting to lose time she continued moving forward believing she'd already lost the race. She won!

Susan Butcher would be the true 'women's champion' winning a total of four - she is the only woman to do so. Susan became the icon of the sport, and changed the face of the Iditarod for the mid 80s and most of the 90s. No other woman has won since. A phrase was coined after Susan began winning - "Alaska: where men are men and women win the Iditarod."

There are only a select few who have won four Iditarod's or more. Members of the club include Rick Swenson, Susan Butcher, Doug Swingley, Jeff King and Martin Buser. Each, in their own way, brought something special to the Iditarod - and changed the sport for the better. The race you see now has been greatly influenced by this "club."

Martin Buser holds the fastest time of any Iditarod winner, just under 9 days.

The average time for the winner these days is 9 and a half days.

Doug Swingley (Montana, USA) and Robert Sorlie (Team Norway) are the only "outsiders" to win the race. "Outsiders" is the term to describe non-Alaskans. (Interestingly enough while Doug Swingley won four impressive Iditarods, he is not well liked/respected by most Alaskans - whereas Robert Sorlie - a three time champion - is beloved by most. Go figure.)

Though he is considered by some to be the first international Iditarod champion, Martin Buser (Swiss born) became a US citizen in 2002 - taking the oath under the Burled Arch in Nome.

Lance Mackey is the third Mackey to win an Iditarod title - making their family the first to have three champions in one family. Lance is favored to win the 2010 race.

Jeff King is known as the innovator. It seems every year he comes with something new to the race. He is the inventor of the "old man's sled", which is a racing sled that has a caboose-or, rather, chair in the back. Most scoffed at the idea when he first introduced it (hence the name "old man's chair") but now it is widely used by newbies and old timers alike. He has even had heated handlebars in the past, though those had a tendency to get a little *too* warm.

While the purse is a substantial size for winning the race, it doesn't come close to covering a musher's expenses. Most mushers support their kennels by doing tours and demonstrations in the summer months inbetween training.

The unofficial song of the Iditarod is Hobo Jim's "Iditarod Trail." After Joe Redington's death in 1999, Jim wrote another song about the race entitled "Redington's Run" in honor of the "Father of the Iditarod."

The race has two courses, which are alternated every other year, around the Yukon River. In even years the Northern route is used, the southern route -of course- is run in the odd years. Of the two it's said the Southern Route is more brutal because the wind is in your face, not behind you. This gives the Southern Villages a chance to host checkpoints -and allows the race to pass through the ghosttown of its namesake: Iditarod.

Iditarod is a Native Alaskan word meaning "A Great Distance."

Closing Thoughts on the Winter Olympiad

So seventeen days have passed rather quickly. The closing ceremonies are complete, and now we wait four years until the games return - this time in Sochi, Russia - where the best in the field will compete once again for themselves, their team and their country.

It's true, for many we follow one or two sports closely and the rest we only see every four years. Still, when the games rolls around we become enthralled with every part of the games. Whether or not we're cheering on our countrymen we are all connected together by television (and now computer) as we watch the greatest dramas unfold.

The games started out on a rather tragic note with the death of the Georgian Luger, but that sadness was quickly replaced by the joy of wins in many events by many countries, only to be reminded -once again- when Canadian Figure Skater Joannie Rochette's mother passed away on her way to see her daughter practice on Olympic Ice.

It seems Vancouver was destined to have some of the greatest moments and stories of the Winter Games. Joannie Rochette rose from her grief to claim a bronze medal at a point in time where the color of the medal - or a medal at all - didn't matter. It was about skating for her mother. It was about the curling teams wonderfully ugly - yet stylish - pants. It was about favorites hitting their mark, and it was about new stars rising to the occassion. It was drama, it was passion, it was the Winter Games.

Golden Heart

Well, she did it; Joannie Rochette skated - and skated masterfully - in the ladies' short program last night, just two days after losing her mother suddenly to a heart attack.

One has to wonder just where that sort of strength comes from. Joannie was on the verge of tears as she took the ice for warm up only to have a solid pass. She was once again visibly emotional as her name was announced and the crowd's overwhelming response resonated within the arena. After a few deep breaths she took her position and for two and a half minutes she held the World captive with a magical performance.

If there was a dry eye in the place, the cameras couldn't find it. If there was a commentator or judge or official not pulling for her - you'd never know it. Joannie skated through the pain to a third place, placement and is in a great spot for tomorrow nights final.

But it's not about medals now. It wasn't about medals last night. It was about skating for her mother, the friend and parent she lost so suddenly. It was about healing, it was about getting through the grief. It was a tribute. It was for herself. It was an Olympic Moment that will be remembered forever.

Our hearts are with Joannie Rochette, and her family, as she is giving us hers.

Ladies' Night!

It all comes down to the 'finale' and tradition mandates that Ladies close out figure skating competition in the games. In most years they bring the more drama - but I don't think anything comes close to the drama the men have and had the other night.

So who's in it for the gold?

All eyes are on Yuna Kim of Korea (look for the NBC commentators to call her Kim Yu-Na because they think they're that cool) to take the Gold. She has a massive amount of momentum, and if she can stand up on everything she should win, she is -after all- the reigning world champion. Look for her on the podium, and if you're not in it for the ladies, she has Brian Orser for a coach. He has two Olympic silvers to his credit, and he's one of the best North American skaters of all time - and certainly one of the best Canadians of all time.

Mao Asada was crowned best in the world by fans when she burst onto teh senior scene at age fourteen. Too young to skate in Torino this will also be her first Olympics (same for Yuna). Mao has had a difficult couple of seasons, due mainly to her struggle to master the Triple Axel in both the short and long program. It's become an obsession that will most likely cost her Gold in Vancouver. Still, if she does hit them she'll be unstoppable.

Joannie Rochette came to Vancouver with Canada's hopes riding on her shoulder. With the recent, tragic loss of her mother she has - in Sandra Besic's words - become the "Daughter of the Olympics." No longer is the color of the medal important, or a medal at all, but just two great heartfelt skates for her will be enough for fans worldwide. Still, if she lets herself just get into the programs and forgets the pressure - which in a way is completely gone - she could still be the spoiler of the event.

Japan's Miki Ando is the hit or miss spoiler girl, but she's been on fire as of late. She's a World Champion who's let the pressure get to her, but with Japan's hopes focussed on Mao Asada, Miki could swoop in for a top spot on the podium. It's all about the pressure and how she handles it. She's skating to programs that suit her style and personality, and the judges still favor coach-choreographer Morosov's style. If she skates the way she has all season the "It Girls" may be in trouble.

For the first time in a long time America's sweethearts are not favored to win any sort of medal. It's disappointing to those in the American Media - though they've found darlings in others such as Lindsey Vohn - but all events go in cycles where the big names in skating come from elsewhere. We're seeing the shift in Pairs and Ice Dance where Russia has dominated for half a century, we're seeing it in Ladies. Even in men's skating we're seeing the shift come back to the US after Former Soviet countries (mainly Russia with one Ukranian champion thrown in) dominated the title from 1992 till now.

Rachel Flatt is coming in as the newly crowned US Champion. She's a solid skater, a solid competitor. But she lacks a certain something. She doesn't get the American public as excited as a Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen or Tara Lipinski. She's reminicent of Nancy Kerrigan - she has admirable qualities on and off the ice, but the something special seems to be missing. Rachel is the best hope for a top ten placement in Vancouver, but we've seen so many shake ups in the "should bes" in the last ten days that anything is possible.

Mirai Nagasu sums up the other half of the US ladies team. She's spunky, she's got the goods, if she can just rotate her jumps fully. Many believed that it was Mirai who won, and not Rachel the night of the long program. She has the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand with the charisma she has when she performs. However, the confident Mirai we saw in Vancouver is someone new. She reemerged ready to skate and ready to compete after last season's disaster of a year. If she continues with her newly refound confidence Mirai could pull an upset over her teammate. But don't look for either on the podium.

So, tomorrow night brings out the ladies feisty and hungry for their time in the spotlight. Here's hoping the princesses become queens!

Photos (c) Getty Images, Associated Press and Reuters c/o DayLife.com

Incase you're interested

My family has a blog where we try to keep friends and family updated on what's going on. This was started after my grandmother had her stroke in December as a way for those of us around her could keep everyone informed. Well, now she's keeping us informed. So, if you want to also keep up with all of us (and get away from my figure skating gushings) you can find us all here - http://akreitters.blogspot.com/

Rochette's Tragedy

This morning the Skating World was shocked to learn that Joannie Rochette's mother died suddenly sometime in the wee hours of the morning. When first reported it was unsure how, when, and where, but it was no less devastatings for fans of skating and the skater alike.

Therese was just 55 years old, and it's now being reported that she died of a heart attack. It was said that she was always there to critique Joannie's skating and her most staunch supporter. Joannie let it be known early on that she does plan to compete later this week in honor and tribute to her mother.

Today's news brings back memories of others in the skating community who have lost loved ones - Scott Hamilton, Katia Gordeeva, Jennifer Kirk, Angela Nikodinov to name a few - and how they've been able to continue on with their careers and use skating as a way to get through the grief. It's what they had to do.

Here's hoping Joannie is strengthend by the memory of her mother, and by the support that is pouring out of each and every skating fan world wide. She's no longer a competitor, she's a skater, and she's someone who needs our support, love, and encouragement.

My prayers are joining many in support of Joannie and her family. May God give her peace, understanding, and encouragement as she faces the days ahead.

Photo (c) Reuters c/o DayLife.com.

Tango Romantica

Tonight was a night of no surprises. Such is life in Ice Dancing. Though, if you're one of those that watches only every four years, it could be shocking to see three North American teams within points of each other all vying for positions on the podium.

If you've been watching every season leading up to Vancouver, you aren't surprised. You're also not surprised that it seems the American "It Team" of Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have lost the good graces of the judges - though they are still in medal contention be prepared to see the gap between third and fourth to grow. Such is life in ice dance, the other North American teams have been together longer and it shows in their competitive programs.

Original dances are Sunday, so we'll see where they all place once the folk dances begin. Look for a late coming skater spotlight on here tomorrow.

Photo (c) Getty Images c/o DayLife.com.