Street crews were busy overnight dumping some 700 loads of snow and then spreading along the cross streets, 4th Avenue and Cordova Street for the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54. Mother Nature contributed to the effort delivering 6 to 8 inches of the fluffy white stuff. Thousands of spectators stood behind barriers along the 11 mile trail in 19 degree snowy weather to witness the excitement of Alaska’s state sport. The falling snow made the Ceremonial Start seem almost magical.
Jr. Iditarod champion, Stanley Robinson led the field to Campbell Airstrip as he transported Honorary Musher Mary Shields’ representative. Back in 1974, Shield’s, a true trailblazer, was the first woman to ever finish Iditarod. To learn more about the amazing Mary Shields, please read the Eye on the Trail Tribute and watch her video created by Insider from their archived interviews.
Iditarod fans have noted the smaller number of teams running the race in the recent past. There are of course economic factors that dissuade mushers from running the Iditarod or even getting into sled dogs and racing. Age is also a factor. The icons that were ever present in the Iditarod for years and years are bowing out to mentor younger mushers. Some are enjoying sharing the sport through thriving tour businesses. Some have just plan retired and are enjoying other pursuits that have nothing to do with sled dogs. The once younger mushers are now becoming the old guard.
Here are a some of the mushers running the 2026 Iditarod that are filling the shoes, or should I say bunny boots and mukluks, of the retired mushers. These folks have all accumulated 10 or more Iditarod finishes. Ryan Redington has been racing Iditarod since 2001, finishing 11 of 18 starts and he owns the 2023 championship. Wade Marrs has completed 10 of 12 Iditarod runs since 2009. Peter Kaiser started his Iditarod career back in 2010, completing 14 of 15 runs and earning the 2019 championship. Michelle Phillips did her first Iditarod in 2010 and is 11 for 11. Even though Jessie Royer didn’t begin her Iditarod career until 2014, she holds the most runs and finishes of the 2026 field with 21 starts and 21 finishes. How’s that for a perfect race record?
Well, Martin Buser is 39 for 39! He’s a four time champion but not all of his races have been a stroll in the park on a balmy day. In 2005 just a few days before the race he lost part of his right index finger to a saw blade while helping one of his sons build a little derby car. In 2014 he finished the race on a broken ankle. In 2016 he fought pneumonia while running the race. One year he dislocated his little finger during fall training and that seemingly insignificant injury plagued him for the entire race. He’s a tough guy and believes the dogs have earned the opportunity to run Iditarod and show who they are. Indomitable describes not only the spirit of the sled dog but also Martin Buser. Rohn Buser who started his Iditarod career while still in high school in 2008 has 3 starts and 3 finishes. Only time will tell if Rohn will approach his father’s incredible accomplishment.
Race Director, Mark Norman, met with mushers in Anchorage on Thursday prior to the annual musher banquet. His message about the trail was very encouraging. As a matter of fact, in some places excessive snow will be a challenge for trail breakers and mushers.
According to Nordman, areas that are typically snow starved between Rohn and Nikolai, notably the Buffalo Tunnels and Farewell Burn, have good coverage this year. Nordman also reported that trail crews have worked diligently cleaning up dead trees and building ice bridges in the Dalzell Gorge.
Further up the trail, Ophir to Ruby has deep snow. Because it’s not a well-used snowmachine route, setting a trail along that 140 mile stretch of trail will require extra work by the trail crew and ultimately, snow depth could prove challenging for the mushers during the race. Snow has also been plentiful around Elim. Nordman thanked the Elim Native Corporation for helping establish a viable trail out of Elim.
Another piece of good news Nordman shared with the mushers was the condition of ice on Norton Sound. The ice between Shaktoolik and Koyuk is solid, thus mushers will have a more direct route between the two checkpoints, saving miles on what is often a windswept difficult crossing.
The Expedition Musher Class is new for Iditarod 54. Kjell Røkke, a Norwegian business man and philanthropist, has joined the race as the first expedition musher. The champion of the 2020 race, Thomas Waerner, will be considered an Expedition musher as he will be running with Røkke. For your information, please see the explanation and Q&A document posted by Iditarod.
Mr. Røkke has made sizable contributions to the race that will benefit the mushers, the villages and the race. From Rob Urbach, Iditarod CEO, the winners share will be around $80,000. That’s a significant gain over recent years and may in fact be the largest winner’s check ever written.
Just recently it was announced that a third Expedition Musher would join the race. Steve Curtis, entrepreneur, philanthropist and adventurer from British Columbia, Canada will wear bib #38. In the Expedition class, Curtis will take on the full trail – 1,000 miles from Willow to Nome, Alaska, embracing the grit, teamwork and respect for Alaska’s sled dog culture. He will be joined by Iditarod Champion Jeff King (on snowmachine) and a seasoned team committed to safety, sportsmanship and exceptional dog care. As part of his participation, Curtis has personally committed $50,000 to support youth sports programs in villages along the Iditarod trail – honoring the communities whose spirit and resilience make the Last Great Race on Earth possible for generations to come. Iditarod welcomed Mr. Curtis to the race with this announcement.
