Robert Redington in 2015 Northern Lights 300

Robert Redington will be joining his brothers Ray Jr. and Ryan on the Iditarod trail in 2016. Parents, Barb and Raymie Redington, will have their hands and hearts full as they support their three sons in their quests for Nome. Robert, age 27, is a rookie for the 2016 Iditarod. He started mushing not as a youngster but just five years ago. Robert said, “I’ve had a feeling I would run Iditarod ever since I was a kid.” Race founder, Joe Redington Sr. would be proud to see his grandsons, now including Robert, on the trail and might be saying, “Since the day they were born, I had a feeling they’d all run the race.”

During the summer Robert works as a tour guide for Alaska Excursions Dog Sled Discovery and Musher’s Camp in the Juneau area. In his spare time Robert enjoys skate boarding. He’s lived on his grandfather’s (Joe Redington, Sr.) homestead in Knik all his life.  To view Ray, Ryan and now Robert from the Insider team click this link.

Melissa Owens Stewart made her first attempt at Iditarod in 2008.  She finish in 30th place and in doing so, claimed the honor of being one of the youngest females to ever complete Iditarod.  Melissa is also a four-time Junior Iditarod competitor.  In 2004 at the age of 14, Melissa calmed 13th place out of twenty contestants.  In 2005, Melissa claimed Junior Iditarod gold.  In 2006 she place 5th and was awarded the Humanitarian award for exemplary care of her dogs.  In her final Junior Iditarod, Stewart claimed 4th out of a field of twenty-six.  Recently, Melissa has given generously of her time to the Junior Iditarod acting as a volunteer and race marshal for several years.

Melissa was born and raised in Nome. She says, “My dad ran Iditarod the year I was born and mushing is in my blood.” She’s been mushing ever since she could stand on a sled and has wanted to run Iditarod for as long as she can remember. As a high school senior she completed her first Iditarod in 2008. She also attempted Nome in 2009 and 2011. After that, Mellissa took a few years off from intense long distance training and racing to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. 

Melissa and husband, Jason, share the responsibilities of the their kennel located in Wasilla. Melissa says in her race biography, “We’ve decided it is time to come back and run again and show the dogs what it is like to race across Alaska.”  View the Insider interview, Melissa Owens Stewart is Back in the Race by using this link.

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