Eye on the Trail: Redington First to Kaltag

Posted by in Iditarod
Date: March 11, 2023 5:53 pm

First Fish Award presented by Bristol Bay Native Corporation to Ryan Redington in Kaltag.

Ryan Redington was the first of a trio of mushers to arrive in Kaltag.  Ryan arrived at 12:47, Richie Diehl at 13:03 and Peter Kaiser at 13:19.  As the first team to arrive in Kaltag, Ryan receives the Bristol Bay Native Corporation Fish First Award.    

BBNC employee and shareholder, Christine Brandon, travelled to Kaltag to present the award.  Redington will receive 25 pounds of fresh Bristol Bay salmon filets, $2,000 and a wood burned art piece be BBNC shareholder artis Apay’uq Moore.

Ryan was also the recipient of the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Alaska award presented in McGrath.  Over the last ten races, two of the champions have also received the award in McGrath – Dallas Seavey in 2016 and Dallas again in 2021.  In the same time period, three mushers who arrived first in Kaltag have gone on to arrive first in Nome – Brent Sass in 2022, Peter Kaiser in 2019 and Mitch Seavey in 2017.

Redington who calls Knik home and lives and trains in Brule, Wisconsin during the fall and winter has competed 8 of 15 Iditarod starts.  He earned his finishers belt buckle as a second year rookie in 2004 claiming 44th place.  His best finish is 7th in 2021 and he’s landed in the top ten 3 times.

Ryan Redington

Ryan Redington on the Trail into Iditarod (Photo: David Poyzer)

To say Ryan came from a mushing family is really an understatement!  His Grandfather Joe Redington, Sr. the Father of Iditarod, has finished the race in 15 of 19 runs, claiming seven top ten finishes.  Ryan’s Father Raymie  has completed 10 of 12 Iditarod tries with a best finish of 7th place.  Ryan’s uncle, Joee Redington has completed Iditarod twice and was a celebrated sprint racer.  Joe, Raymie and Joee are all in the Mushing Hall of Fame.  Robert and Ray Jr., Ryan’s brothers, are also Iditarod veterans.  Ryan’s children, Eve and TJ love dogs and mushing so it seems they will carry on the family tradition.

He spends the summer in Girdwood sharing the sport of mushing with tourists at Summer Sled dog Adventures.  Ryan has experienced all types of mushing, long distance, mid-distance and sprint racing.  As a Jr. Iditarod contender he earned gold in 1999 and 2000.  There has never been a Jr. Iditarod champion who has gone on to win Iditarod.  Perhaps that will change this year.

Redington not only shares the sport with tourists and his own children, he has given of his time and knowledge mentoring young mushers.  Most recently he’s worked with Morgan Martens.  Morgan who lives in the Brule area has trained with Ryan for the past few years and has run Redington dogs in the Jr. Iditarod.  Ryan is not only investing in youth as he shares his expertise but he’s insuring the future of the sport through teens of today.

Ryan has won the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon run in northern Minnesota twice.  Without question, he has dreamed of winning Iditarod, the race his grandfather founded.   With only 33 minutes separating the top trio of mushers and two other mushers only two hours back, the excitement continues to build in the 51st Iditarod.