A Message to All 2020 IditaRiders

Posted by in Iditarod
Date: January 18, 2020 7:51 am

Hello IditaRiders!

You will soon be headed down the trail for an 11 mile ride at the Start of the 2020 Iditarod on Saturday, March 7.  Congratulations on being a 2020 IditaRider!

 

First, a big thank you to all bidders who participated in this year’s auction. Your donation to the race is very important!  Thanks so very much!  AND congratulations to those who won their bids.  We know that the 2020 IditaRiders will have an amazing time!

 

* VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RIDERS:  You were sent you a link to a survey that provides us with essential information we need to know prior to your ride.  If you did not receive that email, please contact Diane Johnson.  (djohnson@iditarod.com or call 605.290.3423.) 

We also need you to provide us with ONE other document.  If you have not provided this to us, click here to view the document, then print this document, sign it, and get to us in one of these ways:  1.  Scan and email to Diane  2.  Fax to: 907-373-6998  3.  Bring to the Friday mandatory meeting.  We must have this document in order for you to ride on Saturday.  No document, no ride. Thanks for taking care of this as soon as you can!

 

Special Events:

  • Thursday, March 5, at noon:  Meet your musher for a Pizza Lunch Meet and Greet held in your honor on the 3rd Floor, Lakefront, Anchorage Hotel, our race Anchorage Headquarters.  Plan on arriving around 11:30 AM.  Lunch is about an hour.

  • Thursday, March 5: Musher Drawing Banquet, Dena’ina Center, Downtown Anchorage.  If you wish to attend, you can purchase banquet tickets by clicking here.

  • Friday, March6:  Special Invitation: Attend Special Speaker Events  FREE. To attend any of the speaker events on Friday, check in at the speaker event courtesy desk for your complimentary tickets . (3rd Floor, Redington Room, Lakefront Anchorage Hotel.)  Speakers will start around 8:30 AM, and a list of speakers will soon be announced on our website.

  • Friday, March 6: IditaRider Meeting, 3:00 – 4:00, 3rd floor, Lakefront Anchorage Hotel.  Speakers will provide you with what you need to know, from shuttle bus schedules, to starting times, to your arrival at the BLM after your 11 mile ride.  We will have all the details for you!  We’ll have drawings for prizes and we’ll have a chance to hear from some past IditaRiders.  You will love to hear about their experiences!  This is a mandatory meeting but we recognize that there are circumstances that may prevent your attendance. If you are unable to attend, we’ll make every effort to get the information you need.  We sent you a special email survey to provide us with information.  If you haven’t received that survey or if your schedule or other details change, please email me at djohnson@iditarod.com

  • Saturday, March 7!  Your RIDE! 
  • Sunday March 8, Restart in Willow.  We hope you purchase a shuttle bus ticket and join us!

*Additional information

  • The ride will begin at the Starting Line of the Iditarod on Saturday morning, March 7  (4th and D)  Mushers will line the streets leading to the starting line according to the starting numbers which will be announced at the Musher Drawing Banquet Thursday evening, March 5.  Information about where your musher will line up and where you will go to meet your musher for the ride will be provided to you on Friday at the mandatory meeting.  If you are unable to attend this meeting, we’ll make every effort to contact you so you have everything you need to know.

  • The 11 mile ride ends at the BLM.  Shuttle buses will be available to return you to downtown Anchorage.

  • The shuttle bus schedule will be provided to you at the Friday meeting.  Riders and family members may take the shuttles, too.  Family members are welcome to take the shuttle to the BLM (the end of the 11 mile run) to see their family member – IditaRider arrive.   Everyone will be able to take a return shuttle bus to downtown after the event.  You do not need to worry about transportation.

  • Reminder:  At the mandatory meeting on Friday, you will receive your credentials and 2 VIP badges. This means you and up to two others will have VIP access.   VIP badges will permit access to VIP locations on Saturday and the Restart in Willow on Sunday, March 8.  For those wishing to attend the restart in Willow on Sunday, you can pay for the shuttle bus ride that leaves the Lakefront on Sunday morning.  Stop at our visitors desk to get your shuttle tickets on Thursday or Friday before the race start.  (First floor, Lakefront) WE DO NOT RECOMMEND and as a matter of fact, we discourage you from driving to the the ReStart, there is limited parking and traffic can be heavy.  Take the shuttle.  Do not drive. Thanks! 

  • Please remember: During your ride, you may take photographs and video but live broadcasting of any part of your ride is not permitted.  (Live Facebook, website broadcast, etc.) Once the ride is over, you may post your video and your photos on your personal facebook page, instagram, twitter, or anyway you want!  Share out your adventure with everyone! ALSO, send me an email afterwards and share your story and even a photo or two!

  • Reminder:  Only one rider is permitted in a musher’s IditaRider sled no matter the age of the rider.  The designated rider is the only rider allowed.  This is policy of the Iditarod.  No room for negotiations here!

We want this experience to be your best adventure ever!  Contact us if you have questions or if you need us to be aware of anything.

Once again, thanks to bidders and riders!  Your participation in the auction is an essential factor in our staging this race.

 

The Iditarod Trail Committee is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Proceeds raised help support the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  Winning bids may be used as a tax deduction with the exception of the value placed on the sled. ($100) A contribution report is sent or provided to winning bidders.

*The bidding winning notice you received after the ‘win’ provides you with the amount of your purchase, the information about our nonprofit status, and that all but $100 may be claimed for tax purposes.  That document for most has served as the documentation for anyone in the past.  When your credit card is charged, you should receive another message stating this information.  If you need additional documentation, please let me know and I will have our office send you documentation.  Thanks!

*The IditaRider experience is for one person.  Only one person may ride in the musher’s sled at the start of the Iditarod.