2021 Iditarod
Changes in the special awards presentation/location, due to the adjusted Gold Trail Loop, have been marked in red. All other awards will be presented at their usual checkpoint and awarding method.
Honorary Musher
Leonhard Seppala was honored as the number one musher through 1979. In 1980, the Iditarod Committee decided to have “Wild Bill” Shannon share the honor. Since then, the directors have chosen a person or persons, not necessarily mushers, who have made a significant contribution to the sport of sled dog racing. The Honorary Musher is listed as the first one out of the starting line.
- Mushers of the 1925 Serum Run
Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Alaska Award
First presented in 2019 and was given to the first musher to reach the McGrath checkpoint. This year’s award recipient recieved received a pair of musher mittens made of beaver fur and moose hide handmade by Loretta Maillelle of McGrath. Plus, a musher hat made from beaver fur and beaded velvet made by Lucy Egrass of McGrath.
- Dallas Seavey
GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award
While there was obviously a “first musher to the halfway point” in every race, there are no records of who that person was prior to 1980 when the first Halfway Award was presented. GCI became the sponsor of this award in 1994. The winning musher receives the award on the spot and then it is symbolically presented in Nome. This award, given in honor of the late “Mother of the Iditarod,” is presented in Iditarod, when following the Southern route in the odd years, and Cripple, when following the Northern route in even years. The first musher to the halfway point on the Iditarod Trail will receive a trophy and his/her choice of $3,000 in gold nuggets symbolic of the history of this interior area of the Iditarod Mining District or brand-new smartphone with a year of free service. A beautiful perpetual trophy made of Alaskan birch and marble and featuring a photograph of the late Dorothy G. Page remains year-round at Iditarod headquarters.
- Brent Sass
The Lakefront Anchorage First Musher to the Yukon Award
Presented since 1983, the award will be given to the first musher to Ophir South. The winning musher receives a five-course, gourmet dinner prepared at the The Lakefront Anchorage by their executive chef, $3,500 in one-dollar bills, and a bottle of Dom Perignon. (The dinner will be awarded to the musher and guests on a later date at The Lakefront Anchorage instead of on the trail.)
- Dallas Seavey
Bristol Bay Native Corporation Fish First Award
This award has been presented by Bristol Bay Native Corporation since 2014 to the first musher to reach the Rohn South checkpoint. The musher will receive a check for $2,000 and 25 pounds of Bristol Bay salmon.
- Aaron Burmeister
Ryan Air Gold Coast Award
This was first presented in 1987 and again in 1988. After not having a Gold Coast Award for four years, the National Bank of Alaska (now Wells Fargo Bank Alaska) began sponsoring the award in 1993. Ryan Air began sponsoring this award in 2019 and for this year it will be given to the first musher to reach the Rainy Pass South checkpoint. The winning musher receives $1,000 in gold nuggets and a carved ivory sled dog team.
- Dallas Seavey
Northrim Bank Achieve More Award
This award was first given out in 2018. Northrim Bank presented the award to the first musher to reach the Skwentna South checkpoint. Winner receives a check for $2,500 and a one-of-a-kind print.
- Dallas Seavey
Nome Kennel Club Fastest Time from Safety to Nome
One of the longest-standing awards to an Iditarod musher is presented by the Nome Kennel Club. The club awards $500 to the musher who finishes in the top 20 and has the fastest time from Safety to Nome. This year awarded to the musher with the fastest time between Skwentna to the finish line at Deshka Landing.
- Dan Kaduce with at time of 7h 40m
Rookie of the Year Award
There has obviously been a top finishing rookie in every Iditarod. In fact, rookies won the first three races. It wasn’t until 1976 that the top-finishing rookie was not the winner. For purposes of this award, a rookie is defined as a musher racing his/her first Iditarod. The top-placing rookie receives a beautiful trophy, along with a check for $2,000.
- Chad Stoddard
Red Lantern Award
The Red Lantern Award acts as a symbol of perseverance for the Iditarod. According to historians, awarding the red lantern for the last place finisher has become an Alaska tradition in sled dog racing. The award honors the final team’s dedication to fulfilling their goal of safely and successfully crossing under the burled arch despite unexpected challenges.
In addition to the Red Lantern, Jon and Jona Van Zyle will be honoring the perseverance of the Red Lantern winner by awarding an original framed 5”x 7” painting by official Iditarod artist and 2 -time Iditarod finisher Jon Van Zyle.
- Victoria Hardwick
Most Improved Musher Award
The concept for an award for the most improved musher began in 1987, when the mushers honored Ted English. English had finished 18th in his second race and eight the following year. The winner receives $2,000 in cash and a commemorative trophy.
- Ryne Olson, 59th (her previous run) to 18th place
Donlin Gold Sportsmanship Award
A sportsmanship award was initiated in 1977 by the Alaska Native Brotherhood to honor Native musher Ken Chase. The ANB continued to present the Ken Chase Sportsmanship Award through 1982. Since then, the award has been presented by the Iditarod Trail Committee, and various other sponsors, to the person chosen by his/her peers as the best sportsman on the trail. In 2015, Donlin Gold began sponsoring the award. The winner will receive a $3,000 check and a plaque.
- Matthew Failor
Most Inspirational Musher Award
Presented since 2010 to the most inspirational musher, the recipient of the Most Inspirational Musher Award is chosen by fellow mushers. Winner receives a paid entry fee for the following year’s Iditarod.
- Matt Hall
Northern Air Cargo Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award
This award began in 2007 and is awarded to the individual chosen by the checkers in the checkpoints who best epitomizes Herbie Nayokpuk’s spirit of mushing the Iditarod. The winner receives $1,049 in pocket change and a Northern Air Cargo jacket.
- Brent Sass
Golden Clipboard Award
The annual Golden Clipboard Award is presented by the Iditarod official finishers to the checkpoint the mushers feel is the most helpful along the trail.
- Skwentna
Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award
Presented since 1982 to a musher that demonstrates outstanding dog care while remaining competitive throughout the race, the recipient of the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award is chosen by the veterinary team. Recipient receives an engraved lead crystal trophy and a paid entry fee for the next year’s race.
- Mille Porsild
City of Nome Lolly Medley Memorial Golden Harness Award
Lolly Medley, Wasilla harness maker and one of only two women to run the second Iditarod in 1974, began presenting a golden harness to an outstanding lead dog chosen by the mushers, in 1977. Lolly Medley died in August 1996. The award continues in her honor now presented by the City of Nome.
- Gamble of Dallas Seavey’s team
Northern Air Cargo 4-wheeler drawing
This award was started in 2008 by Northern Air Cargo, who wanted to present something every musher would have a chance to win. For this year a virtual key is presented to each musher who then tries to start the 4-wheeler with their key. There is only one right key and the one who starts the 4-wheeler wins.
- Lev Shvarts
