Musher Details

2016 Iditarod » Mushers » Matthew Failor

Matthew Failor

Bib Number: 63
Hometown: Willow, Alaska
Website:


Biography

Matthew Failor is a veteran Iditarod musher, Kuskokwim 300 Champion, and multi-time humanitarian award winner in mid-distance racing.

He and his wife Liz own and operate Alaskan Husky Adventures in Willow, Alaska, where they offer locals and visitors a chance to meet their Iditarod team and experience the joy of dog mushing for themselves.

Their race team name, 17th-Dog, is a tribute to their supporters. For many years, mushers could take 16 dogs on the Iditarod. Family, friends, and fans of the team are symbolically dubbed the 17th-Dog that make it possible to race.

Originally from Ohio, Matthew’s passion for Alaska’s official sport started with a summer job at a dogsledding camp in Juneau. There, he adopted his first Alaskan Husky, Fionn. Matthew’s love for mushing eventually grew into a full-time profession when, with the help of friends, family, and mentors Martin Buser and Matt Hayashida, he established his own kennel in 2013.

Five years later, the Iditarod Trail lead Matthew to his biggest prize yet. He met his wife Liz, a former news anchor, while competing in Iditarod 2018. Their wedding, which included their 53 dogs, was featured in The New York Times.

Through racing, Matthew strives to empower and support young people to pursue their dreams. He remains heavily involved as an Ohio State University alumni, in Catholic charities, Boy Scouts, and local schools.

Matthew would like to thank his handlers, the 17th-Dog Booster Club, Alaskan Husky Adventures, Powerstroke Performance, K2 Woodworking, Dr. Carson’s All Natural Products, WoolX, O’Machearley Custom Knives, Phillips Tube Group and Emerson Tibuni for their sponsorship of the team.

Sponsors

Alaska Icefield Expeditions
Gold Rush Sled Dog Tours
Temsco
K2 Woodworking
Seiler & Associates LLC

Wool X
High’s Adventure Kennel
O’Machearley Custom Knives
17th Dog Boosters & Supporters

Awards

Musher\'s Choice Award

2016 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Anchorage 3/05 12:14:00 16 3/05 12:14:00 16 0h 0m
Willow 3/06 16:02:00 16
Yentna 3/06 19:57:00 16 3/06 20:00:00 16 0h 3m 3h 55m 10.72 42
Skwentna 3/07 03:15:00 16 3/07 03:23:00 16 0h 8m 7h 15m 4.14 30
Finger Lake 3/07 11:59:00 16 3/07 12:02:00 16 0h 3m 8h 36m 4.65 40
Rainy Pass 3/07 15:58:00 16 3/07 20:59:00 16 5h 1m 3h 56m 7.63 30
Rohn 3/08 01:42:00 16 3/08 05:14:00 16 3h 32m 4h 43m 7.42 35
Nikolai 3/08 14:17:00 16 3/09 15:10:00 16 24h 53m 9h 3m 8.29 ✔ 75
McGrath 3/09 20:20:00 16 3/10 10:02:00 16 13h 42m 5h 10m 9.29 ✔ 48
Takotna 3/10 12:02:00 16 3/10 12:04:00 16 0h 2m 2h 0m 9.00 ✔ 18
Ophir 3/10 14:30:00 16 3/11 14:00:00 16 23h 30m 2h 26m 9.45 ✔ 23
Cripple 3/12 05:43:00 16 3/12 12:24:00 16 6h 41m 15h 43m 4.64 ✔ 73
Ruby 3/13 03:25:00 16 3/13 11:26:00 16 8h 1m 14h 1m 4.99 ✔ ✔ 70
Galena 3/13 17:29:00 16 3/14 01:39:00 16 8h 10m 6h 3m 8.26 ✔ ✔ 50
Nulato 3/14 07:34:00 16 3/14 16:00:00 16 8h 26m 5h 55m 6.25 ✔ ✔ 37
Kaltag 3/14 19:41:00 16 3/15 02:08:00 14 6h 27m 3h 41m 12.76 ✔ ✔ 47
Unalakleet 3/15 16:12:00 14 3/16 00:23:00 14 8h 11m 14h 4m 6.04 ✔ ✔ 85
Shaktoolik 3/16 05:14:00 14 3/16 12:09:00 14 6h 55m 4h 51m 8.25 ✔ ✔ 40
Koyuk 3/16 17:18:00 14 3/16 23:20:00 13 6h 2m 5h 9m 9.71 ✔ ✔ 50
Elim 3/17 04:10:00 13 3/17 11:20:00 13 7h 10m 4h 50m 9.93 ✔ ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/17 16:23:00 13 3/18 00:53:00 12 8h 30m 5h 3m 9.11 ✔ ✔ 46
Safety 3/18 07:20:00 12 3/18 07:28:00 12 0h 8m 6h 27m 8.53 ✔ ✔ 55
Nome 3/18 09:54:45 12 2h 26m 9.04 ✔ ✔ 22