Musher Details

2022 Iditarod » Mushers » Matthew Failor

Matthew Failor

Bib Number: 10
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.

Awards

Most Inspirational Musher

2022 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Willow 3/06 14:16:00 14
Yentna 3/06 18:24:00 14 3/06 18:30:00 14 0h 6m 4h 8m 10.16 42
Skwentna 3/07 01:35:00 14 3/07 01:45:00 14 0h 10m 7h 5m 4.24 30
Finger Lake 3/07 06:35:00 14 3/07 10:45:00 14 4h 10m 4h 50m 8.28 40
Rainy Pass 3/07 14:16:00 14 3/07 17:04:00 14 2h 48m 3h 31m 8.53 30
Rohn 3/07 21:30:00 14 3/08 01:33:00 13 4h 3m 4h 26m 7.89 35
Nikolai 3/08 11:21:00 13 3/09 12:41:00 13 25h 20m 9h 48m 7.65 ✔ 75
McGrath 3/09 19:09:00 13 3/09 23:27:00 13 4h 18m 6h 28m 7.42 ✔ 48
Ophir 3/10 05:32:00 13 3/10 10:58:00 11 5h 26m 6h 5m 6.74 ✔ 41
Cripple 3/11 03:09:00 11 3/11 11:18:00 10 8h 9m 16h 11m 4.51 ✔ 73
Ruby 3/12 02:15:00 10 3/12 06:10:00 10 3h 55m 14h 57m 4.68 ✔ 70
Galena 3/12 12:11:00 10 3/12 22:43:00 10 10h 32m 6h 1m 8.31 ✔ ✔ 50
Nulato 3/13 06:00:00 10 3/13 12:34:00 9 6h 34m 6h 17m 5.89 ✔ ✔ 37
Kaltag 3/13 16:47:00 9 3/14 02:18:00 9 9h 31m 4h 13m 11.15 ✔ ✔ 47
Unalakleet 3/14 16:25:00 9 3/15 09:38:00 9 17h 13m 14h 7m 6.02 ✔ ✔ 85
Shaktoolik 3/15 14:56:00 9 3/15 23:07:00 9 8h 11m 5h 18m 7.55 ✔ ✔ 40
Koyuk 3/16 04:30:00 9 3/16 12:29:00 9 7h 59m 5h 23m 9.29 ✔ ✔ 50
Elim 3/16 17:18:00 9 3/16 22:16:00 8 4h 58m 4h 49m 9.97 ✔ ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/17 03:53:00 8 3/17 11:53:00 7 8h 0m 5h 37m 8.19 ✔ ✔ 46
Safety 3/17 18:13:00 7 3/17 18:16:00 7 0h 3m 6h 20m 8.68 ✔ ✔ 55
Nome 3/17 20:51:29 7 2h 35m 8.52 ✔ ✔ 22