Musher Details

Sydnie Bahl grew up in Minot, North Dakota, where she developed a love for the outdoors and animals at an early age. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota in 2013 and spent several years working in inpatient rehabilitation before pursuing a lifelong dream of living in Alaska.

In 2021, Sydnie and her husband, Nick, relocated to the Mat-Su Valley, where she began training with veteran musher Vern Halter at Dream A Dream Sled Dog Farm in Willow. What started as an opportunity to experience Alaska’s sled dog culture quickly grew into a passion for distance mushing.

Sydnie completed her qualifying races and made her Iditarod debut in 2025. She returned in 2026 to successfully complete the Last Great Race, an accomplishment that reinforced her love for the sport and the incredible partnership between musher and sled dogs.

When she’s not on the trail, Sydnie continues working as a physical therapist and enjoys sharing the sport of mushing through kennel tours, educational programs and social media. She is passionate about inspiring others to chase ambitious goals, embrace adventure and appreciate the dedication and teamwork that define the Iditarod.

For Sydnie, the most rewarding part of mushing isn’t just reaching Nome—it’s building the trust and bond with her dogs every mile along the trail.