Mar 12, 2023

Ryan Redington wins the Ryan Air Gold Coast Award

Veteran musher Ryan Redington  (bib #5), of Knik, Alaska  is  the first musher to reach the Unalakleet checkpoint at 4:20 am with 12 dogs in harness, making him the recipient of the Ryan Air Gold Coast Award.  

This award was first presented in 1987 and will be presented this year by  Paul “Be Bucks” Ivanoff III.  Sponsored by Ryan Air since 2019, the award consists of one ounce of gold nuggets (valued over $2,000) from the Bering Straits region as well as Ryan Air merchandise. 

“Ryan Air is pleased to once again present the Gold Coast Award to the first musher to reach the Bering Sea coast and Unalakleet, where our company was founded 70 years ago,” said Ryan Air Safety Director and Iditarod Board Member, Andy Angstman.  “Our company mission is to raise the quality of life of our customers throughout western Alaska, and hosting this world class event brings a great deal of pride to rural communities.  Congratulations to all of the mushers, and we’ll see you in Nome!”

The company was founded in Unalakleet and its core business is serving the people who live  along the Bering Sea coast and throughout western Alaska. Mushing has long been a way of life  for the Ryan family. The company’s founder drove mail by dog team between Unalakleet and  Kaltag in the early 1900s and other Ryan family members also mushed dogs in the territorial  guard with Muktuk Marston.  

The Ryan Air Gold Coast Award will be presented again to Redington at the finisher’s banquet in  Nome.  

Photos:  Dave Poyzer