The Iditarod is excited to welcome back Veteran Musher, Kelly Maixner, to the 2023 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Kelly has competed in the Iditarod 8 times since 2011, crossing the Finish line in Nome 7 times.   Kelly was born and raised in North Dakota and moved to Alaska in 2007 for a pediatric dental residency program and has been providing pediatric dental services in the MatSu Valley since 2009.  Welcome back, Dr. Maixner, we are happy to have you and wish you happy trails in the 2023 race! 

The Iditarod Trail Committee looks forward to welcoming more veteran and rookie mushers to compete in the 51st version of The Last Great Race on Earth®. All mushers that apply to compete in the Iditarod must first go through the qualifying review board before their entry is officially accepted for the Race. Stay tuned as our competitive field continues to grow until the close of registration on November 30, 2022.