Iditablog.com – Iditarod 2010 News and Coverage

As winter “officially” approaches around the country (and solidifies its status in Alaska) its hard to keep from looking ahead to the coming racing season. As we mentioned on Twitter a few weeks ago, Iditablog will be here bringing you everything you need to know about Iditarod 2010 and Alaskan sled dog racing.

2009 was a record breaking year for us here and I want to thank each of you who subscribe to the podcast, our twitter updates, and read the blog. I was astounded recently to see the statistics for the last 12 months since last fall, we’ve received almost two million hits to our site and nearly 20,000 podcasts have been downloaded. Wow, thanks so much for your support.

If you’re an Alaskan looking for more regular news and updates during the Iditarod or a fan from somewhere else in the country (or world) who dreams about visiting the 49th state – we aim to provide the info you’re looking for. We need your feedback though, please send me an email with your feedback so we know how to plan for the upcoming year.

Look for some new podcasts and interviews coming up in future as we countdown to Iditarod 2010!

In our final podcast of the 2009 Iditarod Season (we’ll continue blogging for another week or so) we talk about the top 20 Iditarod finishers, talk about “next year” and review the news.

Thanks to all the thousands of you who have downloaded the podcasts this season.  You’ve blown us away – your support is appreciated.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We’re trying to make it for commentary of the 4th place arrival into Nome, otherwise enjoy KICY!

Thanks to the nearly 4,000 of you who joined us LIVE! during Lance Mackey’s amazing win.

Recorded version of the Live finish and post-show coverage.

Thanks to the nearly 4,000 of you who joined us LIVE during Lance Mackey’s amazing win.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Listen by clicking “play” in the box below, or (click here) to open in a new window.

Lance Mackey left the last major checkpoint in the Iditarod Sled Dog race at an early 2:11am this morning, he is on his way to Nome, and onto making Iditarod history.  Mackey is set to be the third Iditarod musher ever to win three consecutive championships, putting him in the same category as legendary athletes Susan Butcher & Doug Swingley – no one has yet to win four in a row.

Mackey led the Iditarod for more than he ever has before, having very little serious competition once arriving in ghost-town checkpoint of Iditarod, marking the race’s halfway mark.  It wasn’t for the lack of a competitive field that Mackey found himself often alone at the front of the race, Lance’s rival last year Jeff King was seeking a record-tying 5th Iditarod win, as was Martin Buser.  Sebastian Schnuelle took Lance Mackey’s Yukon Quest throne this year after the former reigning champion decided to bow out of this years race, Schnuelle saught to also take Mackey’s Iditarod throne  – and currently is on track to place an impressive second place if he is not passed by John Baker out of White Mountian.

After going through Safety at 8:48am Wednesday morning, an arrival into Nome should be around Noon Alaska time.

We’ll be broadcasting pre-show coverage live online, stay tuned for updates as Mackey makes his way to Nome.

With Lance Mackey now on the trail having left White Mountain - we can start to guess as to what time the first musher will arrive.  Usually it’s a 10 hour trip to Nome, which would put Lance at the finish line around Noon to 12:30pm ADT.

About an hour before the first musher crosses the finish line, you can get online and listen to “Iditablog live pre-race coverage”.  Live special guests, your listener questions, and a ‘09 trail recap will take us up to the live finish from Nome.

Until the live broadcast begins, you can listen to the “Best-of Iditablog Podcasts” which include archived Iditarod finishes going back to 2005, this year’s prior podcasts, and some other fun surprises.  The “Best-of Segments” will stop airing a half hour before the live broadcast begins.

Listen by clicking “play” in the box below, or (click here) to open in a new window.