• The final 2010 standings
• Hank Debruin forced to scratch
• Awards re-cap
• Records broken all over the place
• and we share YOUR favorite parts of this years race.
• Using our Iditarod community for good

A big thanks to the tens of thousands of you who downloaded the shows this year, we appreciate your support.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

A BIG thanks to Iditablog.com’s friend Nate who recorded the whole thing for us.  Look for the second portion to be posted in a seperate podcast in the next few days.

ALSO, we’ll be recording our last live podcast of the season on Thursday evening, look for specific times to be posted in the coming days, but we’re taking your voicemails and email questions as we put together our final show of this year’s Iditarod.

To see pictures of the event (click here)
For a complete list of Iditarod 2010 Award Winners (click here)

Big thanks to:

• The 2,091 of you who joined us for the broadcast
• Dennis, Lon, Nate & Nate with KICY for the great commentary
• The BSSD webcam in Nome

It was a blast – thanks for being a part of the show.

To hear more of the 2010 top mushers arrive to Nome (click here)

We’ll be broadcasting live tomorrow as the race wraps up. Watch the twitter & facebook feeds for the most up to the minute broadcast news.

A big thanks to the thousands of you who have downloaded the shows so far, we appreciate your support.
Feel free to email us with topics or questions you’d like to hear us discuss on the next episode… the email address is: josh@radioalaska.org, send us a twitter/facebook message or call the voicemail box at 253-778-MUSH.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

iTunes Listing note: We’ve been having issues with the podcast updating properly within the iTunes Store, it’s a problem many podcasts are having right now and iTunes is working to get it fixed. However, if you subscribe to the show you will still get new episodes delivered to your computer.

Oh, and congratulations to Iditablog’s newest father! Josh Rogers and wife Lydia welcomed their first child this afternoon!

-Loren Liden for Iditablog.com

Today’s topics include:
- Baker gets lost into Halfway point
- AP publishes article with wrong GPS info
- Seven Course Meal
- King & Mackey Rivalry
- follow the progress of Alex’s film on his twitter account: @coldfootfilms

A big thanks to the thousands of you who have downloaded the shows so far, we appreciate your support.
Feel free to email us with topics or questions you’d like to hear us discuss on the next episode… the email address is: josh@radioalaska.org, send us a twitter/facebook message or call the voicemail box at 253-778-MUSH.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

iTunes Listing note: We’ve been having issues with the podcast updating properly within the iTunes Store, it’s a problem many podcasts are having right now and iTunes is working to get it fixed. However, if you subscribe to the show you will still get new episodes delivered to your computer.

A big thanks to the thousands of you who have downloaded the shows so far, we appreciate your support.

Feel free to email us with topics or questions you’d like to hear us discuss on the next episode… the email address is: josh@radioalaska.org, send us a twitter/facebook message or call the voicemail box at 253-778-MUSH.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

iTunes Listing note: We’ve been having issues with the podcast updating properly within the iTunes Store, it’s a problem many podcasts are having right now and iTunes is working to get it fixed. However, if you subscribe to the show you will still get new episodes delivered to your computer.

• Snowy Conditions slowing teams down?
• Loren’s Alaska Trip & meeting with Gatt & Schnuelle
• Libby Riddles 1985 Win on Iditablog
• We read and answer your Emails
• Lots more!

Feel free to email us with topics or questions you’d like to hear us discuss on the next episode… the email address is: josh@radioalaska.org, send us a twitter/facebook message or call the voicemail box at 253-773-MUSH.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

iTunes Listing note: We’ve been having issues with the podcast updating properly within the iTunes Store, it’s a problem many podcasts are having right now and iTunes is working to get it fixed. However, if you subscribe to the show you will still get new episodes delivered to your computer.

In this live mini-podcast from Anchorage, Iditablog reporter Ms. Loren Liden lets us in on what her morning on 4th Avenue has looked like so far and what the mushers are saying about this year’s race.

Make sure you check back right here for regular Iditablog Podcasts and updates throughout the 2010 Iditarod, we’ll be featuring interviews, stories, commentary and photos.

Previous 2010 Iditablog Podcasts:
Iditablog Podcast 2010 – Episode #1
Iditablog Podcast – 2010 Preview

Feel free to email us with topics or questions you’d like to hear us discuss on the next episode… the email address is: josh@radioalaska.org, send us a twitter/facebook message or call the voicemail box at 253-773-MUSH.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

iTunes Listing note: We’ve been having issues with the podcast updating properly within the iTunes Store, it’s a problem many podcasts are having right now and iTunes is working to get it fixed. However, if you subscribe to the show you will still get new episodes delivered to your computer.

• Yukon Quest and other race recap
• “Who Will Win?” Contest
• The Checkpoint Guessing Game
• Mushing Vocabulary Word of the Day
• What’s going on with all these retirements?
• Iditarod Schedule this week
• Our plans for  Iditablog Coverage of the race start?
• Lots more!

Thanks SO much to all those who tuned in for the live webcast, we’re excited to grow that interaction in the days to come.  Sorry to everyone about the audio levels in the podcast and on the live stream, there were a few kinks in the new system that we’ll have worked out before we broadcast next time.

Feel free to email us with topics or questions you’d like to hear us discuss on the next episode… the email address is: josh@radioalaska.org, send us a twitter/facebook message or call the voicemail box at 253-773-MUSH.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

• what’s ahead for Iditablog this season
• recap the last few months of Iditarod news
• look at the field of contenders for Iditarod 2010

We’ll be doing a few more preview podcasts leading up to Iditarod 2010.  We’ll also be posting some thoughts in the next few days on the Yukon Quest which is currently underway.  We need your questions and comments, email us here, or call the Podcast Voicemail line at (253)778-MUSH.

Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes | Browse the Podcast Archives

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

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

• where we find the current race leaders (Unalakleet)
• What’s happened since our last podcast
• Notable awards along the trail
• We answer your tweets & emails
• Running down Iditarod 2009 Coverage on Versus TV network
• Looking ahead to the finish

Thanks everyone for subscribing and downloading these podcast, we hope to do a handful more as the race goes up the coast and finishes in Nome!

Remember, you can subscribe to podcast via iTunes (link) and follow us on Twitter (link)

keep sending your questions to josh@radioalaska.org, we love hearing from you – thanks again to the THOUSANDS of you who have been downloading our shows!

Feel free to email us with topics or questions you’d like to hear us discuss on the next episode… the email address is: josh@radioalaska.org.

P.S. There were a few issues with the mics at the beginning of the podcast, but hopefully they are worked out.

Subscribe via iTunes: (click here)

The day after the accident Lance went on local Nome radio station KNOM and talked about his story.

We know things have improved quite a bit since then, but its still chilling to hear Lance tell this story.

Mitch arrived at 23:29, King arrived at 23:39

Keep looking for more fun things posted over the next few hours.

In this podcast we cover:

• Current Standings
• Can mushers maintain this pace into Nome?
• When will the first musher arrive?
• What is going on with start differentials?
• Scratch Updates
• What can we learn from 2007 Kobuk 440?
• Where is everyone else right now?

We’ll have more as the morning goes on! – (click here) to download the podcast

Right now the race leaders are on their way back from Candle – Lance Mackey was the first musher to arrive into First Chance at 19:56, and according to ham traffic stayed and rested there while King and Seavey were behind resting in Gold Run. King arrived into First Chance at 22:58, and Seavey at 23:40.

I’ll have much more news in the morning, and will have a new podcast posted mid-morning. There should be some interesting developments overnight and word on the street is that there is an airplane coming into Nome that contains a second scratched musher’s dogs, can’t mention who yet…..although nothing has been reported officially, I’m sure we’ll know more soon.

Speaking of scratching, many folks have been wondering about Hugh Neff, and wanting to make sure that he and his dogs were ok. As Dr. Phil says in the podcast, Hugh scratched on his own accord… however rumors are that he had issues with his support team, and it just came across the radio a few minutes ago that Hugh has mushed himself back and is in Council right now awaiting further instruction from the Lead Judge.

In this podcast, we talk about the current standings, our conversation with the checker from Safety, race expectations, and early speculation on Hugh Neff’s withdrawal from the race. I want to quickly apologize for the quality of some of the audio, we didn’t hear that it was goofy until it was to late…and I didn’t want to delay getting this thing out. The problem has been resolved and will be better for next time!

We will be recording again later this evening, and either at that recording, or another time tonight I’ve got a sit down interview with Dr. Phil, the race director scheduled that I’ll record and post in its entirety.

Subscribe in itunes by (clicking here)

Attached is a 40 minute recording of this morning’s AAS start in Nome. I was broadcasting across western Alaska for KICY AM/FM.

I’ll be back in a few minutes with more updates on progress so far, and reports from the trail.

For More on this year’s Iditarod Finish:

• Once, twice – two times a Champion
• Jeff King Second into Nome

Listen to: Lance Mackey Wins Iditarod 2008 – KICY AM (Nome, AK)

King is one of a handful of successful mushers who haven’t been able to bring home the record-tying 5th Iditarod Championship…. The late Susan Butcher was on her way in 1989, but similar to this year wasn’t able to hold the lead to Joe Runyan after leaving White Mountain. Martin Buser, and the recently retired Doug Swingley have also attempted a 5th championship.

Probably the most defining moment of King’s race came just over 24 hours ago when he arrived into Elim three minutes behind Mackey – both mushers headed inside the checkpoint to take a few hours break and when Lance put his gear down to take a nap, so did King. Mackey didn’t fall asleep but waited for King, and after only 1 and a half hours rest, Mackey headed out onto the trail while King slept back in the checkpoint. King woke up less than an hour later and gave chase to Mackey, but was never able to catch up.

Audio from KICY of Lance Mackey winning his 2nd consecutive Iditarod is being uploaded right now and will be posted soon, along with Photos taken by Iditablog photographer Chris Carlson.

Our top twenty consisted of the usual suspects, the Smyth brothers Ramey and Cim, Hugh Neff, Hans Gatt, Aaron Burmeister, and Jessie Royer coming in 22nd.  Jason Barron came in 14th, he was definitely hoping to better this year, describing last year’s eighth place finish as a “competitive camping trip”.  Jason’s dad John Barron has ran Iditarod 26 times, never with a win.  Rookie of the year contender Sigrid Ekran got into Nome in 21st position.

Sorlie arrives.

Robert Sorlie may have come in this year in 12th place, but like any true Iditarod Champion, he is always looking forward to next time.  Sorlie has the best record out of any other Iditarod musher this decade, he finished 9th his rookie year in 2002 and he won the race the next year, and won again next time he won in 2005.  Coming into the race I knew the field was competitive, but I almost expected Sorlie to win, thats what he does.  Maybe it was the trail, maybe it was the puppy team, or maybe it just wasn’t Robert’s year.  Coming in looking tired, and a man of few words Sorlie told the media that he was happy to be in Nome.  Sorlie is part of a three person team from Norway which also includes Kjetil Backen, and Sorlie’s nephew Bjornar Andersen, however Robert is the musher who runs Iditarod most often and has the best record.  Backen came close to winning in 2004, a year that Sorlie took off, however after the death of a dog just outside Unalakleet Kjetil lost his lead, but still managed to finish in 3rd place.  Bjornar ran as a rookie in 2005 and was rookie of the year after his 4th place finish, in 2006 he was the sole representation for team Norway, and finished in a strong 6th place.  You can hear an archive of Sorlie’s live finish at the bottom of this post.

Ramy Brooks Dog Death

Checking into Saftey is usually just a formality, mushers pick up their bib here and get ready for the final 2 or 3 hour trip into Nome. But this year for Ramy Brooks was different. On the trail from White Mountain one of Brook’s dogs died.  When he got to Safety and told the officials, everyone agreed he should take the dog into Nome with him to the trail committee could do a full investigation.  I went out to Cape Nome on snowmachine and saw Ramy come in, he did look tired but there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary about his run.  We went down to the finish line to announce his arrival and for the first few minutes things went as usual. Ramy arrived, hugged friends and family, fed his dogs and answered a few questions from the media.  But then he was quickly rushed out of the chute and what normally is about 15 minutes of hugs, media questions, and official checking in, was only 5-7 minutes and Ramy never signed in.  After Brooks left the chute Race Marshall Mark Nordman told the media that Brooks had a dog die along the way and wouldn’t be checked in until the cause of death could be determined.  Nominally, if that had happened at a checkpoint the musher would be held there until they were released.  Ramey went from a 11th place finish to a 15th.   Brooks comes from another historic mushing family and has been behind a sled pretty much his entire life.  Even at 15th this year is quite an improvement from Ramy’s worst finish ever last year when he came in 31st.  He finished second in 2002 and 2003, and has finished in the top ten four other times since he started running the Iditarod in 1994.  Brooks is one of those guys who will win someday, he has great skill and a strong team, he is just waiting for the year when everything will go right.

Steer & Buser are fighting for 3rd place – Live on KICY in under 20 minutes! I’m headed down to Front street for the broadcast!

update – 4:45am: Steer arrived at 3:46am, Martin at 4:07am Audio of the arrival to be added in the morning! – Next up: Jeff King around 6:00.

At 8:08pm Lance Mackey won his first Iditarod Championship.

View photos of Lance’s win (here)

Two and a half hours later Paul Gebhardt arrived and claimed his second place title.

to download just Mackey’s win (click here – 1mb)

Here in Unalakleet with the prospect of a musher arriving sometime soon its not so much about who is coming in, but when they are coming in. Everyone from lifetime residents to freelance writers in this small town are speculating about when the first teams might arrive. Each person has a different opinion as to how long the run from Eagle Island to Kaltag will take, how long it takes from Kaltag to Unalakleet and finally how much rest a musher would need to be planning. A lot of the residents that I’ve talked to while I’ve been here have plans to go up river tomorrow on their snow machines and find out for themselves who will be the first to reach the Bering Sea coast.

The media has started to congregate, television cameras, reporters and photographers have filled this small town’s streets, all looking for a distinctively “Unalakleet” shot. The old native grocery store has turned from an empty shell of a building into a makeshift Iditarod headquarters. The Covenant church gymnasium had to cancel open gym basketball because the floor will be covered with dozens of race volunteers, veterinarians and other officials.
So whether its Buser, King, Mackey or even Gebhardt Unalakleet couldn’t care less, they are just ready for the party to get started.

The cloud of mystery that is the Iditarod 24 hour layover continues to confuse spectators as they try to interpret the current standings. Lance Mackey was the first musher to reach the checkpoint of Iditarod EARLY Thursday morning, receiving GCI’s Dorthoy Page halfway award. Lance took almost 17 and a half hours to reach the halfway point in the race from the previous checkpoint of Ophir, Paul Gebhardt came in a few minutes after Lance with a much quicker pace and probably less stops along the way. Six hours later Ed Iten, and Mitch Seavey who have been running together for most of the race arrived, followed by Tollef Monson and Cim Smyth.

The big question right now is where those mushers will take their mandatory 24 hour layover, its safe to say that most of them are planning to stay in Iditarod, but you never know who will continue up the trail. Zach Steer, Jeff King, Jason Barron, Martin Buser, Ali Zerkle and Aaron Burmiester are all coming off of their day long rest and headed out of Ophir and into Iditarod. It remains to be seen who will come out ahead after all this is over, but what we do know is that in a day or two everything will be much more clear.

Question for tonight’s podcast, call us at 1(866)731-6332, answer our question and be entered into a drawing for a Iditarod prize pack.

Q: Who do you think is going to come out ahead of the 24 hour layover??

From KICY – Kim Slade, the Wells Fargo Teacher on the Trail calls in another report from Nikolai. Kim talks about Mike Williams and his message to native students in bush Alaska.

From KICY – Kim Slade, the Wells Fargo Teacher on the Trail calls in a report Nikolai. Kim talks about the village, and what happens when mushers come in. She also talks about what her presentation to the kids in Nikolai looks like.

Cancer Survivor Lance, leads international race – We’re not talking about Lance Armstrong, this time its musher Lance Mackey who is starting to make headlines around the world.

Lance Mackey has stayed in the front of the pack long enough In this years Iditarod to start making people think he might have what it takes to win his first Championship.  Even with all the leap-frogging Lance has continued to show the strength of his team and his perseverance to win the race.
Mackey, who’s trying to become the third member of his family to win the Iditarod, was the first musher to arrive in Takotna on Tuesday night .  Lance isn’t taking his position for granted though, he knows it’s a tough competitive field.
Lance, who is competing in his sixth Iditarod the same number that was lucky for his father, Dick, and brother, Rick said his chances of winning got better when Swingley and Jonrowe scratched.  Even if Lance doesn’t win this year, all he wants is a good run and a healthy team.

In this podcast we cover:

Dangerous Finger Lake to rainy pass:

• Scratched Mushers

• Doug Swingly
• DeeDee Jonroe
• Melanie Gould
• Lachlan Clark
• Jaques Phillip

Current Race update and analysis as of: 6:07pm PST
Your Comments : 866-731- 6332

• 8 year old Zachary Anthony
• Matt Hammersley – Tanglefoot Sled dog racing team UK -

Could this be the year for a young musher?

In Theresa Daily’s interview with Martin he tells us what he is expecting, what additional gear he is packing this year, and what that means for the dogs.