http://www.iditablog.com Blogging the 2009 Iditarod Sled Dog Race Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:11:26 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/20/iditablog-podcast-09-episode-7/ We're trying to make it for commentary of the 4th place arrival into Nome, otherwise enjoy KICY! Streaming live video by Ustream http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/18/stream-of-3rd-4th-place/ Recorded version of the Live finish and post-show coverage. http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/18/audio-of-lances-2009-win/ Lance Mackey crossed the finish line at 11:38am (ADT) this morning, taking his place in Iditarod history alongside other three-time consecutive winners Doug Swingley and Susan Butcher. Thanks for all those who tuned and listened to our live coverage this morning, it was pretty crazy to have nearly 1,000 listeners all ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/18/mackey-wins-iditarod/ Listen by clicking "play" in the box below, or (click here) to open in a new window. Live Radio from: Ustream http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/18/lance-is-flying-live-coverage-at-1040/ 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 ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/18/mackey-set-to-cement-iditarod-legend-status/ 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 ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/18/live-coverage-of-iditarod-2009-finish/ Today we speak with Damon from the Bering Straight School District, live! in Nome as he and the Student Broadcasting team prepare for a finish tomorrow sometime. We also recap the harsh weather conditions that mushers currently find themselves in, along with the strategies that come along with the ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/17/iditablog-podcast-09-episode-6/ Wow, lots to go over this morning... To say that trail conditions over the last 24 hours have been brutal might just be an understatement. Extreme cold temperatures and high winds made for a dangerous 50 below wind chill factor along the Bering Sea coast yesterday and into this ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/17/the-great-equalizer/ Very strange and sad news coming out of Iditarod Headquarters today, regarding three of the rookie mushers at the end of the race. The following press release does a great job of explaining the few details that are known at this point: Earlier today (at approximately 2pm Alaska Time) Iditarod ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/16/iditarod-press-release/ With Lance Mackey into the Bering Sea village of Koyuk having left Shaktoolik a full 5 hours ahead of Sebastian Schnuelle, its a pretty valid question as to whether Mackey has locked up a third straight Iditarod win. Going into Unalakleet yesterday Mackey also had a powerful lead, but holding ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/16/does-mackey-have-it-locked-up/ In tonights "return of the Podcast" Greg Ireland & I sit down again and talk about: 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 ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/15/iditablog-podcast-09-episode-5/ Quick Post - Lance Mackey arrived at the checkpoint of Unalakleet just under an hour ago. Reports say Mackey's team is looking strong and he is focused on winning his third Iditarod in a row. Also, Versus TV coverage of Iditarod 2009 debuted tonight, check local listings for times and ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/15/mackey-to-the-coast/ As Lance Mackey was leaving Kaltag at a very early 4am this morning, he probably knew those right behind him were scheming a way to get ahead of the reigning Iditarod champion.  Mackey had been at the last Yukon River checkpoint resting for nearly 4 hours and was the only ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/15/the-race-to-the-coast/ As Lance Mackey rolls into Eagle Island continuing his steady 6-7mph pace, it looks as if he has a lead that is getting tougher to challenge. The two teams who were previously leading the race and now running behind Mackey, Aaron Burmeister and Sebastian Schnuelle will see the lead they ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/14/how-the-pack-will-change-today/ Lance Mackey is just about to reach Anvik by late Friday morning, the first stop along the mighty Yukon River. It doesn't appear at this point that any of his competitors are going to be able to catchup in route to this milestone of the Iditarod although Sebastian Schnuelle ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/13/whats-for-lunch-in-anvik/ Lance Mackey claimed the gold nuggets that are offered each year to the musher who is the first to reach the halfway point of the race. Mackey passed Aaron Burmeister, and Hugh Neff to become the first musher to the checkpoint of Iditarod. The long stretch of trail ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/13/were-halfway-there/ Whew, our 24-hour layover time is complete for the top ten mushers and the race is on to the checkpoint of Iditarod. Race pundits were saying yesterday that they expected to see three mushers emerge after the layovers were completed and that some mushers might start to loose ground. ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/12/oh-its-on-now/ Today we continue talking about the mushers 24-hour layover strategy, knowing that the race will look very different in just a few hours as the leaders emerge from their rests. We talk more about the loss in Jeff Holt's team the other day, as well as the current scratched mushers. keep ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/11/iditablog-podcast-09-episode-4/ 24-hour layovers are the biggest part of Iditarod strategy today for those looking to be first across the finish line in Nome. The scheming started last night when some of the first into McGrath decided that they weren't going to take an early layover, but use the overnight conditions ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/11/playing-the-waiting-game-2/ The confusion on who will be leading two days from now hasn't let up as an extremely large and competitive field of Iditarod mushers continue to make their way to McGrath Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Aaron Burmeister was enjoying what he calls the strongest team he's ever ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/10/its-so-crowded-in-here/ In today's podcast we look back at the trail coming up to Nikolai and discuss the wide and large field of mushers going into this latest checkpoint. We also see whats going on at the BSSD Forums before previewing the next few legs of the race. http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/10/iditablog-podcast-09-episode-3/ Going into Nikolai the names of the mushers at the front of the Iditarod might look a little different than some could have imagined at the beginning of the race. Coming off of a Yukon Quest win just a few weeks ago Sebastian Schnuelle is taking some early gambles with ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/10/going-into-nikolai-its-move-it-or-loose-it-this-year/ From Twitter - Going into Nikolai, overnight we see Hugh Neff, Sebastian Schnuelle running a tight lead with Paul Gebhardt just a few miles behind - Seavey & Burmeister follow http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/10/neff-schnuelle-aim-to-be-first-into-nikolai/ The top 15 mushers have all left Rainy Pass and are on their way to Rohn and with most of them having rested similar amounts since the beginning of the race, they are just separated by three hours. Currently Paul Gebhardt and Rick Swenson are leading the pack into ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/09/huge-group-of-leaders-head-into-rohn/ Lance Mackey arrived first at Rainy Pass - 11:34am Leaving Finger Lake and heading into Rainy Pass is the thing nightmares are made of - regardless of how much experience you have. Multiple drops along Happy River, combined with hairpin turns and tricky switchbacks put veterans and rookies on ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/09/mushers-coming-into-rainy-pass/ In a "post re-start" podcast we take a look at the field of mushers in this year's Iditarod - who has a chance at the top ten and twenty? We re-visit the BSSD Forum and talk about the innovations of Jeff King, and get a newcomer's reaction to the ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/08/iditablog-podcast-09-episode-2/ Jon Little is one of the best Iditarod commentators out there, as a active and competitive musher he can provide an unique insight into the race. For quite a while Jon has been providing mainstream first-hand coverage via posts on the former "Cabella's Iditarod" webpage, and on the main Iditarod ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/08/jon-little-and-they%e2%80%99re-off%e2%80%a6/ The Iditablog.com Podcast is back for Iditarod 2009! In our first episode this season we: Meet our new co-host, pilot Greg Ireland Go over some of the big Alaska and Iditarod news from the last 12 months Head over to the BSSD Mushing Forum to take a look at some fan's top ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/08/iditablog-podcast-2009-episode-1/ In what can always be described as a "party atmosphere" on 4th Avenue in Downtown Anchorage, mushers met fans and took a deep breath, enjoying the culmination of months of hard work on the last day before heading into the tough Alaskan Wilderness. Bidders from all over the country ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/07/ceremonial-start-2009/ Here we are, its the big Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 2009 in Downtown Anchorage, the festivities kick off at 10am (Alaska Time)... more to come later, but for now - here is today's starting order: Bib No. First Last Gender City State Country Status 2 Aaron Peck M Grande Prairie AB CAN Veteran 3 Nancy Yoshida F Thompson ND USA Rookie 4 Ed Iten M Kotzebue AK USA Veteran 5 Rick Larson M Sand Coulee MT USA Veteran 6 Allen Moore M Two Rivers AK USA Veteran 7 Warren Palfrey M Yellowknife NWT CAN Veteran 8 Rick Swenson M Two Rivers AK USA Veteran 9 Blake Matray M Two Rivers AK USA Rookie 10 Ray Redington Jr M Wasilla AK USA Veteran 11 Michael Suprenant M Chugiak AK USA Rookie 12 Jake Berkowitz M Anchorage AK USA Veteran 13 Ryan Redington M Wasilla AK USA Veteran 14 Gerry Willomitzer M Whitehorse YT CAN Veteran 15 Paul Gebhardt M Kasilof AK USA Veteran 16 Ramey Smyth M Willow AK USA Veteran 17 Jessie Royer F Fairbanks AK USA Veteran 18 Bjornar Andersen M Elverum NOR Veteran 19 Matt Hayashida M Willow AK USA Veteran 20 Trent Herbst M Ketchum ID USA Veteran 21 Mitch Seavey M Seward AK USA Veteran 22 Judy Currier F Fairbanks AK USA Veteran 23 Robert Nelson M Kotzebue AK USA Veteran 24 Aliy Zirkle F Two Rivers AK USA Veteran 25 Hans Gatt M Whitehorse YT CAN Veteran 26 Chad Lindner M Brookline MA USA Rookie 27 Tom Thurston M Oak Creek CO USA Rookie 28 Linwood Fiedler M Willow AK USA Veteran 29 Karin Hendrickson F Chugiak AK USA Rookie 30 Melissa Owens F Nome AK USA Veteran 31 DeeDee Jonrowe F Willow AK USA Veteran 32 Alan Peck M Eagle River AK USA Rookie 33 Martin Buser M Big Lake AK USA Veteran 34 Sebastian Schnuelle M Whitehorse YT CAN Veteran 35 Jim Lanier M Chugiak AK USA Veteran 36 Gerald Sousa M Talkeetna AK USA Veteran 37 Cim Smyth M Big Lake AK USA Veteran 38 Bob Hickel M Anchorage AK USA Veteran 39 Mike Williams M Akiak AK USA Veteran 40 Bruce Linton M Kasilof AK USA Veteran 41 Jeff King M Denali AK USA Veteran 42 Sonny Lindner M Two Rivers AK USA Veteran 43 Lou Packer M Wasilla AK USA Rookie 44 John Baker M Kotzebue AK USA Veteran 45 Laura Daugereau F Port Gamble WA USA Veteran 46 Ed Stielstra M McMillan MI USA Veteran 47 Lance Mackey M Fairbanks AK USA Veteran 48 Wade Marrs M Wasilla AK USA Rookie 49 Cindy Gallea F Seeley Lake MT USA Veteran 50 Rob Loveman M Seeley Lake MT USA Rookie 51 Robert Bundtzen M Anchorage AK USA Veteran 52 Kim Darst F Blairstown NJ USA Rookie 53 Sven Haltmann M Willow AK USA Veteran 54 Ken Anderson M Fairbanks AK USA Veteran 55 Hugh Neff M Skagway AK USA Veteran 56 Aaron Burmeister M Nome/Nenana AK USA Veteran 57 Tim Osmar M Ninilchik AK USA Veteran 58 Rachael Scdoris F Bend OR USA Veteran 59 Kurt Reich M Divide CO USA Rookie 60 Eric Rogers M Eagle ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/07/iditarod-09-starting-order/ It's been a long 12 months since Iditarod 2008 and Lance Mackey's back-to-back win, and a lot has happened since then. We'll be going over some of these news items in our first podcast later this weekend, but feel free to browse the headlines or read more about some ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/07/catching-you-up-iditarod-08-to-now/ Alright Folks, The Ceremonial Start to the Iditarod is tomorrow morning, and many of you have been wondering what the full plans are for Iditablog and our coverage of the race. We've been bringing Iditarod Coverage to the Internet for the last 5 years now, and this will be the ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/03/06/iditablog-2009-coverage-plans/ Its about that time again folks, there are just a few days left until we hit the start of Iditarod 2009 on March 7th.  It's been a crazy year since we saw Lance Mackey finish in Nome and making history with his second back-to-back Iditarod & Yukon Quest Victory in ... http://www.iditablog.com/2009/02/26/iditarod-2009-coming-up-soon/ We're down to just one episode left of this fantastic show on the Discovery Channel.  This week, while we didn't get much of a view of mushers who weren't in the top 10 - it was very fun to watch the inside view of Lance Mackey on the trail, with ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/11/15/iditarod-on-discovery-2008-ep-5/ "Toughest Race On Earth: Iditarod" aired on Discovery Friday evening in it's new day and time slot. The race is heating up as mushers arrived at the Bering Sea coast. Martin Buser & his son Rohn separated as Martin attempted to catch up with the race leaders, but he ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/11/08/iditarod-on-discovery-2008-ep-4/ The Discovery Channel announced last week that “Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod” is moving to Fridays at 8pm ET/PT starting Tomorrow - Friday, November 7. Iditarod will be paired with a new season of “Survivorman"...should be a great opportunity for more people to catch the race! For a short summary of ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/11/06/programming-change-for-discoverys-iditarod/ Another great episode of "Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod" just finished up tonight, and will start re-running throughout the next week in true basic cable fashion.  A piece of the show that I enjoy is the opportunity to see the mushers and the dogs up close.  There are little personality ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/10/29/iditarod-on-discovery-2008-ep-3/ Just like I mentioned last week, its so fun to be watching this race again on the Discovery Channel.  I'm impressed with the small details that they are able to portray in just an hour long program each week.  It was fun to see some of the "sled-cam" shots of ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/10/22/iditarod-on-discovery-2008-ep-2/ I just watched the first episode in the Discovery Channel's new series "Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod".  As a fan of the race for years and as someone who spends time following every moment while the race is in full swing it was fun to watch the sport from this ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/10/15/iditarod-on-discovery-2008-ep-1/ We'll start ramping up here tomorrow, re-posting some of the articles and coverage that we wrote during the 2008 Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  We'll post in correlation to the Discover Channel series, so after you watch it on TV you can re-live that part of the race here on Iditablog! I ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/10/14/reminder-iditarod-tv-show-premiers-tonight/ TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD World Premiere Series Begins Tuesday, October 14 at 10PM ET/PT Discovery Channel continues its exploration into and chronicling of the fascinating world around us with the groundbreaking six-part series TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD.  Defining adventure programming, the world premiere series provides a rare look into one ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/09/19/iditarod-tv-show-airing-this-fall/ Right before Lance Mackey's 2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes 3rd place finish in Nome, Lance was hit by a snow machine. The machine was traveling at a high rate of speed behind Lance. He flashed his lights and yelled at the driver, but says it didn’t seem to matter. Mackey jumped ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/05/02/found-audio-lance-mackey-on-his-snowmobile-accident/ We're at a spot in the race right now where everyone can take a deep breath! The next musher isn't expected to reach Nome for another 14 hours or so, and because of a storm front that is in right now most teams are being advised to stay where ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/03/29/aas-update/ Some of the information for this report came from an interview that Lance did today with local radio station KNOM (from whom I'm trying to get permission to post audio online) and from Donna Quante: Last night on his way into the finish line, just minutes after leaving Safety.. 2008 Iditarod ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/03/29/mackeys-team-hit-by-snowmachine-into-nome/ Mitch Seavey and Jeff King duked it out for first place late last night, and we were there to watch Lance Mackey and others arrive early this morning. Ramey Brooks was the latest, coming in just an hour or so ago. Its been a sleep deprived week and I'm ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/03/29/aas-rolls-on/ Attached is a recording of the live KICY broadcast. I co-hosted this broadcast with Nate Hobbs, Josh Remer was the mobile unit out at Fort Davis, and General Manager Dennis Weidler was back at the studio running the board. Mitch arrived at 23:29, King arrived at 23:39 Keep looking for more fun ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/03/29/broadcast-of-seavey-kings-aas-arrival-into-nome/ This quick little clip was taken by Mr. Tom Mute of Nome, AK. It does a good job of giving you a real feel of the craziness that was happening. (click here) to download http://www.iditablog.com/2008/03/29/video-of-mitch-seavey-winning-the-aas/ I just got back to race headquarters and wanted to get you some information as soon as possible before Mackey comes in.  As you probably know (if you're up at 12am Alaska time) Mitch Seavey came in and beat Jeff King into Nome by ten minutes.  Mitch's arrival time was ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/03/29/a-lot-can-change-in-an-hour/ I hate to do this to you.... but with King and Seavey getting into Cape Nome just a little bit ago (still minutes apart) I've got to get down to front street for the live KICY broadcast. The good news is: Its being recorded....and the first 10 of you can listen ... http://www.iditablog.com/2008/03/28/im-going-dark/