IDITAROD FACTS The Iditarod starts in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 7st (10 AM) The Iditarod Re-Starts in Willow, Alaska, Sunday, March 8th (2 PM) Note: 2015 Race this has been changed to Fairbanks, Alaska on Monday, March 9th at 10am. As of December 3rd, there are 80 mushers signed up for the 2015 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, including 59 veterans and 21 rookies. Entrants hail from 8 states Alaska, California, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, and Washington, and from 7 countries – United States, Canada, Australia, France, Norway, Sweden, and New Zealand. The record number of mushers starting the race was 96 in 2008. The Iditarod traditionally pays the highest purse in sled dog racing. In 42 Iditarod races, Iditarod has paid out a total of $15,034,350. The 2015 purse is $725,100.00 distributed between the top 30 finishers with $1,049.00 paid to each additional finisher. The team’s average 16 dogs, which over 1,000 dogs will leave the starting line in 2015. Each musher can start with a maximum of 16 dogs down to a minimum of 12 dogs, and can finish with as few as 6 dogs. Six Iditarod champions will be attempting to regain the title. Many of the past champions from other long distance races are also racing including Yukon Quest champions, Kusko 300 champions and Beargrease champions. The champions are J Lance Mackey, Jeff King, Martin Buser, Dallas Seavey, Mitch Seavey, and John Baker. The race crosses two mountain ranges (including North America’s largest mountain range, Alaska Range) It runs along the Yukon River and over the frozen Norton Sound The route alternates every year. This year’s route, the Southern Route, will run from Ophir thru Iditarod, Shageluk, Anvik, Grayling, Eagle Island, Kaltag, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Elim, Golovin, White Mountian, and Safety before ending in Nome. NOTE: Golovin is (not a checkpoint) but the race goes thru this village and ITC appreciates the villager’s support and willingness to help the Last Great Race. The Northern route will run from Ophir through Cripple, Ruby, Galena, Nulato, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Elim, *Golovin, White Mountain, and Safety before ending in Nome. NOTE: Golovin is (not a checkpoint) but the race goes thru this village and ITC appreciates the villager’s support and willingness to help the Last Great Race. There are twenty-three checkpoints on the Northern Route (counting Anchorage & Nome), three of which are uninhabited during the rest of the year. There are twenty-four checkpoints on the Southern Route (counting Anchorage & Nome), three of which are uninhabited during the rest of the year.
20