Iron Dog Race Guide 2025

Thank you, Iron Dog: What a ride it has been

it seems like only yesterday I sat down to write this “Welcome to Iron Dog” message for the 2024 race! Here we are again in 2025, race fans: It’s time to go racing – teams of two from Big Lake around the Red Dog Loop to Nome and back.

This field of racers is going to provide a hell of a race, I promise you … so sit back and hold on, because there is a pack of champs looking to add to their collection of trophies!

Add to that, there are several oh-so-close teams looking to finally capture that elusive victory, and so many young guns shooting for the stars – they just need to stay clean and smooth!

As I approach what will be the last few months at the helm of this Alaskan racing tradition, I can’t say it loud enough or often enough: Thank you to the board, racers, volunteers and great fans for the trust you have put in me to lead this organization for nearly the last five years.

Iron Dog must continue to work together and support the communities through which we travel. With programs like Helmet Safety and Make it Run – we’re not just a race anymore, we’re a tradition, and giving back has been my vision since becoming the executive director.

Again, to the fans and volunteers – Thank You! To the racers – Travel safely to the finish line, where you’ll become part of an elite group; you are the finest athletes in the world, finishing first or last becoming an Iron Dog Race veteran.

Thank You!

—Mike Vasser, Iron Dog executive director

Safe travels, Iron Dog Class of 2025

The Iron Dog isn’t just a race. It’s a test of grit. It demands training and preparation for any hazard Alaska may present. Snowmachining is a fun and functional Alaskan activity that can be enjoyed for decades — but only if done safely. I want to thank the Iron Dog organization for all its efforts to educate young Alaskans on the significance of safety.

— Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy

Kudos to Iron dog for its commitment to community

Welcome to the 2025 Iron Dog! Since its inception in 1984, the Iron Dog has earned its reputation as the world’s greatest snowmachine race, with some of the grittiest and most skilled racers you’ll find anywhere. But this is also more than a race: from the Ambassador team delivering over 500 helmets, to workforce development initiatives through the MIR program, your commitment to community enriches the lives of all Alaskans. Good luck to the teams as you navigate 2,500 miles of Alaska terrain, and thank you to the entire Iron Dog organization for your continued dedication to our state.”

—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski

Iron Dog a showcase of strength and determination

The Iron Dog ranks among my favorite annual events. It features the world’s top snowmachine racers competing across 2,500 miles through the Last Frontier in the most challenging conditions in the world — frigid temperatures, unpredictable, rugged landscape. This event highlights the strength and determination of Alaskans. I can’t wait for this year’s race and wish all participants the best. True to Alaska’s spirit, Iron Dog never fails to impress. Good luck, racers!

—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan

Bidding

Gaining

Mike Vasser, Executive Director

Rayshelle Blackwood, Operations/Logistics Manager

Amy Custard, Admin Assistant

Dave McKibbon, Logistics Coordinator

Dave Bathke, Tech Director

Stan Brown, Head Race Marshal

Savanha House, Race Marshal

Greg Markson, Race Marshal

Doug Dixon, President

Keith Manternach, Vice-President

Jake Goodell, Secretary

Roger Brown, Treasurer

Stan James, Executive Board

John Andrey, Director

Stan Brown, Director

Johnny Dean, Director

Dennis Falldorf, Director

Stacey Green, Director

Reuben Hanke, Director

Cindi Herman, Director

Savanha House, Director

Paula Octuck, Director

Joe Rucker, Director

Project Coordination:

Jenny Duax / Infinite Marketing Website:

Brice Wilbanks / Starfish Enterprise

Editing /Design: Melissa DeVaughn / Out the Door

Wednesday, February 12

Safety/Tech Inspection: Pro, Expedition and Ambassador classes

Location: Menard Sports Center, 1001 S. Clapp St., Wasilla

• Tech Inspection: 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. closed to the public

Racer Draw/ Banquet/ Live Auction/ Calcutta

Location: Menard Sports Center, 1001 S. Clapp St., Wasilla

• 6 p.m. doors open; there MAY be open tables available/TBA

• 7:15-10 p.m. dinner served

• 10 p.m.-midnight all sleds move out of Menard Center.

Thursday, February 13

Ambassador Team Departure

Location: South Big Lake, at Susitna Brewing Co., 5120 S. Big Lake Road, Big Lake

• 8:30 a.m. park and unload sleds; move into line position

• 10 a.m. Ambassador team departs

Saturday, February 15

Pro Class Team Departure

Location: South Big Lake, at Susitna Brewing Co., 5120 S. Big Lake Road, Big Lake

• 8 a.m. Pro teams arrive at start paddock

• 9 a.m. all teams must be in paddock

• 9:40 a.m. race marshal meeting with Stan Brown

• 9:50 a.m. Racer’s Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

• 10 a.m. first Pro team departs in two-minute intervals

Expedition Class Team Departure

Location: South Big Lake, at Susitna Brewing Co.

• 9:30 a.m. Expedition teams arrive at start paddock

• 10:30 a.m. all teams must be lined up

• 12 p.m. teams depart, in two-min. intervals

Bradley Rowe and Jesse Rowe, nephews of Mike Morgan, stand with Team 10’s Chris Olds and Ryan Sottosanti after Team 10 arrived in Nome in 2024.

Tuesday, FEB. 18 and Wednesday, FEB. 19

Pro Class Nome Garage “Wrench Day”

Location: Nome garage

• 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.

Nome Halfway Ceremonies and Banquet

Location: Nome Mini-Convention Center, 102 River St., Nome

• 5-7 p.m. open to the public

Thursday, February 20

Pro Class Restart

Location: Front Street in Nome

• 8 a.m. weather permitting

Saturday, February 22

Pro Class Finish

Location: South Big Lake, at Susitna Brewing Co.

• 10 a.m. first teams anticipated to arrive

Iron Dog Awards, Hall of Fame Banquet and Raffle Drawing

Location: Settler’s Bay, 5801 S. Knik Goose Bay Road, Wasilla

• 6 p.m. doors open for Awards Ceremony, Hall of Fame

Induction and Raffle Drawing

• 7 p.m. dinner served

After Hours Social

Location: Best Western on Lake Lucille, 1300 W. Lake Lucille Drive

• 10:30 p.m. (there will be a shuttle bus between Settler’s Bay and Lake Lucille running from 5-11 p.m.)

TAYLOR BOOTH

PHOTO

Get your motors running!

41st running of the Iron Dog race is packed with past champions, new talent

When Brett Lapham and Cody Barber stood atop the 2024 Iron Dog champion’s podium, the realization of their long-time dream to win the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race began to sink in.

“To finally be able to win was super, super exciting,” said Lapham, who captured his first victory with his brother-in-law in 2024. “After doing this eight years – and I think Cody’s been in it 10 to 11 years – we had an ongoing joke: ‘Once we win this thing, we will be done.’”

True to their word, the 2024 champions will not be back in Iron Dog to defend their title in 2025. They are the first defending champions to not return to the race since Cory Davis and Ryan Simons won in 2017. But, Lapham said, the two are far from “done” with racing.

“A couple of years ago, I probably would have continued, but we were at a point for a break now,” Lapham said. “It is very time consuming, and both Cody and I have young kids. For now, we will take a couple of years off, but we will be back.”

LOOKING BACK AT 2024

The 2024 race was indeed a nail-biter for those on the sidelines watching. For most of the race, Team 14’s Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie were in the lead, and it seemed as if they would be hard to beat. But –as is always a risk in Iron Dog – a late-in-the game mechanical slowed them down, whittling away at the precious minutes they had on their competitors.

“It was incredibly hard for me to smile,” Boylan said of standing on the podium at second place – while still acknowledging that getting to the podium at all is quite an honor. “That’s our third second-place finish. In 2021, our sleds blew up. In 2023, we just didn’t go fast enough.”

But 2024 was just within their reach, they said.

“You always want to be the first of your brand,” Leslie said. “And last year (2024) was the first year we were beaten on our own brand (Polaris). That was hard. We’re all buddies, we’re friends with Cody and Brett. But at the same time, you don’t want your friend beating you.”

Team 6’s Mike Morgan and Bradley Kishbaugh were new partners in 2024, which always brings an unknown to how a race will unfold. So their third-place finish was what Mor-

gan would call a “good start.” Still, like so many of their high-caliber racing peers, he and Kishbaugh are hungry for the win.

“We had a winning pace – we were just one mechanical (issue) outside of winning the race,” Morgan said. “We’re going to run a pretty similar pace to what we did last year and try to prevent that same issue from happening. We are going to try and run clean and run smart. The guys that come out at the front at the end are the ones that run clean.”

George “Radar” Lambert and Skyler Wells, in their bid to be competitive, felt the sting of not-so-clean races themselves in 2024. Lambert, a crowd favorite especially along the Red Dog Loop, scratched out early in his 2023 race bid, so all eyes and cheers of

encouragement were on he and new partner Wells in the 2024 race. They started out strong, staying in the front pack for the first third of the race, but then mishap after mishap plagued them.

“It was rough, but we really hoped to get there,” said Lambert, who had several get-offs during the race before the two were forced to scratch in Nikolai – a heart-breaking 286 miles from the finish – with a broken A-arm and no spare parts with which to fix it. Lambert, bruised, battered and hobbling with clear discomfort at the Iron Dog finish, still came out to cheer on his fellow competitors. Ever smiling despite their setbacks, Lambert said the Iron Dog shows no mercy.

“It is a hard race and an expensive race,” he said. “I’m going to take this year off. I got a new job, and I can’t take all the time off this year for training, but I definitely will be back next year. We were so close. We have to try again.”

Wells, who won the popular Archie Ferguson snowmachine race in Kotzebue – thus earning him free entry into the 2025 Iron Dog – said that is the only way he could have afforded to race this year: he is partnering with four-time Iron Dog finisher Kenny Kleewein to make another bid at finishing the race.

“(Radar and I) had a pretty good run all the way up to Buckland there – he had a few get-offs,” Wells said. “We took off from there in a storm in the nighttime, got in and got fueled up. Then Radar had another get-off from Kotzebue to Buckland, and that slowed us down a little bit.”

But the final nail happened as the two, who had already made several mechanical repairs along the way, headed southbound toward Nikolai.

“I nicked a tree getting off the river out of Nikolai and broke my A-arm,” Wells said. “We didn’t have any spare parts, or we couldn’t get anything, so that was the end of it for us. … This race, you’ve got to be mentally and physically strong and push through it all.”

Morgan said the 2024 race – just like those before it and those to come – will always come down to skill and experience.

“People toss the word ‘luck’ around in this race, but really you create your own luck,” he said. “We train a lot and do a lot

Local favorites Team 33 George “Radar” Lambert and Skyler Wells scratched after injuries and mechanicals in 2024, but their fans were at the finish to give them support regardless. Wells is racing this year as Team 3, with Kenneth Kleewein. MELISSA DEVAUGHN PHOTO

Your 2024 podium: Team 14 Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie (second), Team 39 Brett Lapham and Cody Barber (first), and Team 6 Bradley Kishbaugh and Mike Morgan (third). TRACY TRY PHOTO

of the testing with the equipment. If something goes wrong, I’m always hard on myself. I always point the finger back at myself, not good luck or bad luck. There are things that are out of your control, like fighting Mother Nature, but we are all doing that at the same time.”

LOOKING ahead to 2025

Iron Dog 2025 is shaping up to be crowded at the front of the pack, as several past champions are back in the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race – and all of them are in it to win it.

“If we’re signing up, we’re here to win,” said Cory Davis, who in 2017 with teammate Ryan Simons came away with the victory. This year, Davis is partnering with longtime friend and fellow pro racer Wes Selby of Colorado.

“There’s a lot of talented guys this year, but we’re here to bring home the trophy,” Davis added.

Indeed, this year’s competition is impressive. Twenty-seven teams met the early bird deadline, compared to 23 last year. And by the race registration closing, 32 teams were scheduled to race – that’s nine more teams than the 2024 start list.

Among the competition, there are currently eight past champions entered this year. And none of them are guaranteed winners.

“Having this many past champions in the race is going to change the dynamics dramatically,” said Iron Dog Executive Director Mike Vasser. “Being gone for several years, the level of the race has changed, even in just the past year or two. In boxing, when you step away and come back, they call it ‘ring rust.’ And I don’t know if ‘ring rust’ is going to be an issue for these guys, but we will see.”

Despite the absence of 2024’s champions, Vasser said there will still be a lot of talent to follow this year.

“I think it’s awesome to have this many past champions in the race,” Vasser said. “It dovetails with what’s happening with the race as it continues to cultivate into the next level.” As the race grows, he said, so too does the talent, layering more and more prestige to the grueling 2,500-mile race.

Second- and third-place Team 14 Bryan Leslie and Casey Boylan and Team 6 Mike Morgan and Bradley Kishbaugh from 2024 will return to further their podium pursuits, but they will be joined by a group of powerhouse pros back in the race.

Champions of the 2021 race, Team 20 Robby Schachle and Brad George, also are back after a hiatus, and Team 8 Tom Davis is joining with 2016 Iron Dog champion Tyson Johnson, who has taken several years off from racing.

Returning from 2024 is Team 10 Chris Olds and Ryan Sottosanti –who placed fifth last year – and they will certainly be in the mix.

Perhaps most anticipated among the 2025 field was Team 7’s Nick Olstad and Tyler Aklestad. But after Olstad

experienced a significant injury during training, he was forced to sit it out this year. He was the winningest racer in the field, with six past championships under his belt, so his absence will be missed. Team 7 scratched out after a mechanical in 2024, and now Aklestad is hoping to get the Team 7 name back in the finish books with rookie partner Aaron Loyer of Palmer.

“I see about five or six really strong teams that could be fighting for the win this year,” Morgan said. “I think it’s going to be tight, so we are going to have to be smart making passes. We have to run our own race, especially in the first 500 miles.”

Leslie said he thinks the speeds are going to be faster too.

“I would say the top five teams are not going to get spread out like years past,” he said. “It is a pretty stacked field this year compared to other years. This is obviously good for the sport and the level of racing. Some of the guys just coming back might have a little struggle though. The race has gotten faster and longer. It’s not like it used to be.”

Morgan agrees: “When Tyler and Nick teamed up in 2020, they increased the pace of the whole race because those guys are some of the best in the world,” he said.

“This is the year where everyone’s going to be there,” Boylan said. “We are so close. I fully believe we are competitive with anyone who lines up, anytime. The work we are putting in is going to keep us competitive.”

Past champions

For Robby Schachle, who with Brad George captured the win in 2021 after passing Team 14’s Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie in the last minutes of the race, the Iron Dog was calling his name yet again. Schachle took 2023 and 2024 off from pro racing but was a key leader on the Ambassador Team to Nome in 2024. He last raced Pro Class in 2022, finishing fourth with George. Being back on the trail after a twoyear break made him realize how much he missed it.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Schachle said. “With Brad and his new baby, both of us working a ton, new sleds,

Team 7’s Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad won the 2022 and 2023 Iron Dog races. After Nick Olstad experienced a serious injury during training, Tyler is now paired with rookie partner Aaron Loyer of Palmer. MEGAN ROLINGER PHOTO

getting back at it – it’s all feeling new. You lose so much in two years. It’s almost like we are rookies again.”

Also back this year is Tyson Johnson, who raced to victory in 2016 with Team 8 partner Tyler Aklestad. He has raced in more than 20 Iron Dogs and last entered the Pro Class in 2020 with then-Team 6 teammate Brad George. While he has stayed involved in Iron Dog, serving as race marshal for the past several years, there is nothing quite like being back in the high-speed saddle. He and partner Tom Davis are Team 8 this year.

“I was planning on missing only one or two years after that 2020 race, and I was going to come back,” Johnson said. “But life happens. With two kids and working full time, it gets busy, and trying to find the right partner mattered too.”

That’s where Tom Davis came in, he said.

“I wanted somebody that I felt like we could potentially win with, I didn’t want to just go with anybody,” he said. “Tom is fairly inexperienced with Iron Dog but has lots of experience with a lot of other aspects of snowmachining, like mechanics. He can weld and fabricate and do a lot of wrenching because he’s off all winter.”

Most of all, Johnson said, they complement each other as riders and friends, which is key to a successful race bid.

Schachle and George are excited to be in this potentially chaotic mix, and like all pros are focused on racing their own race and controlling what they can.

“Brad and I have never actually worked out at all in the gym – we just rode, rode, rode,” he said. “This year, we go three times a week and meet at the gym at 5 a.m. and work out for an hour, hour and a half. I’m not 20 years old anymore, and there are a lot of great racers out there.”

Mike Vasser, Iron Dog’s executive director, said it’s easy to underestimate the physicality that is required to race a motorized piece of equipment. While the engines create the speed, the riders themselves have to be able to control it – and it’s not easy.

“I view these competitors as the greatest athletes in the world today,” Vasser said. “The elements they deal with are incredible – including physical conditioning, mechanics capabilities, extreme speeds

and terrain, Mother Nature’s unpredictability, strategy components, and mental toughness and focus. They are the greatest!”

Despite having eight champion racers in this year’s Iron Dog Race, Vasser said it is no guarantee that one of those gentlemen will be on the podium. The tried-and-true talent is there, but there are always newer, youthful and hungry riders waiting to make their marks (See our Young Guns story on Page 24).

“The other twist we have is that this is the first time we’ve had three women in the race,” Vasser added. “Ashley Wood and Andy Gocke are racing together; Hillarie and Tim Gossett are a team, and Dani (Danielle) and Larry Levine are back as a father-daughter team.”

Cory Davis, who spent the majority of his racing career as a freestyle and snocross racer, has known Wes Selby for years, and for a time, they were team members with Christian Brothers Racing. Their racing circuit often ended just two weeks prior to the start of Iron Dog, making preparation for the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race a challenge. But now that Davis has more time, Iron Dog is beckoning.

“I’m a huge fan of this race,” he said. “Growing up as a kid watching my dad (Scott Davis, Hall of Famer with seven wins under his belt) who prepared all winter, there’s a balance. I try not to overthink this and make it my entire winter; I try to look at it as just another race. If we’re signing up, we’re here to win.”

Schachle, too, is hungry for another victory.

After doing the Ambassador Class, it brought back so many memories and brought back the itch a little bit,” Schachle said.

“There’s a lot of talent this year. It’s going to be a real showdown. I think there is going to be a lot of crashes, a lot of carnage; it’s going to turn into a sprint race. Whoever stays healthy and their equipment survives is going to win it.”

In 2021, Team 6 Brad George and Robby Schachle captured a surprise win after passing Team 14 on the final day of the race. They are back this year as Team 20.

MEGAN ROLINGER PHOTO

Iron Dog Race, Inc., has had a busy past five years, and the next step in its growth includes a search for a new executive director and a board of directors to help guide the organization forward.

Where we’ve been and where we’re going:

In 2021, amid a COVID-19 pandemic still plaguing the world, the future of that year’s Iron Dog race was questionable. But being tough Alaskans, we got it done! The Iron Dog Race Board of Directors appointed Mike Vasser as its interim executive director, and the race, with some limitations, successfully took place. Vasser, a past Iron Dog Race participant and sponsor for 20 years, had spent nearly 40 years in the beverage business before founding 907Ice. Adding the title of Iron Dog race ED was a passion project.

After the successful completion of the 2022 Iron Dog, Vasser and the board agreed to a three-year contract focused on building a solid foundation for the race’s future. And what a future it has been! Sponsorship support has been great, excitement continues to grow, and the race purse continues to be solid.

Now it’s time for new leadership. Vasser’s contract is coming to an end, and he plans to step down in May 2025, mainly to focus back onto his business. He will accept a seat on the Board of Directors and continue to be active in the Iron Dog Race world.

“This has been an incredible opportunity to work with a great board of directors, racers, sponsors and volunteers,” Vasser said. “We have covered many milestones for this organization as a team, and the future is very bright for the race. It has been an honor to serve and grow

Thanks to assistance from the South Anchorage High School Media Team, Iron Dog has some classy coverage of our 2025 Iron Dog race. Add to that the professional help of KTUU and our live GPS tracking of racers on our webiste, and you practically don’t need to leave your couch! We are even on social media.

Here are the ways to watch and follow:

A South Anchorage media team member’s jacket during the 2024 race. TRACY TRY PHOTO

South Anchorage live stream link www.irondog.org/race/watch Iron Dog Instagram

www.instagram.com/irondograce/ Iron Dog Facebook

Up-to-date “live action,” director and race marshal interviews, and as-they-happen split time updates are here: www.facebook.com/IronDogSnowmobileRace

this organization to what we have today. … it makes me smile!”

In 2022, the Board also realigned its makeup: The current board is listed on Page 8. These folks have spent years volunteering and giving back to this organization, and we can’t thank them enough for their time and talent.

“In the last 10 years we’ve had a complete turnover of board members along with multiple executive directors, said Jake Goodell, a board member since 2016, and GPS and timing official since 2013. “At one point we could barely afford payroll. Having seen the transition first hand, the Iron Dog organization is now thriving and has a bright future.”

Other changes in the last year include:

Kelli Cherrier retired in 2024, after six years as an employee and having volunteered since 2011 – and we’re glad to have her back as a volunteer again this year! Dave McKibbon, longtime logistics manager and Iron Dog Hall of Famer, is also retiring.

Iron Dog Race, Inc., hired Rayshelle Blackwood, a recent transplant from Florida, as its new logistics manager, and she is working with Dave for the 2025 race to learn the ropes. Also new in the office is Amy Custard, born and raised in Alaska and a current UAA student. She is working as Iron Dog’s admin assistant. And hats off to Goodell’s and his timing team: Emily Fine, Brice Wilbanks, Rayshelle Blackwood, Elliott Bauer and Kent Hamilton.

The executive director position is open now, and the hope is that we can hire someone soon so they can experience some of the 2025 Race. Vasser’s last day is May 31, 2025. Find the job description here: www.irondog.org/join-our-team

Let’s do this!

Lower 48 racers want to earn that elusive

‘veteran’ status

This year’s Iron Dog Race boasts 13 racers from outside of Alaska. They hail from Colorado, Nevada, Wisconsin, Minnesota and New Hampshire. There’s even one from Puerto Rico — although he lives in Alaska now. Four teams are both from out of state. Five out-of-staters are pairing up with Alaskans. Three are veterans; 10 are rookies. One is the grandson of one of Polaris’ founding partners. One is racing with a past Iron Dog champion.

This group from the Lower 48 is a strong field of athletes. And they all have one goal in mind: complete the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race in 2025.

This will be the year

New Hampshire native Kim Bergeron is no stranger to the Iron Dog Race. He has completed six Expedition Class rides and is a long supporter of the race, donating the use of snowmachines and supporting one of the race checkpoints (Ophir). Last year, he and longtime racing partner JP Bernier, also from New Hampshire, entered their first Pro Class race as Team 15 and came oh, so close to earning veteran status.

Just 206 miles from the finish, though, Bergeron sank his sled in the river outside of Tatina, and quickly realized their 2024 bid was coming to a premature end.

“As soon as I was exactly at the point when I knew I wasn’t going to make it (across the skip), I had the wherewithal to turn the machine off,” said Bergeron. “I had a wave of sadness, knowing this is realistically the end of the race.”

But what Bergeron also had was a sense of gratitude that at the halfway banquet back in Nome, he had paid particular attention to the Alaska Safe Riders presentation on water immersion self-rescue. Call it coincidence, luck, someone watching over him – he doesn’t know. But without that information fresh in his mind, the outcome could have been vastly different.

“I went straight to what I needed to do,” Bergeron

said. “JP said, ‘I’m taking my rope out, getting ready for you,’ and I tried to swim, which in snowmobile gear is understandably difficult. But it worked.”

After their near finish this past year, Team 15 is ready for success this year.

“We learned a lot this past race about better hydration, nutrition, a lot of things,” Bergeron said. “For us, it’s a duration thing where if we can run 12 to 13 hours a day without incident, we will feel successful. The Top 5 are running that distance in a third of that time, but if we can do that, we will have a much better chance of success.”

Team 22’s Trent Johnson from Hayward, Wis., also fell short of a finish in 2024. He raced with teammate Cole Sabin, also from Hayward, and they scratched out in Tatina after encountering insurmountable mechanical issues. For 2025, back with Tad Covault of Soldotna as his partner this time, Johnson is hoping to claim that elusive veteran status and see the race to its finish.

“Our goals are more obtainable,” Johnson said. “Last year it was to finish, ultimately, but we thought maybe in the Top 10. This year, it is just to finish and have fun. Everything else is gravy on top.”

For Lower 48 racers, the challenges of even getting to the starting line are daunting. Johnson said.

“It’s a financial burden,” he said. “The time gone from home, your

Team 16 Kris Kaltenbacher, from Sparks, Nev., earned veteran status in Iron Dog 2024. This year, he is racing as Team 18 with Austin Carroll of Fairbanks. PHOTO: HEATHER SOTTOSANTI

job, figuring out how to get your snowmobiles barged to Anchorage, and the logistics of figuring out someone to pick them up.

“It’s a challenge, but it can be done,” he added.

“You can’t deny that to be competitive is costly in our race,” said Mike Vasser, Iron Dog’s executive director. “Outof-state racers have additional costs of travel to and from the Lower 48, and housing costs that come with traveling.

“To help them reduce costs, in 2025 any out-of-state racer that finishes the race will earn a free entry into the 2026 race. It’s just one way we’re working to make it more achievable for them to participate.”

That’s great news to Kris Kaltenbacher, who lived in Dillingham as a teenager but now lives in Nevada. He was part of the 2023 Ambassador Team and loved the experience so much, he came back to race -- and complete -- his first Pro Class race in 2024. He is back again this year with Austin Carroll, an 18-year-old riding phenom from Fairbanks, with hopes of making the Top 10.

“I’ve been captivated by the Iron Dog challenge since my high school days,” Kaltenbacher said. “Racing is far more complex than simply purchasing a sled, adding gear, and racing. As I delved deeper into the Iron Dog, I discovered it to be a true test of strength, determination, passion, dedication, commitment, support from families, friends, sponsors, and mental resilience. Participating in the Iron Dog is not for everyone. I have immense admiration for my fellow Iron Dog champions and riders, who I consider to be the elite, the best of the best.”

Johnson, like Kaltenbacher, is lured by Iron Dog’s reputation as the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race.

“I like riding long distances, so the endurance portion of Iron Dog was a really big draw. Caine’s Quest comes the closest, but it is the still not even comparable,” Johnson said.

Bergeron also credits the inclusive feel of the Iron Dog race community. When he sunk his sled during the 2024 race, Team 30’s Blake Elder and Kody Worley from Wasilla didn’t hesitate to help them out.

“I just have so much respect for them because Team 30 had never successfully completed the race, but they came out to help us back to the checkpoint,” Bergeron said. “I think that’s what this race is about.” (And karma was good to Team 30: They went on to successfully finish and gain veteran status.)

“We would want help if we were in that situation,” said Worley. “All the racers are great guys and friends.”

Alex Hetteen of Roseau, Minn., will be entering the Pro Class as a true rookie this year, with no Alaska racing experience. However, he comes with a family legacy of snowmachine racers and riders. The grandson of Polaris co-founder Allan Hetteen, he will be racing with Iron Dog veteran Eric Christensen of Centuria, Wis., as Team 45.

“My wife and I have always talked about the Iron Dog; it’s a bucket list item, but it’s very hard from down here to coordinate,” Hetteen said. Hetteen, who is an engineer at Polaris, has been racing in the Lower 48 for the last 12 years alongside his wife, Jill, who also races and works for Polaris. When Jill was asked to join the 2025

Ambassador Class ride as a representative sponsor for Polaris, Alex decided, why not join her and race the Pro Class.

Alex’s grandfather, Allan, passed away when Alex’s father was just 11 years old, in a tractor accident, so Alex never knew him. But he has firm memories of his grandfather’s influence on the snowmobile industry.

“I heard lots of stories about his support of racing and how as the CEO of Polaris, he supported it from the business side, putting a focus on racing from the Polaris viewpoint. He attended a lot of the races that way.”

For the Hetteen family, racing is simply a way of life.

“As long as I can remember, we have had snowmobiles,” Hetteen said. “We were always building and changing and modifying. My brothers, my uncles, my aunts – it’s a full family thing.”

Hetteen said as an engineer for Polaris, he is going to be particularly interested in the sleds’ performance while racing this year. He is depending on Christensen, who completed his second Iron Dog Pro Class in 2024 with Kris Kaltenbacher from Sparks, Nev., to lead the way. His experience in the Pro Class – and completing the Ambassador Class in 2022 – gives him knowledge of the course that only comes from being on it.

Lower 48 racers

Team 13: Polaris: Dan Zimmerman, Niswa, Minn. and Bob Streiff, Trego, Wis.

Team 15: Polaris: Kim Bergeron, Dublin, N.H. and JP Bernier, Hancock, N.H.

Team 16: Polaris: Danielle Levine, Reno, Nev. (although originally from Alaska, racing with her father, Larry Levine of Anchorage)

Team 18: Polaris: Kris Kaltenbacher, Sparks, Nev. (racing with Austin Carroll from Fairbanks)

Team 21: Ski-Doo: Wes Selby, Grand Lake, Colo. (racing with Cory Davis from Soldotna)

Team 22: Polaris: Trent Johnson, Hayward, Wis. (racing with Tad Covault from Soldotna)

Team 23: Arctic Cat: Adam Stafford, Aitkin, Minn, .Wyatt Halek-Hooper, McGregor, Minn.

Team 45: Polaris: Eric Christensen, Centuria, Wis. and Alex Hetteen, Roseau, Minn.

Team 47: Polaris: Frankie Navarro, Puerto Rico (racing with Jeremiah Brewington from Wasilla)

“I’m not too worried about the snowmmobile riding aspect of it,” said Hetteen, who is actively engaged in the race circuit in his area, including the I-500 and other races.

“Being an engineer, I’m focused on the sled, the modifications, the lights and the tank, and all those extra things you have to add.”

What Hetteen knows he will need to master is the duration of the Iron Dog – the long days riding and the mental fog that often accompanies that fatigue.

“The I-500 is more of a sprint, three hours a day for two days,” he added. “Staying focused for that length of time, staying alert, and then the things like weather and conditions. The amount of attrition there is in this race, it’s just a challenge to finish. And that’s what we hope to do.”

Team 15 Kim Bergeron and JP Bernier leaving the chute in Iron Dog 2024. PHOTO: HEATHER SOTTOSANTI

When Bubba McDaniel was a kid growing up in Nome, every February he would rush down to the Nome garage to watch as Iron Dog racers would hurriedly work on their snowmachines in the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race. The smell of motor oil, the clank of metal-on-metal, the constant hum of multiple conversations at once gave him a thrill that settled in his bones.

“Year after year after year when I was kid, I’d watch them work, and I’d go to the banquet and get all their signatures,” said McDaniel, now aged 26. “There’d be guys like Todd Palin, Scott Davis, Dusty VanMeter, Andy George – all those top guys I just watched them growing up.”

Fast forward to the 2024 race, and McDaniel was sitting in the Nome Subway Sandwich shop.

“I was just eating, when they came through and I watched Haakon Wold coming through with his partner,” he said. “I called Wilson and said, ‘We gotta do the Iron Dog someday,’ and he agreed we should.”

A week or two later, Wilson (last name Hoogendorn, and McDaniel’s childhood best friend) entered and won the Nome-Golovin race. Wilson’s prize? Free entry into the Iron Dog Race.

“I think the stars aligned,” McDaniel said. “Because now we had a way to do the race.”

Hoogendorn, 25, said the low-snow year – both in Southcentral Alaska and in Nome, where he and Bubba live – has proven to be a challenge for training, but as a rookie team, he just wants to have a clean race.

“It sounds like the first day is a big hurdle to jump over – the (Farewell) Burn and all the jitters and the start – getting past that is objective number one,” he said. “After that, it is to stick with the upper half of the pack. I think we are just going to try to keep in touch through the radios and try and not to stop, even if we have to slow down.”

Team 4, Hoogendorn and McDaniel, are one of nine all-rookie teams battling it out with a star-studded cast of past champions in this year’s Iron Dog Race. They join a field of nine past champions and seven other rookies racing with veteran partners. And while these young guns of the 2020s are just getting started, they are not new to riding.

Take Evan Barber for instance. At just 20 years old, he has already competed in three Iron Dog Pro Class races, first at the age of 16 with his father,

finishing a solid eighth place. At the time, he was the youngest to ever race the Pro Class. Since then, Barber has inched his way up, with a seventh-place finish in 2023 with Kelly Sommer and a fourth-place finish with Troy Conlon in 2024. He and Conlon are back again this year as Team 9.

“I grew up hearing stories about Iron Dog, and all the dos and don’ts,” said Barber, whose father, Shane Barber, and grandfather Mike Spain were longtime top racers in the field. His brother Cody took home the family’s first victory in 2024 with brother-in-law Brett Lapham. This year, Evan is the only Barber in a race that often featured up to three of them.

“I have some big shoes to fill,” he said. “I feel like growing up with this, I can ride as good as any of them, but that’s not the side that can win races. You also have to know how to read GPS, have a strong mechanical side, and learn to pace yourself. That’s why it definitely pays to have someone with experience like Troy (with seven finishes under his belt). I still have a lot to learn.”

Reggie Davis and Hayden Reid are Team 29, rookies from Big Lake and Wasilla who have been riding all their lives. After racing the Skwentna 200 in 2024, they turned heads after holding their own with racers like Team 7’s Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad. They had the fastest split time between Deshka Landing and Skwentna and were going strong until

Team 4 newcomers from Nome, Bubba McDaniel, 25, and Wilson Hoogendorn, 25, are hoping to have a clean run to their hometown and back in 2025. WILSON HOOGENDORN PHOTO

Team 9’s Evan Barber, at just 19 years old, finished fourth place last year with partner Troy Conlon. He is speaking with Jerry Conlon, Troy’s father, at the finish of the 2024 race. Barber is back again this year, pumped for a podium spot.

TRACY TRY PHOTO

they busted a machine and ultimately finished third in the Pro Class division.

“When I went to my first Iron Dog when I was like 8 years old, I decided, ‘I’m highly interested in snowmachining,’” said Davis, 20. “In 2019, I started ice racing, and then I bought my first brand-new snowmachine at 15, and ever since then, I’ve entered little sprint races here and there. Now we’re into cross country.”

Reid, too, tasted his first victory in the 2021 Big Lake 500K – 60 laps totaling about 300 miles – and hasn’t looked back since.

“After I won the Big Lake 500, Robbie Schachle invited us to race Mayor’s Cup, and we did and then I started doing cross country after that,” said Reid, 24. Last year, Reid won the Mayor’s Cup semipro division, leaving him with one more challenge: cross-country racing. This year, he will be competing in the 2025 International 500 Snowmobile Endurance Race (SOO I-500) in late January, a weeklong race in Michigan, before hoofing it back to Alaska in time for the Iron Dog start.

“The Iron Dog for me is more of a bucket list item, not so much a career,” Reid said. “I have no experience with any racing other than ice racing, Skwentna and Mayor’s Cup. Honestly, the furthest I’ve been is to Hell’s Gate. But we are Alaskans. At the end of the day, any condition that comes up out there, as long as it’s not life threatening, we should be able to handle.”

Team 41 Haakon Wold and Tyler Reese may be young, but they are far from rookies. In fact, the pair, at just ages 18 and 19 in 2024, finished ninth in a field of finishers ahead of them whose ages were higher than Wold’s and Reese’s combined. It was Wold’s second race, and Tyler’s first.

“It was last minute,” Wold said. “Tyler’s been wanting to do Iron Dog since he was little. And I didn’t have a partner at the time. When I asked, he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m down.’ My first ride with him last year was Dec. 10; we went up to Skwentna and back, and the next day we decided to race Iron Dog. We were lucky enough for Iron Dog to let us join late. “

Todd Palin remembers those days of spontaneous decisions well. As this year’s oldest entrant in the race, he is celebrating a milestone: 30 races in his 60 years on this earth. (See our story on Palin, Page 58) Palin remains one of the winningest racers of the Iron Dog, taking the top spot just three years into his racing career with a 1995 win with partner Dwayne Drake. He went on to win three more Iron Dogs in 2000 and 2002 with Iron Dog Hall of Famer Dusty Van Meter, and again with Hall of Famer Scott Davis (and newly inaugurated International Snowmobile Association Hall of Famer) in 2007.

“My buddy (Frank Woods) said, ‘Let’s do Iron Dog,’ and I said, ‘OK,

sounds good,’ but we didn’t know what we were getting into,” said Palin of his first race in 1993. “We took off from Klondike Inn and just worked our butts off. That was back when you wore a beaver hat, and on a good day you had goggles on.”

Palin said the early days of racing were when his learning curve was the steepest. Growing up in Dillingham and Glennallen, he was used to hard work – his family commercial fishes, he played competitive sports like hockey and basketball – and living in remote areas instilled a sort of self-reliance that served him well as a racer.

“Starting Iron Dog, you’re kind of a deer in the headlights watching the guys who know how to do it,” he said. “John Faeo, Scott Davis and Danny Zipay – up until 1995 – they were always the ones at the top. And you aspired to be there.”

It was a different race back then, too, Palin said. The race took off, and racers depended on laminated maps of the course and were told the general locations of the fuel drums along the way. But that doesn’t mean today’s newcomers have it any easier, he added. No matter the advancements of today’s Iron Dog, it’s still a mental challenge at the end of the day.

“In any motorsport racing, sometimes the fastest guys don’t always win,” he said. “In the team race, your team’s got to be efficient and productive. The guys in their 40s are in their prime, racing-wise, because they’ve had time to perfect this.”

But, he said, his advice to the young guns: “Don’t overthink it. They are Alaska kids. They know what they need to do. Don’t think you need all the gadgets. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for a lot of people so don’t get all wrapped up in spending a bunch of money. Your life is in your partner’s hands. Your partner’s life is in your hands. That’s all that matters.”

Above, Team 29 rookies Reggie Davis, 20, and Hayden Reid, 23, work on downed trees during training. The two have long wanted to race Iron Dog. This year, the opportunity arose and they grabbed it. HAYDEN REID PHOTO

At left, Team 41’s Haakon Wold, 19, and Tyler Reese, 20, finished ninth in the 2024 Iron Dog. They are hoping to improve on that placement this year. TOM STOKES PHOTO

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Class of 2025 Iron Dog Hall of Fame

The Iron Dog Race Hall of Fame is dedicated to showcasing the rich and exciting history, along with honoring the men and women of the Iron Dog Race Snowmobile event at both the recreational and competitive levels. The inductees of the 2025 Hall of Fame have provided countless memories as racers and race officials, they have supported our organization and racers financially and though encouragement – and provided industry information since the inception of our race, supporting our foundation and our sport.

In 2025 the Iron Dog Board of Directors inducts five new “ultimate fans” who holster a bivy of experience! Congratulations to them all and thank you for all you’ve given the Iron Dog Race!

–

Mike Vasser, Iron Dog Executive Director

Korey Cronquist

Owner Team CC, veteran racer, race/team sponsor and industry informant

“Korey Cronquist has been instrumental to the Ski-Doo brand in many ways. His incredible feedback, technical knowledge and input not only helps us to develop our products but also his strength as a team leader and mentor to the racers is what has built a winning program. We would not be able to achieve the wins and success we have had without his support. The amount of racers he has helped over the years is insurmountable. We thank Korey for all of his help and we couldn’t be more proud than to see him inducted into the Iron Dog Hall of Fame.”

– Carey Daku Ski-Doo Racing

Chris Graeber

Manager Hatcher Pass Polaris, volunteer (race marshal from 2007-2016), race/team sponsor

“Chris Graeber is the ultimate Iron Dog volunteer, race marshal, sponsor and human. She is so loved and respected in this sport by the racers, racer families, volunteers and fans from Big Lake to Nome (and back again). She is a true fan of Iron Dog – regardless of the brand of sled. – Savanha House, director and 2025 race marshal.

“Chris is still a “super fan” and volunteer, spending countless hours monitoring social media and even at the finish of the 2024 race she stepped in last minute as an second MC.” – Mike Vasser, Iron Dog executive director

Gary Eoff

Veteran racer, volunteer (trail breaker), team sponsor

“Gary is a real example of the tradition of racing and our state, and not to mention one heck of a partner! He got the bug in 1969 racing cross country and graduated to the Iron Dog in 1985 (with me) – defeating the returning champs by only 3 seconds and winning in his first and only attempt. After checking that box, Gary moved on to trail breaking for the race; in his mind he had nothing to prove racing! After trail breaking on everything from Bravos to 121 Cats to finally VK 540 long tracks, he checked that box and moved on to flying support for teams – different racers and six winning teams.” – Scott Davis, seven-time champion and Hall of Fame member

Steve Deptula

Founder of High Performance Auto, veteran racer, volunteer (trail breaker), race/team sponsor.

“Steve was one of the driving forces in the early days of pioneering the Iron Dog Race, as a trail breaker and a financial contributor – not to mention he finished second place in the inaugural race! Steve has always been a visionary – be that the race itself or for teams – he is the mastermind behind what is known as the “Iron Dog Bag” and “Iron Dog Seats,” custom bags and seats making travel on the Iron Dog or in recreational riding lighter and more effective. – Doug Dixon Board president.

“I don’t know of a week that has gone by since my role as ED that Steve hasn’t called just to check in or offer an ear, his support and knowledge. He has been hugely helpful!” – Mike Vasser, Iron Dog executive director

Nate Perkins Volunteer (trail breaker/checkpoint/ race marshal)

“Nate did everything I asked of him – from the late 1980s (until he retired), he was the man to call in Nome, and he’d step up and volunteer enthusiastically for any Iron Dog role, from trail marking to checkpoint to race safety –everything to ensure a successful race.” – Retired logistic volunteer and Hall of Fame member Dave McKibbon.

Korey Cronquist is a longtime supporter of Iron Dog, its racers and the growth of the sport. IRON DOG FILE

Chris Graeber, center, as race marshal with Lee Davis and Kent Harrington. IRON DOG FILE

Gary Eoff SCOTT DAVIS PHOTO

Steve Deptula with Scott Davis in 1984. SCOTT DAVIS PHOTO

Nate Perkins, Iron Dog 2014. IRON DOG PHOTO

Strengthening our communiities: The Iron Dog way

Young Iron Dog fans sport new helmets they received during the 2024 Iron Dog banquet in Nome.

Iron Dog Race, Inc., is committed to being more than just a race: We want to be part of the communities that support our race and racers! Our programs and impacts extend far beyond racing and riding in Alaska.

HELMET SAFETY PROGRAM

The Iron Dog Helmet Awareness Program was established in 2020. The program provides helmets at no charge to youth in rural communities, ensuring they have adequate, fitting head protection yearround for power sports activities. More than 2,300 helmets have been donated to date during the Iron Dog race. In 2025, 500 additional helmets, manfuactured by KLIM for Iron Dog in an exclusive “high vis” and “Iron Dog orange,” will be distributed to kids in Kotzebue, Nome, Bethel, Dillingham, Huslia, Koyukuk, Nulato, Galena, Tanana, Elim, Unalakleet and Koyuk.

MAKE IT RUN

The Make It Run program is set forth to assist in the development of personnel in the trade of small engine and recreational vehicle repairs. Iron Dog Race, Inc., has partnered

with major companies to bring this to life in the future with support from engineers, local teachers, and service providers. With public donations of snowmachines, four-wheelers and UTVs to be used as learning tools in the classroom. Iron Dog Race supports the donations with a reasonable 501C3 receipt of the unit to the donor as a tax deduction for them. In addition to providing educational opportunities, these donations will assist in the reduction and cleanup of these units ending up in the landfills as waste.

IRON PUP RACE SERIES

We’re excited to announce that in 2025 we will be working with local race organizations for three races to make signing up streamlined, insurance available, and the environment more Iron Dog-like. For more information go to www.irondog.org/iron-pup.

SOUTH ANCHORAGE MEDIA TEAM

Back again for the 2025 race is the South Anchorage Media team bringing the race to fans all over the world via live stream. Not only are the students fine-tuning their media skills but they are seeing parts of our state that many never get to. Each year, Iron Dog Race, Inc., donates a scholarship to one student from the team as well as provides all transportation, lodging and meals during the

Bering Air

BC Excavating

Bristol Bay Native Corp.

City of Nome

Crowley

Cruz Construction

Davis Block

Lynden

McKenna Bros. Paving NANA

Quintillion

Sitnasauk Native Corp.

Susitna Brewing

Teck Alaska

Credit Union One

Fineline

KLIM

Carlile

UMV

Team 93 TEE

event, as well as providing financial support to upgrade equipment. Find the live stream here: https://www.irondog.org/race/watch

KIDS DON’T FLOAT

In 2024, Iron Dog Race, Inc., partnered with several local organizations to purchase and deliver 175 life vests to Iron Dog communities including: Nikolai, McGrath, Galena, Nome and Kotzebue. They were also made available at the Little Susitna River, Deshka River, Meadow Lake and Seymore Lake.

communities and checkpoints:

BIG LAKE

The 2025 Iron Dog race starts and finishes at Big Lake, just outside of Wasilla. Spectators can see racers right on the ice, in front of Susitna Brewing Co. The population of Big Lake is roughly 2,770.

NOME

Until 1994, the race ended in Nome, tying Iron Dog to Alaska’s Gold Rush history, and hence the earlier race name, the Gold Rush Classic. In 1998, the finish moved to Fairbanks, and now it is in Big Lake.

Nome remains heavily involved in the race as a halfway point, perhaps more involved now than before. Instead of hosting the ending of the long journey, Nome now facilitates the Expedition riders’ finish, numerous support efforts and crews, lodging and banquets for riders and racers, and a race restart. Spectators also enjoy watching the racers in the Nome Garage, where they are allowed time to work on their sleds in high-speed fashion.

Nome is on the coast of the Bering Sea, some of the most challenging racing on the course, due to ice shelves and open-water conditions. It has a population of approximately 3,594.

KOTZEBUE

Kotzebue, population 3,110, is the seat of the Northwest Arctic Borough and an important transportation hub. This year marks the seventh that the Iron Dog will pass through this snowmachine-loving community. The trail here encompasses part of the 375-mile Archie Ferguson/Willie Goodwin Memorial snowmachine race course, a long-established trail well known among rural Alaska racers. It is named The Red Dog Loop for premier sponsor Teck Alaska / Red Dog.

SKWENTNA

Population 30. Skwentna is located on mostly flat land in Southcentral Alaska on the Skwentna River. It is just 80 miles from the start/finish.

WHISKEY BRAVO

Population 0. This outpost replaces the previous Puntilla checkpoint and is sponsored by Nova Minerals. The full-service camp is used as a base for employees of Nova’s gold-mining operation, but becomes a checkpoint during this year’s race. It is 143 miles away from the start/finish.

TATINA

Population 0. Formerly known as the Rohn checkpoint, this location is just across the Tatina River from the old roadhouse spot, and is 213 miles away from the start/finish.

NIKOLAI

Population 90. Nikolai is 287 miles from the start/finish on the south fork of the Kuskokwim River.

McGRATH

Population 298. McGrath is on the south bank of the Kuskokwim River, surrounded almost entirely by the river. It is 339 miles from the start/finish.

OPHIR

Population 0. There are no residents of Ophir, on the west bank of the Innoko River at the mouth of Ophir Creek. This area was the site of a gold rush in 1906. It is 381 miles from the start/finish.

Iron Dog 2025

POORMAN

Population 0. Poorman is the site of an abandoned gold mining town located about 474 miles from the start/finish.

RUBY

Population 136. Ruby is along the Yukon River, 535 miles from the start/finish.

GALENA

Population 447. This Athabaskan community is located on the west bank of the Yukon River, in the Interior, and is 587 miles from the start/finish.

KALTAG

Population 160. Kaltag is on the west bank of the Yukon River at the head of the portage to Unalakleet and is 673 from the start/finish.

UNALAKLEET

Population 3713. Unalakleet is on the coast of Norton Sound north of the Unalakleet River, is 758 miles away from start.

SHAKTOOLIK

Population 203. Shaktoolik is on a point jutting into Norton Sound, 799 miles away from the start.

KOYUK

Population 302. Koyuk is on the north bank of the Koyuk River where it drains into Norton Bay. It is 861 miles from the start and is the only village that racers will travel through three times: before the Red Dog Loop, again as they head toward Nome, and a third time on their way back to Big Lake.

BUCKLAND

Population 677. Buckland is in the Northwest Arctic Borough along the Buckland River, and 948 miles into the race. Racers pass through Buckland en route to Selawik, then onto Kiana, Noorvik and Kotzebue before looping back to the main trail toward Nome.

SELAWIK

Population 724. Selawik is known as the “place of sheefish.” It is 1,016 miles into the race.

KIANA

Population 402. Kiana is situated “where three rivers meet”: the Squirrel, Kobuk, and big/small channel rivers. Kiana is 1,054 miles into the race.

NOORVIK

Population 652. Noorvik is on the right bank of the Nazuruk Channel of the Kobuk River and a short stop before reaching Kotzebue. It is 1,075 miles into the race.

ELIM

Population 368. After looping back through the Red Dog Loop from Kotzebue, racers next will reach the coastal fishing community of Elim. It is 1,366 miles into the race.

WHITE MOUNTAIN

Population 181. White Mountain is located on the eastern bank of the Fish River, about 1,412 miles into the race and only 70 miles from Nome.

— Source: 2022 & 2023 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Iron Dog GPS data

Polaris swept the 2024 podium: From left, Team 14’s Casey Boylan and Brian Leslie

and

and Mike Morgan) celebrate at the finish line. This year’s race features a strong field of racers on all three racing brands — Polaris, Ski-Doo and Arctic Cat.

Brett Lapham and Cody Barber were not the only winners in the 2024 Iron Dog snowmobile race. Next to them on the podium were their Polaris Cross Country 600s, trail weary but triumphant. That is key to success in this, the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race: Not just racers, but also machines, must prevail.

Indeed 2024 was a good year to the Polaris brand. Not only did the manufacturer take the winning position, but the top three teams were all riding Polaris (as were the fourth- through seventh-place finishers). Ski-Doo came close to a sweep in 2016, when Tyler Aklestad and Tyson Johnson, and Brad George and Robby Schachle took the first and third, but second-place finishers Nick Olstad and Todd Minnick were on Polaris.

“It was great, but really you can’t take sole credit for this one,” said Tim Heffron, validation manager at Polaris in Roseau, Minn. “We have a team of really passionate engineers and technicians here, and we live and breathe snowmobiling. But we are not the ones out there racing. The talent in 2024 was phenomenal. The focus it takes to race for 2,500 miles is a massive undertaking, so the credit goes to the racers.”

This year’s Iron Dog has 32 teams, more than half of which are riding Polaris. Seventeen will be riding Polaris, 11 will be on Ski-Doo

and four, despite Arctic Cat’s recent announcement that it is ending its racing program, will be on Arctic Cat, which once was a viable competitor on the Iron Dog scene. The last Arctic Cat win came in 2017, with Cory Davis and Ryan Simons.

Ski-Doo BRP US Race Coordinator Carey Daku acknowledges that the absence of the Ski-Doo brand on the 2024 podium stung, especially after four years in a row, from 2020 through 2023, of dominance.

But, he added, that’s the nature of racing.

“Racing never ends,” Daku said. “When we win, we want to do it again, and when we lose, we go back and work hard to understand why and build from it. Last season was tough as we had a few teams face some adversity, but that is the way it can go sometimes.”

Team 7’s Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad – responsible for three of those four past Ski-Doo victories – know all too well that racing doesn’t always produce the results you want. After they scratched in the 2024 race, they knew the only next step was to get up and try again.

“We just have to put it back the way it was the previous four years,” Aklestad said. “This race keeps you honest. Definitely, last year was not ideal for us or our brand, and it was nothing to do with it brand wise; things just happen. There were some unforeseen issues that we

(second place); Team 39 Brett Lapham and Cody Barber (first place);

Team 6 (Bradley Kishbaugh

TRACY TRY PHOTO

had, and we were able to chock those up as learning opportunities.”

In fact, Aklestad said, Ski-Doo has been a constant supporter, no matter the finish placement. As Korey Cronquist, president and owner of Team CC in Eagle River and Wasilla said, “our energy goes toward making sure the teams will have a successful run and will have every opportunity to have a successful finish. From a brand standpoint, I want to make sure all the teams riding Ski-Doo have every advantage.”

Team CC sponsors in some form or another about

eight to 10 teams, Cronquist said. No matter their racing level, every Ski-Doo team receives the knowledge and best guidance available for their race goals, he said. Top teams such as Aklestad and Olstad might be going for the win, while others are just trying to finish a rookie race.

“Of course, it always feels good to have teams that are in the front,” he said. “But again, my goal is that they would all have the equal chance to win.”

Hatcher Pass Polaris General Manager Chris Graeber said having Polaris dominate the podium creates a ripple effect in the general market.

“It definitely helps in creating sales for dealerships,” she said. “I’ve seen it in the past where a brand wins and you start seeing more racers race that brand, too.”

Heffron calls it “the Iron Dog effect,” and it is helping grow the sport.

“It’s not just about snowmobiling and winning the race, but ingraining it in the culture, promoting safety in powersports in general, and growing the sport,” he said. “If we can help out any way we can, that certainly helps bring riders to Polaris snowmobiles.”

At the end of the day, though, both Polaris and Ski-Doo will be watching closely as some of the fastest names in the sport duke it out for podium placement.

“For 2025 Iron Dog we have some very solid experienced teams that have been there and done it all,” Daku said. “One thing I do enjoy is the relationship our teams have with each other. It is a collective effort almost where we are all working toward the same goal to win and be in the battle. I think that the preparation and hard work that they are all putting in will reflect in the results.”

Heffron, from Polaris, said all their racers – from Team 14’s Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie to Team 6’s Mike Morgan and Bradley Kishbaugh to Team 10’s Chris Olds and Ryan Sottosanti – have proven they have what it takes to win.

“Iron Dog used to be an endurance where a steady, clean race wins, and now it’s a 2,500-mile sprint race, where it takes pushing with everything you have to get on top of the podium.” he said. “These racers are some of the best. And while the riding terrain is not necessarily overly technical, you are riding at extreme speeds and doing it for 10 hours, 12 hours and sometimes longer. It’s really hard to keep focused, and they know how to do it.”

“This race pushes the limits at so many levels, whether it’s the mental, physical or mechanical aspect, when you win you prove to the world you are the best,” Daku echoed. “We also get to do it in one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world.”

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The Hall of Champions

2024 Iron Dog

10 teams

Expedition Class geared up for a 2025 adventure

This year’s Expedition Class field of riders is a small but mighty group. While the Pro Class field grew by several teams this year, the Expedition Class became smaller but that’s OK, says Iron Dog Executive Director Mike Vasser.

“We didn’t have a lottery this year, and that may come back for next year,” Vasser said. “The lottery can help give future bucket-listers a chance to snow check their sleds and know there is space for them.”

There are five Expedition Class teams this year, with 11 riders on Polaris, Ski-Doo and Arctic Cat. Three of them — Josh Norum, Mike Telkamp and Brian Jurenka — are Iron Dog Pro Class veterans, and they are enjoying the trail at a more leisurely pace this year. Josh Norum is making it a trip with his dad, Dave. Team 69’s Dewey Forbess and Troy Craig of Big Lake are making their first trip along the trail, as is Team 74 Matthew Riehm and Hunter Mathis. Team 88 is the only three-person team, with Jurenka and Telkamp bringing along Paul Soberg of Mound, Minn. Finally, there are newcomers Team 98 Rachel Morris and Sue Scott, who say they are just out to have a grand adventure.

Expedition Class riders will leave directly after the Pro Class, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

Feb. 15, 2025 Expedition Class Team departure

Location: South Big Lake, at Susitna Brewing Co.

• 9:30 a.m., Expedition teams arrive at start paddock

• 10:30 a.m., all teams must be lined up

• 12 p.m., teams depart, 2-min. intervals

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

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Team sponsors: Polaris Racing, TriJet Manufacturing, Fly Racing, Woody’s Traction Products, PowerMadd

Andy Gocke

Age: 31 From: Willow

Riding: Polaris Switchback Status: Veteran

Race history: 2018, 11th place

Bio: I am a father of four crazy kids, a husband to my biggest believer and wonderful wife, Charissa, and a son to our Lord and Savior. I was born and have been raised in Willow. My wife would say she still is raising me, and I may sometimes agree with her on that. I think that there is no greater gift than the great outdoors, and I’ll more likely be found out grooming trails at 0100 then watching TV. I am fortunate to always have a path forward with work, and I’ve always been grateful for the opportunities that I have been given. I try and set a better example for my kids every day.

Personal sponsors: Charissa and the kids, Frank and Holly, Jim and Kathy, Trophy Tim, Skeeter, Mike Jette, Berne, Chad, Mom and Dad

Other race history: 2013 Big Lake Calcutta Semi-Pro first place; 2013 Mayor’s Cup Semi-Pro first place; 2014 Mayor’s Cup Pro-Class third place; 2015 Willow Carnival Doubles Open first place; 2015 Arctic Man Men’s Ski, seventh place

Ashley Wood

Age: 36 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris 600 Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2023: Finished, 2018: DNF, 2015: DNF

Bio: Alaskan born and raised, naturally I started riding snowmachines at the age of 3 years old to our family cabin in the Caribou Hills. Later into my teens I was introduced to racing sno-x/hill-x in 2006 then cross country in 2010. I have worked in the industry of construction and business management for the past 20 years. My other half Rob and I reside at the base of Hatcher Pass along the Little Susitna River with our Karelian Bear Dog Ohlin. This will be my fifth run down the Iron Dog trail, and I always look forward to a challenging Alaskan adventure!

Personal sponsors: Swole City, Hydrate AK, Rob &Ohlin Other race history: 2024 Iron Dog Ambassador Class; multiple Big Lake 150/Skwentna 200 wins; multiple Mayor’s Cup wins; multiple Arctic Man Hill-X wins.

Team sponsors: Robinson Millwork, Knik Construction, Liberty Mechanical, City of Noorvik, KLIM Technical Riding Gear, Woody’s Traction, Starting Line Products, Grip-n-Rip Racing Products, DuClos Orthodontics, Alaskan Grown Cannabis, Polaris Racing Lubricants, Hatcher Pass Polaris, Polaris Racing, Walker Evans Racing, PowerMadd, Taylor Designs

Kenneth Kleewein

Age: 34

From: Willow

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2018: 13th place, 2019: sixth place, 2020: fourth place, 2021: seventh place

Bio: I am a lifelong Alaskan and grew up in Willow. I watched my dad race the Iron Dog 11 times, and it was a dream to be able to participate in this great race. This will be my sixth Iron Dog. Personal sponsors: I can’t thank my entire family enough for supporting me, especially my wife, Kirsten, and three children: Kenny, Bellamy and Sterling. Kirsten supports our family during the long nights and weekends preparing for this great race. Also, a special thank-you to my mom and my dad for not only being very supportive but also helping with preparations. I am very grateful for my dad and his wealth of Iron Dog knowledge.

Other race history: AMMC Semi-Pro Triple Crown: 2015, first place; AMMC Pro Class Champion: 2016; AMMC Big Lake 500: 2017, third place; AMMC Mat-Su Resort 100: 2018, second place; AMMC Larry Heal Memorial Race 500: 2018, first place.

Skyler Wells

Age: 23 From: Noorvik Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie Bio: I’m from Noorvik and love hunting, fishing and being outdoors with my family, I work in construction in the summer and ride and race sleds in the winter.

Personal sponsors: Leo Sheldon, Carolyn Hailstone, Brawley Rice, Sabastian Hailstone, Ricky Wells Sr., Ray Schaeffer, Justin Hadley, Hailstone family, Pauline Cleveland, Uncle Unch Schuerch and Kenny Kleewein

Other race history: 2024 Selawik Triangle open class, first place; 2024 Iron Dog, DNF; 2024 AF/WG, first place B Class; 2023 Derek Sheldon Memorial, first place C Class (open); 2023 Derek Sheldon Memorial, third place B Class (0-600CC); 2023 AF/WG, fifth place B Class (0-600CC); 2023 Selawik Triangle, first place B Class (0-600CC); 2022 Last Chance, third place B Class (0-600CC); 2021 Knight Riders, second place A class fan cool

IRON DOG TRIVIA

The first Iron Dog was known as the Iditarod Iron Dog Classic, ended in Nome and was won by John Faeo and Rod Frank, riding Polaris with a time of 23 hours, 50 minutes. Faeo and Scott Davis are tied for the most wins with seven each and they never once rode together.

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Team sponsors: Northwest Electric, Northern Contractors, Wilderness Ski-Doo, Team CC, Bering Air, Matanuska Brewing Company, Woody’s Traction Products, PowerMadd, Rugged Radios, TriJet Manufacturing & Precision Cutting, TrailTank, Kawerak Inc., SCS Unld., KLIM, Dredge #7 Inn, Northwest Gold Diggers

Wilson

Hoogendorn

Age: 25 From: Nome

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS Compe -

tition

Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born on a stormy day in Nome, Alaska; my mom told me I had the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck three times or so. Fast forward a couple years I remember catching air with my dad on his sled hanging onto the gas gap thinking “Holy cow.” Another 10 years or so gone by, my first snowmachine was a ’97 Indy 340 that Bubba go to break in by rolling it over by Gold Hill. Used to water skip that one in the springtime, not really water skip but drive across water anyways. Fast forward another 10 years I finally got a good job and could afford a nice sled; I could finally rip and race. Ever since then I haven’t been able to stop thinking about sleds, racing and Iron Dog. Now here we are, (Bubba and I) making a dream come true. Good luck to all racers to stay safe and have a clean run.

Personal sponsors: Korey and Team CC; my girl, Cherish; Ed Stang, the Bering Sea, Denny McConnell, Cliff Johnson, Johnny Bahnke III, Carl Emmons, Tyler Aklestad, Freddie Otton, Chris Collins

Other race history: Nome-Golovin 200: 2024, first place overall; Nome Cannonball: 2024, third place Open; 2023, third place Open; 2022, fourth place 0-600cc; 2021, Finished; AF/ WG Kotzebue Race: 2024, Finished

Bubba McDaniel

Age: 26 From: Nome

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS Competition

Status: Rookie

Bio: Having spent my entire life in Nome, running the Iron Dog has always been a dream of mine, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to race alongside one of my childhood best friends. When I’m not working as a heavy equipment operator, I love spending time with my fiancée, Ada, and our dog, Cash. I also enjoy hunting, fishing, camping and hanging out with family and friends.

Personal sponsors: Fiancée, Ada; Joelene Kacena, Keith & Melanie McDaniel, Taylor McDaniel, Vern & Michelle Harvey, Paul & Francine Sayer, Johnny Bahnke III, Cliff Johnson, Denny McConnell, Andy Peterson III, Tyler Aklestad, Korey Cronquist, Ed Stang, Freddie Otton, Carl Emmons, Chris Collins, Chris McCulley

Other race history: Nome Cannonball Race: 2021, second place; 2022, first place; 2023, first place

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

Team sponsors: Three Bears Alaska Inc., Team CC, Ski-Doo, Electric Power Constructors (EPC), Taylor Fire Protection, Crowley Fuels, 907 Ice, Alaska Frontier Services, Prism Design and Construction, Plumbline Services, Glenn Marlin-State Farm, Last Frontier Contracting, GMG General, Taylor Designs, TriJet Manufacturing, Lone Pine Fabrication, Aqua Traction, Impakt Athletics, IBEW Local 1547, KLIM Technical Riding Gear, PowerMadd, Woody’s Traction Products, 139 Designs, Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska, Current Compliance, Alyeska Therapy Center

Kruz Kleewein

Age: 29 From: Wasilla

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ – XRS Status: Veteran

Race history: 2018: 13th place, 2019: sixth place, 2020: fourth place, 2021: seventh place

Bio: I am a lifelong Alaskan living in Wasilla with my wife, Amanda, son, Cooper and our dogs. I love riding snowmobiles and dirt bikes and hanging out with my friends and family. I work as a power lineman in the IBEW 1547. Personal sponsors: Thank you to my mom and dad for all their support. The whole Taylor family for everything they do and my wife, Amanda, and son, Cooper, for all their love and support. Also, thank you to the Weisz family and all my friends and family.

Other race history: Big Lake 150: 2013, first place semi pro; AMMC championship: 2016, third overall Pro Class; Big Lake 500: 2017, third place

Zack Weisz

Age: 31 From: Wasilla

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS Status: Veteran

Race history: 2018: 11th place, 2019: fourth place, 2020: third place, 2021: fifth place, 2022: fifth place Bio: Zack is a lifelong Alaskan living in Wasilla. He works for Three Bears Alaska and is a third-generation worker. Zack enjoys the vast outdoors Alaska has to offer. You can find him having fun with friends or enjoying time with family. Personal sponsors: Thank you to all of my friends and family who support me year after year.

Other race history: Iron Dog 2018, 11th place, top rookie team; 2017 Big Lake 500, first place

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Team sponsors: Polaris Industries, KLIM Outerwear, Northern Air Cargo, Walker Evans Racing, Eagle River Polaris/AC, UA Local 367 Plumbers & Pipefitters Union, CCI Industrial Services LLC, Q-Trucking-Charley Reader, Jenwar Towing and Recovery, Summit Excavation, Inc., Stan Morgan-Cover Pilot, Alaska

Industrial X-Ray, Central Peninsula Refrigeration, Kodiak Deer Hunts, Bering Air-Nome AK, Camso Powersports, Polaris Engineered Lubricants, STUD BOY Traction Products, PowerMadd, Arctic FX Graphics, Baja Designs-The scientists of Lighting, TriJet Manufacturing, Northern Solutions LLC, Starting Line Products, Anchorage Sheet Metal, Alaska Wild Project, Big Dipper Industries, One Rig Design, Law Office of Jason Skala, Fine Line Interiors, Velocity Sled Performance-Will, Rugged Radios, Penner Construction, Pro Seal Services Group

Bradley

Kishbaugh

Age: 26 From: Soldotna

Riding: Polaris Indy Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2022: sixth place, 2023: fifth place, 2024: third place

Bio: Bradley is a lifelong Alaskan, born and raised in Soldotna. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and the great outdoor opportunities Alaska has to offer him. While riding backcountry growing up, Bradley took up cross-country racing in 2021. He grew up playing comp hockey all over the state of Alaska. Bradley started working on the slope at 18 and is currently a pipeline operator under Harvest Alaska.

Personal sponsors: I would like to thank my mom and dad, Taylor, Piper, Jake Graves, Loretta and Danny Paulk, Jared and Cassi Ewing. The lower 48 Kishbaugh family, the Harvest Operations team and everyone else involved! Thank you!

Other race history: 2021 FYK 150 Open, eighth place; 2021 Skwentna 200, fifth place; 2022 Valdez Semi Pro, first place

Mike Morgan

Age: 39

From: Nome

Riding: Polaris Indy Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2009: Finished, 2012: Finished, 2013: Finished, 2014: Finished, 2015: Finished, 2016: Finished, 2018: first place, 2019: first place, 2020: Finished, 2021: Finished, 2022: Finished, 2024: Finished

Bio: I grew up riding and racing snowmobiles from a young age up around Nome Alaska. Aside from racing snowmobiles, I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, traveling, spending time with friends and family and adventuring with my pooch Indy. This will be my 16th Iron Dog race and second with current teammate Bradley Kishbaugh after placing third together in last year’s race.

Personal sponsors: Dad Stan & Ruby Morgan, Mom Ginny & Carl Emmons, Russ & Sandy and the boys, Emmons Mechanical, Morgan’s Sales & Service-Nome, 131 Racing-Bobby Menne, and Ben Koelsch with Bering Air for the all the help with Dad’s plane.

Other race history: Five Nome-Golovin race wins; six Kotzebue race wins; 11 Top 5s in Iron Dog including eight top 3s with two wins in 12 finishes.

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Team sponsors: Team CC, Ski-Doo, MTA, Cruz Construction, Specialty Truck and Auto, KLIM, Valley Imaging Center, TriJet Manufacturing, Arctic Backcountry Flying Services, Woody’s Traction Products, XPS Lubricants, SCS Unlimited, Trail Tank, RPM Composites, FineLine Interiors, PowerMadd, KUUK Water, Caliber Products

Tyler Aklestad

Age: 39 From: Palmer

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2007: Finished, 2009:

Finished, 2012: Finished, 2013:

Finished, 2016: first place, 2017: Finished, 2018: Finished, 2019: Finished, 2020: first place, 2022: first place, 2023: first place

Bio: I’m a lifelong Alaskan, born and raised in Palmer. I’ve worked at MTA for 20 years. I enjoy hunting, fishing, dirt biking and spending time at our cabin with my family. My wife, Erin, and I have two kids, Liam and Finn.

Personal sponsors: Thank you to Korey and Barb at Team CC, Willie Barickman, Russ Siepert, Joe Rucker, Eric and Chelsea Sieh, Alan Helmueller, Nick Olstad, Chip and Jen Anderson. Other race history: Arctic Man: 2014, first place; 2013, first place; 2012, first place; 2011, first place; 2008, first place

Aaron Loyer

Age: 39 From: Palmer

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS

Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born and raised in Palmer, where I still reside. My wife, Crystal, and I are raising our two boys, Benny and Davis. We are able to live an outdoors lifestyle from our front door like I did growing up. We enjoy side by sides, fishing, snowmobiling, bicycling, exploring and most of all we enjoy our dirt bikes and camping with friends and family. I’m a journeyman lineman for the ibew 1547 and really enjoy the challenges that work in the trade has to offer. I grew up racing motocross and snowmobiles and continue to be competitive.

Personal Sponsors: I’d like to thank my friends and family and especially Benny, Davis (bubba) and my wife Crystal for allowing and encouraging me to give this race another try.

IRON DOG TRIVIA

Iron Dog wins by brand

18 wins: Polaris

11 wins: Arctic Cat

8 wins: Ski-Doo

3 wins: Yamaha

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

10 8 Team 10 withdrawn for 2025

Team sponsors: Team CC, Northern Energy Services, Ski-Doo, Hydrate Alaska, DL Racing, Dalton Refrigeration, Barney’s Sports Chalet, GPS Alaska, QAP, KLIM, Woody’s Traction Products, Bread & Brew, Mainline Mechanical, Grip-n-Rip Racing, Fine Line Interiors, 131 Racing, Sierra Winter Smith, 139 Designs

Tom Davis

Age: 32 From: Wasilla Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2022: fifth place, 2024: DNF

Bio: Tom is a born and raised Alaskan who grew up playing hockey, hunting and fishing. He lives in Wasilla with his fiancé, Miranda, and three dogs. He is a foreman for QAP in the summers and spends his winters riding trails and mountains. This is his third Iron Dog race.

Personal sponsors: I would like to thank my family for their continued support of me.

Other race history: 2023 Mayor’s Cup, DNF, 2019 Mayor’s Cup, fourth place semipro

Tyson Johnson

Age: 45 From: Eagle River Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS Competition

Status: Veteran

Race history: 1997: second place, 1999: third place, 2000: fifth place, 2001: fifth place, 2002: fifth place, 2007: second place, 2009: second place, 2012: sixth place, 2013: second place, 2016: first place, 2018: fourth place

Bio: This is my 24th entry into the Iron Dog Race with my first being at 17 years old with my father and Hall of Fame inductee Eric Johnson. After being the head race marshal the past two races, I decided to jump back into racing this season. I enjoy fishing, hunting, boating and hiking with my two incredible children, Rowan and Elliott.

Personal sponsors: Huge thanks to all my friends and family for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to come back for another season and my racing partner Tom. Other race history: Arctic Man: five men’s ski wins, three men’s snowboard wins; Mayor’s Cup: three wins; K150: four wins, and many other wins and Top 3s in all venues of sled racing.

Evan Barber

Age: 20 From: Willow

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2021: eighth place, 2023: seventh place, 2024: fourth place

Bio: I started racing snowmobiles in 2016, and by 2019, I was competing semi-pro. I moved to the pro class in 2021. I’ve earned some significant victories, including the Valdez Mayor’s Cup (semi-pro) and Nome-Golovin 220 race 600cc.

I love riding in some of Alaska’s most scenic and challenging areas, with my favorite spots being the coast of Nome, Kotzebue, and the rugged mountain terrain of Hatcher’s Pass. Racing has certainly presented its challenges—I’ve had my share of crashes—but each experience has only pushed me to become better. My riding style is all about staying light on the sled and letting the sled do the work for me, allowing for smoother handling and more control. When I’m not racing, you can find me hunting, riding dirt bikes, and spending quality time with my family, all of which help me stay grounded and focused on new challenges.

Other race history: Mayor’s Cup: 2019, fifth place semi pro; 2020, first place semi pro; 2021, third place pro c; 2022, fourth place pro. Hatcher Pass Boulder Dash 2021, third place pro; Skwentna 200 2022, second place pro

Troy Conlon

Age: 34 From: Fairbanks Riding: Polaris Cross Country Matryx Status: Veteran Race history: 2016: Finished, 2017: Finished, 2020: Finished, 2021: Finished, 2022: Finished, 2023: eighth place, 2024: fourth place

Bio: I’ve been racing snowmobiles for 13 years, and this is my ninth Iron Dog, the world’s longest and most demanding snowmobile race. Throughout my career, I’ve raced across Alaska, from Valdez to Kotzebue, taking on some of the toughest terrain and weather conditions imaginable. The Iron Dog is the ultimate test—long days, deep snow, water skipping, and temperature swings from -50°F to +40°F challenge every part of my body and mind. For me, success in the Iron Dog is about eliminating mistakes, avoiding breakdowns, and pushing both myself and my machines to the limit. I thrive on the constant challenge of overcoming obstacles and taking my snowmobiles beyond what many thought possible. When I’m not racing, I enjoy hunting, fishing, boating, and building things. I’m always eager to take on new challenges, learn something new, and continue growing both personally and professionally.

Team sponsors: Polaris Racing, KLIM, Walker Evans Racing, Eagle River Polaris and Arctic Cat, STUD BOY Traction Products, Starting Line Products, Cold Creek Extracts, Choice Extracts, Big State Mechanical, Spernak & Son, Finishing Edge, Knik Sewer, Drain and Excavation, Northern Solutions, LLC, TCM Restoration, Polaris Engineered Lubricants, Fine Line Interiors, Anchorage Sheet Metal, Knik Construction, Eagle River Trustworthy Hardware, PowerMadd, Simpson Race Products, Arctic FX, TriJet Manufacturing, Nitro Trailers, Luke Miller

Chris Olds

Age: 53 From: Eagle River

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2000: Finished, 2001:

Finished, 2002: Finished, 2006: Finished, 2007: Finished, 2008: Finished, 2009: Finished, 2010: first place, 2011: first place, 2012: Finished, 2013: Finished, 2014: Finished, 2015: Finished, 2016: Finished, 2018: first place, 2019: first place, 2020: Finished, 2021: Finished, 2022: Finished, 2024: Finished

Bio: I am married to Christine and have two daughters, Haley and Mya. I have grown up in Alaska, and enjoy everything Alaskan, including hunting, fishing and everything outdoors. I enjoy riding dirt bikes, mountain bikes, SXS, shooting, camping and hanging out with my friends and family.

Personal sponsors: My wife Christine, my daughters Haley and Mya, Mom & Dad, Matt Spernak, Micah Straughn, Jeremy Hanson, Rob Ross

Other race history: first place K-400; numerous Top 3 finishes in Hillclimb, Hillcross, Cross Country, Arctic Man, and Snowcross; 19 Top-10, 17 Top-5 finishes and four wins in the Iron Dog.

Ryan

Sottosanti

Age: 47 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Matryx Status: Veteran

Race history: 2011: Finished, 2012: Finished, 2013: Finished, 2014: Finished, 2015: Finished, 2017: Finished, 2018: Finished, 2019: Finished, 2020: Finished, 2023: Finished, 2024: Finished

Bio: I am from Wasilla and am the owner of Big State

Team sponsors: Polaris Racing, Delta Powersports, Rady Concrete, Stud Boy, KLIM, TBR, TriJet Manufacturing, Hydraulic Center, Alaska Hose & Fastener Supply, 131 Racing, Everts Air Cargo, Aurora Drilling and Consulting, PowerMadd, Speedwerx, Darby’s Performance Machine, Glacier Grind Coffee, 139 Designs, Jenski Automotive, Corks Automotive, Mulcare Lawncare, Forbess Flooring, Pioneer Peak Orthopedics

Other race history: Kotzebue, first place; Mayor’s Cup, first, second, third, fifth and 10th places; Mayor’s Cup semi-pro, first and third places; Tanana 140 , first and third places; Motor Madness XC , third and fifth places; Nome/Golovin, two eighth-place finishes.

Mechanical. I have a beautiful wife, Heather, and daughter, Faith. I have been involved with some form of racing all my life. This year I will be racing the SOO I 500 in Michigan a few weeks before the Iron Dog. This will be my 13th Iron Dog, and I am hungrier than ever. It should be an exciting year for the fans, and we promise to not disappoint. Not many people have raced the SOO and Iron Dog in the same year. In the off season I enjoy riding dirt bikes in the mountains. I also enjoy spending time at the lake, ocean fishing, jet skiing, wake surfing, hunting and spending time out on the golf course with my wife and daughter. Alaska is one of the most beautiful places

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

on earth, and I appreciate everything the state has to offer.

Personal sponsors: Heather and Faith Sottosanti, Al Sottosanti and everybody in the villages who help us out along the way. Other race history: 2010 Iron Dog top rookie sixth place; 2008 Mayor’s Cup third place; 2009 Mayor’s Cup second place. Trapper Creek 200 second place; K150 second, third and fifth places; Alyeska Cross Country first and fourth place; Arctic Man seventh, fifth and third places.

Team sponsors: Alaska Directional LLC, Bristol Bay Industrial, Helacomm Communications, Alaska Realty & Investments, Jolt Construction & Traffic, Palmer Dental Center, Enderson Concrete, Sheets Family Dentistry, Mount McKinley Fence, Black Flag Republic, PowerMadd, KLIM, Optima Public Relations, Larson Chiropractic, Precision Diesel & Fleet

Kevin Niemi

Age: 31 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: I am a lifelong Alaskan living in Wasilla. I have worked for Alaska Directional for nearly 13 years. Aside from work I like to spend my time riding sleds, hunting, fishing and golfing with friends and family.

Personal sponsors: Brett and Shana Lapham, Team Barber Racing, my girlfriend, Haley Hanson, and parents Artie and Cailin Niemi

Skye Rench

Age: 32 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: Skye is a lifelong Alaska residing in Wasilla. He has been a member of the IBEW for 13 years and is part owner of Helacomm Communications. He enjoys spending his free time in the outdoors with friends and family.

Personal sponsors: My fiancée, Heidi Goozen; Brett Lapham, Nate Spinner, Danny Williamson, Vega Fuaoa, John & Kim Sheets, my parents Tom and Stacey, my brother Austin, my sister Chelsea, and Evelyn Bunch.

Christopher Collins

Age: 43 From: Kotzebue

Riding: Ski-Doo Competition

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2013: Finished, 2016: Finished, 2022: Finished, 2023: DNF

Bio: Just loving life in rural Alaska. I like to participate in anything outdoors. I’ve stayed in most of the outlying

villages surrounding Kotzebue for work. Snowmobile racing has been a big part of my life, and as I get older, I’ve learned to enjoy all aspects of racing.

Personal sponsors: John Bahnke, III, Matt and Lainey, Justin Hadley, Howard and Freda Beasley, Wilderness Skidoo

Other race history: Numerous podium finishes in the Archie Ferguson/ Willie Goodwin Memorial Races, Nome-Golovin, smaller cross-country races around Northwest Alaska

Doug Wicken

Age: 37 From: Palmer

Riding: Ski-Doo Competition

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2022: Finished, 2023: DNF

Bio: I am from Northwest Alaska and lived in the remote community of Ivik, 25 miles northeast of Kotzebue. I recently relocated to Palmer. I’m married to my beautiful wife, Nikki, for 13 years and we have four great children: Reilly, Rex, Roy, and Fern. I have been working for Bering Air Inc. for 10 years as an aircraft mechanic. I love being in all things outdoors that our great state has to offer.

Personal sponsors: Wife, Nikki, kids Reilly, Rex, Roy, Fern; Wilderness Ski-Doo, Matt and Lainey, Justin Hadley, Adam Greene, Bering Air Inc.

Team sponsors: Polaris Racing, Fly Racing, STUD BOY Traction Products, Anchorage Yamaha Polaris, PowerMadd

Casey Boylan

Age: 30 From: Palmer

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2017: sixth place, 2018: fifth place, 2019: third place, 2020: DNF, 2021: second place, 2022: DNF, 2023: second place, 2024: second place

Bio: Born and raised in Anchorage, I started racing dirt bikes when I was 9 and snowmachines when I was 10. I now live in Palmer and really enjoy everything this state has to offer. My racing career really took off in 2009 when I left the state to race snow cross at the national level up until 2014, later leading in to racing my first Iron Dog in 2017 and haven’t missed one since.

Personal sponsors: Hydrate Alaska, IBEW 1547, Fine Line Interiors, Viking Electric, QSI Pile Driving, Lineworks, TriJet Manufacturing, Value Liquor, Bailey’s Rental, Kanady Chiropractic Center, Spernak & Sons,, Rox, Speedwerx, Walker Evans, Polaris Engined Lubricants, Dooley’s Athletics Supply, Jordan Starr, Roger Boylan, family & friends, Alaska.realtor, Speed FX

Team sponsors: Tobe Outerwear

Bob Streiff

Age: 53 From: Trego, Wis.

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Rookie

Bio: I am a custom home builder in northwestern Wisconsin. I have worked commercial and residential construction for the past 36 years. My wife and I have two adult children, a son and daughter. I enjoy family time, fishing, hunting and power sports.

Personal sponsors: RPS Construction Services, LLC, Bruce Olson and Tommy Germany, Wendy Streiff and our children Jayden and Chase.

Other race history: 2023 Iron Dog Expedition Class finisher

Dan Zimmerman

Age: 60 From: Nisswa, Minn.

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: I’m just an old guy out having fun on a snowmachine in Alaska.

Personal sponsors: Northern Shores Boat Storage, Tobe Outerwear, Brainerd Recreational Supply-ShoreStation/ Shorelandr Bruce Olson Racing, Pam the Boss, Julie Vandeputte (personal trainer)

Other race history: I-500 1987-91 along with numerous sanctions in Minnesota

Other race history: 2010 ISOC National Sport Super Stock, first, second and third places; 2011 Podiumed every National; 2012 Pro Lite ISOC Regional champion; 2012 Pro Lite ISOC National multiple Top 5 finishes, 2013 Pro Stock ISOC Regional champion; 2014 Arctic Man men’s snowboard win, 2015 Mayor’s Cup Cross Country pro class win; 2017 top rookie team; 2017 Mayor’s Cup, third place pro class; 2017 Skwentna 200, second place; 2018 Mayor’s Cup, first place

Bryan Leslie

Age: 31 From: Anchorage

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2017: sixth place, 2018: fifth place, 2019: third place, 2020: DNF, 2021: second place, 2022: DNF, 2023: second place, 2024: second place

Bio: I was born and raised in Alaska and have been racing many different motor sports competitively for 18 years. When I’m not working as a wireman for IBEW, or training, I enjoy exploring our great state, traveling, fishing, camping and being at the cabin with my wife, son and family.

Personal sponsors: Hydrate Alaska, IBEW 1547, Fine Line Interiors, Viking Electric, QSI Pile Driving, Lineworks, TriJet Manufacturing, Value Liquor, Bailey’s Rental, Kanady Chiropractic Center, Dalton Refrigeration, Janssen Funeral Homes, Statewide Door & Glass, Spernak & Sons, Rox, Speedwerx, Walker Evans, Polaris Engined Lubricants, Dooley’s Athletics Supply, Jordan Starr, Roger Boylan, GMC Contracting, Fraya & Mike Krukar, Choose Joy - Bringman family, family & friends

Other race history: 2015 AMMC semi pro champ; 2015 Larry Heal, first place; 2015 Arctic Man Ice-X, first place

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

Team sponsors: Polaris Racing, Hatcher Pass Polaris, KLIM, FXR Racing

Kim Bergeron

Age: 56 From: Dublin, N.H.

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: Kim Bergeron volunteers at the local, state, and international levels. He served ten years as County Director of New Hampshire Snowmobile Association (NHSA) and serves currently as Business Director on the NHSA Board of Directors; is Vice Chair, North East Chapter, International Snowmobile Congress; and is a member of many local snowmobile clubs in NH and AK, the Merrimack Valley Trail Riders (MVTR), New England Trail Riders Association (NETRA), and New Hampshire Off-Highway Vehicle Association (NHOHVA). Additionally, Bergeron supports trail riding in Trapper Creek and Petersville, AK, donates the use of snow machines for volunteers of the Iron Dog, and provides financial support for one of the check points of the race. Kim is happily married to wife, Jennifer, of 27 years; he has traveled down the trail with his son many times. Daughter Amanda loves to snowmachine. He shares his love of powersports by taking new riders out, both tracked and wheeled, to experience outdoor recreation. Personal sponsors: Kebrt Leasing, LLC, Gate Creek Lodge, Bergeron Mechanical Systems

Other race history: Iron Dog Trail/Expedition Class finisher 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Pro Class, 2024, DNF.

Jean-Pierre Bernier

Age: 53 From: Hancock, N.H. Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: I’m a small-business owner who has served on the Hancock Conservation Commission since 2017, working to protect local trails. I’m a member of the Washington Snow Riders, Merrimack Valley Trail Riders (MVTR), New England Trail Rider Association (NETRA), and New Hampshire Off-Highway Vehicle Association (NHOHVA). My wilderness adventures began in my early 20s through rock/ice climbing and mountaineering throughout the Lower 48 and the Canadian Rockies and shifted into motorsports in my late 30s. My early years were spent in the cities of New York, Miami and Fall River, Mass., and it seems like such a long, strange path between life now and then. I’ve been married to my wonderful wife, Kristen, for 25 years. Her patience and tolerance of me over the years has been endless. I am the man I am because of her. We have two great sons, Oscar and Harrison, both in college. I have made three successful Expedition Class runs and came just short in 2024 of completing the Pro Race. Let’s get it done in 2025!

Other race history: Iron Dog Trail/Expedition Class finisher 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Pro Class, 2024, DNF.

Team sponsors: KLIM, Polaris Racing, Hatcher Pass Polaris, Woody’s Traction, Weiss Equipment, Northern Solutions, TriJet Manufacturing, LaRaCha Farms, Beyerlein and Son Electric

Danielle Levine

Age: 30 From: Anchorage

Riding: Polaris XCR

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2019: 12th place, 2020: DNF

Bio: Dani was raised in Alaska and has been riding snowmobiles since the age of 6. She currently lives in Nevada and works as a firefighter, which has given her the flexibility to continue to participate in the Iron Dog. Dani is competing in her third Iron Dog and look to finish her second. Other race history: 2012 Arctic Man: first place women’s snowboard, second place women’s ski; 2011 Arctic Man: second place women’s snowboard; 2012 AMMC Cross Country Series Overall: Women Pro first place, Men Semi Pro second place; AMMC Cross Country Championship Women’s 2013

Larry Levine

Age: 61 From: Anchorage

Riding: Polaris XCR

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2016: Finished, 2018: Finished, 2019: 12th place

Bio: I was born and raised in Anchorage and am a married father of three. I’m racing with my daughter Danielle. I’m a retired physician with lots of broken parts on both me and the prior machines. I’m looking forward to a clean race.

Personal sponsors: Levine family especially my wife, Karen; Dan Thibault, Dave Hausbeck, Rob Cleary, Ted Bauer, John Beyerlein, Dave Houghtaling, Chopper Wellman, Kim Black, Stan English, Frankie Harris, Marcus Roulet

Other race history: 2013-2017 Arctic Man, Larry Levine with Stan English 2015 DNF, Larry Levine with Matt Spernak 2016 Finished, Larry Levine with Dave Hausbeck 2018 Finished, Larry Levine with Danielle Levine 2019 Finished, Larry Levine with Danielle Levine 2020 DNF

Austin Carroll

Age: 18

From: Fairbanks

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2024: 13th place

Bio: I was born and raised in Fairbanks and have been riding snowmachines my whole life and racing snow-cross-, and cross-country races for about six years. I’ve raced races such as the Iron Dog, Mayor’s Cup, Skwentna 200, and other races. I love to hunt and fish during the summertime and race/ride dirt bikes with my friends. Personal sponsors: I’d like to thank everyone who is supporting me and my teammate Kris Kaltenbacher to make it possible for us to race Iron Dog this year.

Other race history: 2023 Arctic Man second place cross country, Arctic Man Snow X second place; Mayor’s Cup Junior Pro, second place; Valdez Hill Climbs, second place; Valdez Hill Cross, second place; Fairbanks Snow Cross, third place

Kris Kaltenbacher

Age: 52 From: Sparks, Nev.

Riding: Polaris XCR

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2024: 14th place

Bio: I grew up in Dillingham riding sleds, graduating from Dillingham High in 1991. I moved to Reno in 1993 to attend college at UNR. I got married, bought a home, had two boys and made a life here in Nevada. I was a basketball coach for 12 years for my boys in their traveling basketball clubs, along with coaching my youngest son’s middle school team for two years. My career is working for Truckee Meadows Water Authority for the last 18 years working my way up to an inspector position. I’ve been sledding for about 40 years. I got big into the film industry where I become a big part of “Boondockers” movies for the last 15 years, and also a part of Crazy Canadian films, “509 video,” “Thunderstruck,” “BraapSki” (2&3), and “Team Summit” for three years. In 2012, I was featured as the cover of SledHeads magazine with a center spread, along with being featured in Sled Worthy magazine. I have a number of great sponsors and family members without whom I couldn’t do this race. I gained my veteran status; now I’m on to try and make a good placement in my second year of the Iron Dog.

Team sponsors: KLIM, Delta Powersports, Starting Line Products, Vohk, Arctic FX, One Haul Call, Reno Rock, Carroll Racing, Sourdough Express, Gundersen Painting, Hollenbeck Painting, Rugged Radio, Glacier Coffee, Sause family transition, STUD BOY, PowerMadd, Dario Trucking, Nick Demo, Tide Table Coffee, Kolby Off-Road, North Shore Campground

Personal sponsors: KLIM, Delta Powersports, Starting Line Products, Vohk, Arctic FX, One Haul Call, Reno Rock, Carroll Racing, Sourdough Express, Gundersen Painting, Hollenbeck Painting, Rugged Radio, Glacier Coffee, Sause family transition, STUD BOY, PowerMadd, Dario Trucking, Nick Demo, Tide Table Coffee, Kolby Off-Road, North Shore Campground, my wife, Tracy Kaltenbacher, sons Karson and Kohen, dad Kent Kaltenbacher, brother Tyree Ryan Newton, and in loving memory of my mom, Debi K. Newton

Other race history: Iron Dog Expedition Class, 2023.

TRIVIA: The first Iron Dog started in 1984 and followed the Northern Route of the Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome. Today’s route in more than twice as long.

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

Heal, 2012 second place, 2013, second place, 2014, first place; Nome-Golovin, 2013, first place, 2014, fourth place; Mayor’s’ Cup, 2015, second place; Ice Cross, 2015, second place

Team sponsors: Yellow Jacket Oilfield Services, Moose River Dental, Sweeney’s Clothing, Cruz Construction

Chad Moore

Age: 42 From: Sterling

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2023: 12th place

Bio: Chad is an operator for Marathon Petroleum. His wife is Janee Moore. Other race history: Mayor’s Cup 2021, Skwentna 200 third PC 21; Mayor’s Cup 2022 second SP; Skwentna 200 22; Mayor’s Cup 2023 second place Vets

Shane Barber

Age: 50 From: Willow

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023

Bio: I am a born-and-raised Alaskan with some Southern heritage. I live in Willow with my wife, Tammy; where we raised our three kids, Cody, Shana and Evan. I work on the North Slope as a contract drilling foreman for Hillcorp AK.

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Team sponsors: North Star Supply, Road Side, Valley Imaging, Rugged Radios, Grip-n-Rip Racing Products, ALB, Next Level, Knik Construction, Marc Mekenna, Tri Jet, Power MADD, Stud Boy, KLIM, IBEW 1547, Inergy, Team CC, Magic Metals, Napa, Royal Flush, 907 Diesel, DMC, Sumner Homes, ABC Pump, XPS, Vango, Western, Prism, Precision Homes, Gorilla Fireworks, Signature Real Estate, Enderson Concrete

Brad George

Age: 31 From: Wasilla

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2013: fourth place, 2014: fourth place, 2015: fourth place, 2016: third place, 2017: DNF, 2018: second place, 2019: second place, 2020: DNF, 2021: first place, 2022: fourth place

Bio: I was born and raised in Wasilla. Me and my old lady have two kids, Indie and our newest addition, Isla. Most of my life I’ve been at work or on the river. I love spending my time doing anything outdoors, hunting, flying and hanging out with my family. I’m an owner/operator for Next Level Excavating. Personal sponsors: Mom, Dad, Hank Swan, Isla, Indie, Chelsea

Other race history: K-150, 2013 & 2014, first place; Larry

Robby Schachle

Age: 38 From: Big Lake

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ-XRS

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2016: third place, 2017: DNF, 2018: second place, 2019: second place, 2020: DNF, 2021: first place, 2022: fourth place

Bio: I’m a born and raised Alaskan. I’ve enjoyed the outdoors my entire life. I continue to enjoy cabin life, hunting, flying and racing. When I’m not out playing, I’m still outside keeping the lights on as a power lineman at Alaska Line Builders. I have a beautiful wife, Brittany, son Robert Ian and new baby on the way, who keep me motivated every way possible.

Personal sponsors: Brittany, Robert Ian, Korey & Barb, Hank Swan, Andy George.

Other race history: Mayor’s Cup, first place; Larry Heal, second place; I-500, triple crown

place; 2015 USXC Stock, second place; 2014 USXC Open, third place; 2014 USXC, third place; 2013 USXC Stock, fourth place; 2013 USXC Open, fourth place; 2012 and previous national Sno X racing, X Games Sno X multi-time competitor, hill climbs and Jackson Hole competitions

Team sponsors: GCI Communications, Christian Brothers Racing, Ski-Doo, KLIM, Davis Block & Concrete, Petro Marine, 139 Designs, STUD BOY Traction Products, General Equipment, Taylor & Martin Auctions, Speedwerx, TKI, PowerMadd, Trail Tank, Lunstra Motorsports, C and A Pro Skis, Amsoil, Hayes Braking Systems, Goodwin Performance

Cory Davis

Age: 36 From: Soldotna

Riding: Ski-Doo XRS

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2011: third place, 2014: ninth place, 2015: DNF, 2016: DNF, 2017: first place

Bio: I am the co-owner of Davis Block and Concrete with my father, Scott Davis. I have a wife, Alyssa, and daughter, Josie.

Personal sponsors: Alyssa and Josie

Other race history: Six-time X-Games medalist, two national semi-pro championships, multiple USCC race wins

Wes Selby

Age: 39

From: Grand Lake, Colo.

Riding: Ski Doo MXZ XRS

Status: Rookie

Other race history: 2018 Soo I-500, first place; 2018 USXC Open, first place; USXC Stock, second place; 2017 Soo I-500 second place; 2017 USXC Open, third place; 2016 Soo I-500, second place; 2016 USXC Open, first place; 2016 USXC Stock, second place; 2015 Soo I-500, first place; 2015 USXC Stock, second

Team sponsors: Peninsula Powersports, C&A Pro Skis, PowerMadd, Rugged Radios, KLIM, Walker Evans Racing, Polaris Racing, Polaris Snowmobiles, 131 Racing, Grib-n-Rip Racing Products, Sled Tred, Sno-Studs, All American Heroes Foundation, Straightline Performance, Flyhigh Premium Fire Starters, Speedwerx, Greatland Laser, Rigid Industries, Earth X Batteries, Oxbow Gear, BG of Alaska, TriJet Manufacturing, Moto Tech

Tad Covault

Age: 45 From: Soldotna

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2022: DNF, 2023: 15th place

Bio: Iron Dog was a childhood dream. With the support of my family and friends, this will be year three of racing in this amazing event. Every year more is learned, and the adventure gets greater. Upon completion of the race in 2023 I thought I had gotten everything out of my system and was done. That certainly was a false feeling! Watching all the teams prep and then hit the trail for 2024, dang near killed me, I wanted to be out there more than ever. So here we are, Iron Dog 2025. With a great partner and one heck of a support team behind us, Team #22 couldn’t be feeling better. Huge thank you to all our sponsors! Hope to see you all at the finish line.

Personal sponsors: Cole’s Market, Finishing Edge, Pinnacle Mechanical, Carmody Masonry, Arctic Arches, Foster Construction, Pizza Box, Peninsula Plowing, Fred’s Alaska Seafood, Mom and Dad Jolin, Peninsula Powersports, 3T Detailing, Robert and Robin, KLIM

Other race history: 2018 Artic Man Hill Cross. Entered with a mountain sled, discovered quickly Iron Dog sleds were way faster and fly higher. Let’s not discuss what place I finished. Countless foot races to the buffet, generally first place

Trent Johnson

Age: 44 From: Hayward, Wis.

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: I grew up in a small town of Hayward in Northern Wisconsin, which is known for world-class events and World Record-sized muskies, and have immersed myself in outdoor activities since Day 1, my No.1 being snowmobiling. I also love to ride Dirtbike, SXS, fish, hunt and explore. I have a beautiful wife, April, and two wonderful sons Jarrod and Addison. I own my own general contracting and construction business Trent Johnson Construction LLC and build roughly six to eight homes a year.

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

Personal sponsors: Trent Johnson Construction LLC, Route 63 Realty, Up North Retreats, Fred Scheers Lumberjack Shows, Fred Scheers Lumberjack Show at the Alaska State Fair, Coops Pizza, Petits Outdoor Rentals, Hayward Power Sports, Nelson Lumber and Home, Larry and Kerry Myrah, Sheldon and Laura Johnson, Kevin and Tara Johnson, Greg and Karen Johnson, Dianne Sommerfield

Other race history: 2023 completed Iron Dog Expedition Class, 2024, DNF Iron Dog Pro Class

Collin

Clayton

Age: 32 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2024: 12th place

Bio: I am a proud Valley boy, living in Alaska for the past 20 years. In my scarce spare time, I enjoy hunting, fishing and lovin’ everyday with my amazing girlfriend! I look forward to competing in the 2025 Iron Dog.

Adam Stafford

Age: 37 From: Aitkin, Minn.

Riding: Arctic Cat RXC

Status: Rookie

Bio: I’m born and raised in central Minnesota. Married to my wife, Cassandra, for 14 years with two little girls, Alessia and Calise. I’ve been a snowmobile enthusiast forever. I spend my free time teaching my kids to ride snowmobiles and taking trips out to the mountains to ride. I’m looking to expand my snowmobile experience with running the Iron Dog! By trade, I own a mechanic shop and take pride in a job well done and old school customer service. I also take pride in being a volunteer firefighter in our small community of Aitkin.

Personal sponsors: Wyatt’s Towing, The Tire Barn, Mystic Meadow Homes, Thomas Sno Sports.

Wyatt Halek-Hooper

Age: 27 From: McGregor, Minn.

Riding: Arctic Cat RXC

Status: Rookie

Bio: I have grown up around racing my entire life, competing in stock car, motocross, and cross-country events. I have always been someone who steps out of my comfort zone to chase the next green flag! I’m from northern Minnesota, and racing across the Midwest has been a lifelong passion of mine. I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to race in the Iron Dog. This will be another milestone checked off my bucket list!

Personal sponsors: Arctic Cat, The Tire Barn, Wyatt’s Towing Other race history: I-500: 2022, eighth place

Team sponsors: Eagle River Polaris Arctic Cat, KLIM, Magic Metals, Inc., Alaska Custom Containers and Storage, Powertronic, Inc., Alopex Interaction Design, Sturgeon Electric, Alaska Line Builders, Pioneer Peak Orthopedics, Microcom, Black Spruce Excavation and Trucking LLC, BJ’s Sanding and Snow Removal, Hardy’s Auto, Katie Sindorf Lending Team powered by Movement Mortgage, Podium Motorsports LLC, IBEW Local 1547, Optimum Performance Chiropractic, Moist Joints, Glenn Air

Personal sponsors: Thanks, Craig Clayton, the Gurley family, Steven Dwyer, Michael & Danni Hardy, Mikhayla Chapman. Other race history: Mayor’s Cup, Boulder Dash, Larry Heal Memorial, Big Lake I-500

Tyler Gurley

Age: 34 From: Chugiak

Riding: Polaris Polaris Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2024: 12th place

Bio: I am a lifelong Alaskan, lineman, husband and father of two. I started riding snowmobiles at an early age and grew to love it. I raced motocross from the age of 16 into my 30s. I started competing in cross country races at 28, and had to turn that into running the Iron Dog. In 2024, my teammate Collin Clayton and I were able to finish and earn our veteran status.

Personal sponsors: Steven Dwyer, Katie Sindorf

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Team sponsors: Anchor Ridge Roofing, Gabryszak Construction, STR Trucking, River City Power Sports, International Mechanical, King’s Kustoms, Alaska Mining & Diving Supply (AMDS), Alaska Motorsports & Equipment-Brad Helwig, R&M Consultants, McKenna Brothers, Hartman Racing, Mac Strength Fitness, Roger’s CPA, Johnson Family, Ward Family, Kris Rasey Matco Tools, G.C., Doreen Moore, KLIM

Trevor Helwig

Age: 28

From: Wasilla

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ

Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born and raised in Anchorage. I grew up in a powersports family and have been riding everything from snowmachines to jet skis since I was young. I’m currently a heavy equipment mechanic for the 302 operating engineers and in my free time I enjoy spending it at my family’s cabin or anything outdoors.

Personal sponsors: Brad Helwig, Eric Quam, Ken Lee, Geoff Crouse, Len Story

Kenny Lee

Age: 27 From: Eagle River

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ

Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born and raised in Alaska; riding and racing snowmachines has become a large part of my life. I have worked in the powersports industry since I was 13, currently as a mechanic. In my free time I enjoy hunting and fishing with my wife, Marissa, and being outdoors with friends and family.

Personal sponsors: Ken Lee, Jana Lee, Kari Lee, Marissa Lee, Ryan Rofidal, Jordan Hartman,

Other race history: 2024 Skwentna XC 200, third place; 2019 Alyeska Motor Madness XC, first place

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Team sponsors: Polaris Racing, Polaris Racing Lubricants, Skwentna Roadhouse, RMG Real Estate Experts, Artwork by Sierra Winter, Klim, Hatcher Pass Polaris, Woody’s Traction Products, PowerMadd, Laguna Pacific Fisheries, 131 Racing, 2 Morrows Services, Anchorage Snowmobile Club, TriJet Manufacturing, Big Dipper Industries, Hydrate Alaska, Johnny Mac, Riækt Consulting

Hillarie

Gossett

Age: 36 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2023: 14th place

Bio: Alaskan raised, Hillarie became an Iron Dog Veteran in 2023, but above all prides herself on the titles of wife and mom. That said, pushing one’s limits and experiencing life to the fullest is something she aspires to, whether it’s community involvement, hunting, sports, climbing, theater, or her business. Outside of racing and promoting Alaskan women and youth, working alongside the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in education is a passion she’s honored to be a part of.

Personal sponsors: Grayson & Parker, Mimi & Poppy, Crosby & Erin, Gugel Family, K Ting Ting, Bobby Menne, Cindi Herman, Kyle and Kelly, Todd Palin, Amy, Alyssa, Laura, Andrea

Other race history: 2023 Women’s Champion Mayor’s Cup; 2023 second place Women’s Skwentna 200; 2023, third place Women’s Hatcher Pass Boulder Dash; 2024 Women’s Champion Mayor’s Cup; 2024 Women’s Champion Hatcher Pass Boulder Dash; 2024 second place Women’s Skwentna 200; Alaska Cross Country Racing Organizer (dedicated to fostering youth and womens’ cross-country riding and racing)

Tim Gossett

Age: 37 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Veteran

Bio: Tim flew the trail in 2023 when Hillarie became an Iron Dog Veteran. In 2024, he raced with Joseph Gugel and finished seventh 23 24

Other race history: 2018 Alyeska MM semi-pro XC, second place; 2019 Iron Dog Expedition Class, 2019 Larry Heal Memorial XC race semi-pro, second place; 2019 Alyeska MM semi-pro XC, second place. 2024 Skwentna 200 semi-pro, third place

Race history: 2024: seventh place

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

place as the top rookie team! This year, Tim and Hillarie plan to become the first Husband and Wife team to finish the Pro Class. Phase two of their Iron Dog journey. Phase three happens when the kids come of age! A pilot by trade, Tim loves all things Alaskan, flying, jet boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, etc. Tim and Hillarie are avid adventurers dedicated to passing their passion on to their children, Grayson (11) and Parker (6). Both of the kids race in the Iron Pup Cross Country Series, rounding out a full Team Polaris family. The ultimate goal, encourage other families to get out and be their best ALASKAN selves!

Personal sponsors: Joseph Gugel, Crosby & Erin, Mimi & Poppy, K Ting Ting, Bobby Menne, Cindi Herman, Todd Palin Other race history: Skwentna 200: first place 2022, first place 2023; Valdez Mayor’s Cup: fourth place 2023; Hatcher Pass Boulder Dash: 10th place 2022, ninth place 2023 (that one is hard!)

Team sponsors: Country Cutts, Northern Power Sports, Alaska Grizzly Safaris & Jacques Adventure Lodge, Premier Electric, Valley Residential Fence, Snowcapped Gardens, Hall’s Quality Services, Walker and Sons, Water Operations of Alaska, ARG Industrial, Hilda’s Barber Shop, Woody’s Traction Products, KLIM Technical Riding Gear, 131 Racing, FCR Suspension, Carbon Pursuit, C&A Pro Skis, Supreme Electric, Last Frontier Embroidery, Glenn’s Wild Game Processing, Arctic Cat

Hayden Reid

Age: 23 From: Wasilla Riding: Arctic Cat ZR 600 RXC Status: Rookie

Bio: I started ice racing snowmachines at 16. Through the years I have made the switch to cross country. When I’m not riding or wrenching, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Sarah, and daughter, Adalynn. My wife and I enjoy going snowboarding, hiking, fishing and mountain biking. Other race history: 2024 Skwentna 200XC Pro Open, third place; 2024 Valdez Mayor’s Cup Semi Pro, first place; 2022 Skwentna 200XC Pro Open, fourth place; 2021 Big Lake 500K, first place Pro Open; 2020 Big Lake 500K, sixth place Pro Open

Reggie Davis

Age: 20 From: Big Lake

Riding: Arctic Cat ZR 600 RXC

Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born and raised in Alaska. I started riding snowmachines when I was 8, and from then on, I knew I had to race the Iron Dog. When I turned 14, I started ice racing, and at 16 I started cross-country racing. I’ve always enjoyed snowmachines, fishing, and hunting, and just about any Alaskan adventure. I also enjoy spending time with my son and look forward to getting him into snowmachine racing when he’s older. Other race history: 2022 Hatcher Pass Boulder Dash, first place semipro; 2023 Skwentna 200, first place semipro; 2024 Skwentna 200, third place pro; 2024 Valdez Mayor’s Cup, fifth place semipro.

Louis Green

Age: 39 From: Nome

Riding: Arctic Cat ZR 600

Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born and raised in Nome and love the outdoors. I enjoy activities like hunting, boating and snowmachining.

Personal sponsors: Northern Powersports, Shane Dani Ali

Andi Siggy Sami, Green Acres, DMC, Team Artic Cat, Jenny O, Eagle River Polaris/Arctic Cat, KLIM, Amos Cruise, Woody’s Traction, Quality Auto, Breakers Bar.

Amos Cruise

Age: 35 From: McGrath

Riding: Arctic Cat Catalyst 600

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2016: DNF, 2019: Fffth place, 2020: DNF, 2021: 11th place

Bio: I’m a lifelong Alaskan and a longtime volunteer for the Iron Dog-checkpoints McGrath and Rohn. I have three crazy boys, Rohn, Hayden and Wesley and two dogs Homie and Loki. I love everything about Alaska an the outdoors. I can’t thank all my family, friends and sponsors enough for all the continued support. Other race history: Raced The Nome Golovin 200 11 times and Archie Ferguson four times.

appreciative of, but the support of friends and family are what make racing and the commitment that much more meaningful. Personal sponsors: Team Arctic Cat, Northern Powersports, GRS Controls, Local 375 Plumbers and Pipefitters, KLIM, Woody’s Traction Products, Fullford Electic, Drake Construction, Airport Equipment Rentals, Hydraulic Center Inc., Alcan Builders, Inc., Patrick Mechanical, Denali Industrial, 139 Designs, Alaska Rubber and Rigging, Street Sounds, BM Fabrications, Allsteel Inc., Subzero Holsters, Powermadd, SLP, and a special thank-you to all our friends and family who helped support us!

Other race history: 2023 Expedition Class finisher

Kevin Kornack

Age: 34 From: North Pole

Riding: Arctic Cat

Status: Rookie

Bio: Growing up in the Interior, I have always enjoyed riding snowmachines. Once Cody got wind of that he asked several times for me to do the race with him. I told him we could flip a coin on it, and he said sure, “Heads I win, tails you lose.” I’m not sure how I lost 14 times in a row, but here we are. Anyways I just hope I finish the race without needing a sixth surgery on my leg.

Personal sponsors: Arctic Cat, Northern Powersports, Bigfoot Pumping and Thawing, Plambeck Floor Customs, Griffard Steel, GRS Controls, Denali Industrial Supply, Gundersen Painting, Fullford Electric, Patrick Mechanical, Allsteel Inc., Alcan Builders, Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 375, Street Sounds Alaska, Drake Construction, ARG industrial Fairbanks, SubZero Holsters, Graphic North Printing, KLIM, Woody’s Traction Products, Auto Trim Design, all my friends and family, and all the veterans who answered my dumb questions and helped get our sleds ready. I’m pretty sure nobody reads rookie bios but if you are reading this, please subscribe to my Onlyfans; there’s a lot of weird stuff on there, and all the proceeds go towards my race bills and pedicures.

IRON DOG TRIVIA

Team sponsors: Team Arctic Cat, Northern Powersports, GRS Controls, Local 375 Plumbers and Pipefitters, KLIM, Woody’s Traction Products, Fullford Electic, Drake Construction, Airport Equipment Rentals, Hydraulic Center Inc., Alcan Builders, Inc., Patrick Mechanical, Denali Industrial, 139 Designs, Alaska Rubber and Rigging, Street Sounds, BM Fabrications, Allsteel Inc., Subzero Holsters, Powermadd, SLP

Cody Preuett

Age: 34 From: North Pole

Riding: Arctic Cat RXC Catalyst 600

Status: Rookie

Bio: Living in Alaska has offered me many opportunities to explore and experience all there is to offer. From hunting, demolition derbies, dirt track racing, and now snowmachine racing. There have been countless things I am

In 1987, the first woman to enter the race, noncompetitively, was Melinda Lyman who raced alongside her husband, Doug. In 1990, Bill and Doreen Long were the first husband and wife team to race competitively. This year, husband-wife Team 26 Tim and Hillarie Gossett are racing competitively, as well. Father-daughter Team 16 Larry and Dani Levine also are entered this year.

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025

Team sponsors: Great Alaska Pizza Company, Stillpoint Lodge, Northern Asphalt, Pioneer Peak Asphalt, Sockeye Asphalt, Jolly Roger Fishing Charters, Handyberm, Fine Line Interiors, Action Sign & Graphics, KLIM, STUD BOY Traction Products, Team CC, Copper River Seafood, Kaleb’s Mechanical, Stop Plastering, Possibilities LLC

Tyler Reese

Age: 20 From: Anchorage

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2024: ninth place

Bio: I was born and raised in Alaska and have been riding snowmachines as far as I can remember. I spend most of my weekends with friends and family at the cabin riding anything with a motor.

Other race history: 2023 Skwentna 200 semi pro, first place; 2021 Big Lake 500, third place

Haakon Wold

Age: 19 From: Wasilla

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2023: 10th place, 2024: ninth place

Bio: I was born and raised in Alaska and love to be outdoors. I enjoy snowmachining, dirt biking and fishing. I also like to spend time with friends and family.

Personal sponsors: Mom and Dad

Other race history: Mayor’s Cup in Valdez, Skwentna 200

Team sponsors: Johnson River Enterprises, LLC Professional General Contractor, Serving all of Alaska, Imperial Excavating, Team Swenson Racing, Town Real Estate, Nome Nugget Inn, Gold Dust Saloon, Team CC Ski-Doo, Compeau’s BRP Ski-Doo,Hollenbeck Painting & Drywall, Great Northwest Inc., Trijet Manufacturing & Precision Cutting, Stud Boy Traction Products, Klim, Clean & Serene, Sea to Summit, Rugged Radios

Andy Swenson

Age: 41 From: Two Rivers

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS

Status: Veteran

Race history: 2017: 13th place

Bio: I’m happy to be back on the course for 2025, excited to do the Kotz Loop and get a Big Lake finish under my feet. I had a great run with some close friends last year as Team 82 in the Expedition Class. Looking forward to helping Antone earn his veteran status.

Personal sponsors: My wife Christina, my sons Rylan and Brendan, Rick (dad) and Kelly, RT Lindner, James Hiltunen, Jay and Ginger Delima, Lindsey Wood, Brandon Duvlea, Jon Wagner. Other race history: 2024 Mayor’s Cup, third place, Vet class

Antone Contento

Age: 39 From: Fairbanks

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ-XRS

Status: Rookie

Bio: I am a lifelong Alaskan raised in Fairbanks. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with friends and family outdoors. I started riding snowmachines from a young age on the rivers in Fairbanks, trying to keep up with my dad. I look forward to getting out this season training and racing throughout the state.

Personal sponsors: Shelley, Jacob & Liberty Munoz, Gary & Janis Contento, Shawn Contento, Chad & Ashly Young. RT & Danielle Thomas, Cody Scholle

IRON DOG TRIVIA

Today’s Iron Dog is the longest it has ever been, at roughly 2,500 miles. The original Iron Dog ended in Nome, but now returns back to Southcentral Alaska for the finish. For those who are more accustomed to living and traveling in the Lower 48, today’s Iron Dog course is roughly the distance from Las Vegas to New York City, Miami to Salt Lake City, or Seattle to Pittsburgh. It is almost as long as the entire length of Chile, and if you started in Moscow, you could almost make it as far as Madrid.

Team sponsors: Polaris, KLIM, Walker Evans Racing, Woody’s Traction, Polaris Lubricants, CA & Pro skis, Hanson Racing Engines, Felegy Racing, HHR Racing, EFW – ESTES Forwarding World Wide, 139 Designs Power MADD

Eric

Christensen

Age: 58 From: Centuria, Wis.

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Veteran

Race history: 2022: Finished, 2023: 13th place, 2024: 14th place

Bio: I was born and raised near Centuria and employed 32 years at Polaris Industries in the Powertrain division. I’ve been married to my wife, Julie, for 22 years. My hobbies include snowmobile racing and dairy farming.

Personal sponsors: Hydrate Alaska, Lindor Tool, Bikeman Performance, Julie and Jared Christensen, Gary Smetana Other race history: 2022 Ambassador finisher. I have participated in 22 I-500s starting in 1988. Finished in Top 10 pros and podium finishes in 40+ and 50+ age groups.

Alex Hetteen

Age: 35 From: Roseau, Minn.

Riding: Polaris Cross Country

Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born and raised in Roseau, Minn., where snowmobiles and Polaris have been a huge part of my life. I grew up riding with friends and family in the flatlands of northern Minnesota and was also lucky enough to take many trips west to ride the mountains. My snowmobiling passion led me to engineering school in Michigan’s snowy Upper Peninsula, where I spent more time riding with friends than I did studying. After graduating, I began racing and actually met my wife, Jill, at my first cross country race! We raced together for many years and eventually got engaged at the I-500 finish line. Now, we have two daughters, Harlee North (6) and Henslee Frost (4), and run our own XC racing team, Hetteen Heritage Racing (HHR), where we try to support as many fellow racers as possible. I have my dream job at Polaris as a Powertrain Development Engineer, where I get to spend every day working to make our snowmobiles better and better. Snowmobiles have shaped my life, my career, have given me countless friendships, and brought unforgettable adventures – including this chance to experience the Alaskan wilderness and race the Iron Dog! Personal sponsors: Polaris, Polaris Engineered Lubricants, KLIM, Woody’s Traction Products, Walker Evans, C&A Pro Skis, Hayes Brakes, Powermadd, 139 Designs

Iron Dog Pro Class 2025 47

Team sponsors: Alaska Cub, Alaska Leather, Alaska Auto Evolution, Diode Dynamics

Jeremiah Brewington

Age: 47 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: Born and raised in Alaska, Jeremiah joined the U.S. Army in 1995. He returned home after service in 2016. Through various veterans’ nonprofit organizations such as Battle Dawgs and Paul Thacker’s Warrior Rides, Jeremiah was re-introduced to the world of snowmachine racing. In 2022, Jeremiah completed his first ride on the Iron Dog, completing the Expedition Class, then completed it again in 2023. Jeremiah and one of his teammates from the first year are stepping up this year to play with the “Big Dogs” in the Pro Class.

Personal sponsors: Danchini Aero LLC, Operation Iron Warrior, Kona Ice, 907 Surplus, Vato’s Garage, Alaska’s Healing Hearts, Battle Dawgs, Alaska Drone Photography, King’s Custom Designs, Fish’em, Alaska Nut House, Street John Realty, Solve Alaska, Mayor’s Salsa, Regina Weitzel, Junior Daniel, Amy Paul

Other race history: Iron Dog Expedition Class 2022 and 2023

David Navarro

Age: 38 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris Cross Country Status: Rookie

Bio: David Navarro, known as “Frankie” by friends and family, grew up in Puerto Rico, joined the U.S. Army in 2008, and has lived in Alaska since 2017. He has a spirit for adventure: mountain bike riding in Puerto Rico, riding Jet Skis in the Persian Gulf, riding camels in Qatar, swimming with sharks and diving in the Caribbean, and enjoying everything the Alaska wilderness has to offer. He is an avid snow machine rider and has been riding for nearly a decade. Frankie devotes most of his spare time to volunteer organizations, particularly to veteran outreach and support. He rides to honor fellow service members and those that battle the Silent War.

Personal sponsors: Frankie is being sponsored by friends and family, Bright Star Care, Lake Louise Lodge, Alaska Raceway Park, Palmer Moose Lodge, Navarro Solutions LLC, Frozen Shots Photography. He would like to especially thank his parents David Navarro Sr. and Justa Sanabria for all their support. He is grateful for, and humbled by, the support he has received thus far.

Other race history: 2022 and 2024: Iron Dog Expedition Class finisher

Team 49 withdrawn for 2025

49

Team sponsors: Team CC Ski-Doo, KLIM, Alyeska Pipeline Services Co., Anchorage Well and Pump Service, Alaska Aircraft Cylinders, TriJet Manufacturing, PowerMadd

Todd Palin

Age: 60 From: Big Lake Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS Status: Veteran

Race history: 1993: Finished, 1995: first place, 1997: Finished, 1998: Finished, 2000: first place, 2001: Finished, 2002: first place, 2004: Finished, 2005: Finished, 2006: Finished, 2007: first place, 2008: Finished, 2009: Finished, 2011: Finished, 2012: Finished, 2013: Finished, 2015: Finished, 2018: Finished, 2020: Finished, 2021: Finished, 2023: Finished Bio: This is Todd’s 30th Iron Dog Race! He’s enjoyed four first place victories, four second place finishes and several Top-10 finishes. Todd is a lifelong Alaskan, a commercial salmon fisherman in Bristol Bay in his hometown of Dillingham, former BP Alaska North Slope production operator and is Alaska’s former First Gentlemen. Todd is the proud parent of five great kids and 10 grandkids.

Personal sponsors: L&M Supplies Dillingham, Stud Boy Traction Products, Dixon Aviation, Zugger Shocks, IceAge Performance, Wilderness Ski Doo Nome, Zollinger Racing Products, SLP, 131 Racing, Trail Tank, PowerMadd

Klinton

VanWingerden

Age: 44 From: Wasilla

Riding: Ski-Doo MXZ XRS Status: Veteran

Race history: 2014: Finished, 2015: Finished, 2016: Finished, 2017: Finished, 2018: Finished, 2019: Finished, 2020: Finished, 2021: Finished, 2022: Finished, 2023: Finished

Bio: Klint, his wife, Calli, and his two children, Reese and Miles, are part of Team Sons of Thunder, made up of family, friends and sponsors who align around a common belief that Jesus Christ is exactly who the Bible says he was: the Savior of the World (John 3:17). God loved you and me so much, that he sent his beloved Son Jesus, to pay the price for our sin so that we can be with him in heaven (John 3:16). It is because of this great love that we endeavor to proclaim the name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is our hope that Christ will demonstrate and extend grace to others through our effort and participation in the World’s Longest, Toughest, Snowmobile race.

Personal sponsors: My beautiful wife and best friend, Calli, for her love and encouragement; my cool kids, Reese and Miles, for their care and enthusiasm; my family and friends, for their continued prayers and support.

Other race history: Second place, Larry Heal Memorial vet class; third place, 2022 Valdez Mayor’s Cup

IRON DOG TRIVIA

Over the 41-year history of Iron Dog, 32 riders have won the event — 17 have multiple titles, 15 have won only once. There are three second-generation family names with a championship title: Scott Faeo won the race with Eric Quam in 2015. In 2017, Cory Davis won with Ryan Simons. In 2021, Brad George won with Robby Schachle. Scott’s father, John Faeo and Cory’s father, Scott Davis, are tied with the most victories. Brad’s father, Andy, won in 2006 with partner Dwayne Drake.

Iron Dog Expedition Class 2025

Team sponsors: Sourdough Express

Josh Norum

Age: 37 From: Fairbanks

Riding: Ski Doo MXZ XRS

Pro Class Status: Veteran

Race history: 2016: fourth place, 2017: eighth place

Bio: I was born and raised in Fairbanks and am a fifth-generation Alaskan. I am president of Sourdough Express. I have raced Iron Dog Pro Class a few times and am excited to experience the trail with my dad at a sight-seeing pace.

Personal sponsors: My training partners, Owen and Leo Norum, Stephanie, Sterling and Stanton Gould

Dave Norum

Age: 66 From: Fairbanks

Riding: Polaris XCR

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: I have lived in Alaska my whole life and enjoy everything that Alaska has to offer, summer and winter! My wife, Debbie, and I raised two kids and now we are grandparents to five! Our family enjoys spending time at our cabins, hunting, fishing and riding our machines. The first machine I rode as a kid was a 65 Husky and I have been hooked on riding snowmachines ever since. I have followed the Iron Dog since its inception and have enjoyed following it for years. I have always talked about doing it at a speed you get a chance to look around a bit and look forward to making the ride with my son Josh, a veteran of the Pro Class!

Personal sponsors: My wife, Debbie, and Sourdough Express

Troy Craig

Age: 35 From: Big Lake

Riding: Polaris XRS

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: I have lived 22 years on Big Lake. Now I finally get to do the Iron Dog trail. I’ve been riding my whole life and have raced everything with an engine. Thanks to my three sons who have been my riding buddies. I love anything outdoors and the backcountry of Alaska, and I can’t wait to ride into Nome.

Matthew Riehm

Age: 41 From: Alaska

Riding: Polaris XCR

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born in Ozark, Ala., while my father served in the U.S. Army. I joined the U.S. Air Force in 2001 out of high school until an injury ended my military service in 2013. I moved to Alaska in 2019 and chose to call Alaska home. I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping and hiking. You can always find me outdoors.

Personal sponsors: My mom, stepdad who are no longer here, but will be there in spirit with me, my wife, Shelby, and my friends, my parents, my daughter, Operation Iron Warrior, Apex Neurosurgery

Hunter Mathis

Age: 27 From: Chugiak

Riding: Polaris XCR

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born in Monterey, Calif., moved across the country at the age of 2 and all over the U.S. until the age of 18 due to being a military brat. I joined the Army in 2016 and that’s when I was stationed at Fort Wainwright. I now live in Chugiak and love this state more than ever.

Dewey Forbess

Age: 59 From: Big Lake

Riding: Polaris XCR

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: I’ve lived in the great state of Alaska for 25 years with my beautiful wife, Kirsten. We both love riding snowmachines and exploring Alaska. We also love spending time with our son and daughter in law Chris and Maggie and our granddaughter and grandson Millie and Zain. I am thankful to run the Expedition Class this year with my partner, Troy. I would also like to thank my wife and the rest of my family for their love and support.

Personal sponsors: Hatcher Pass Polaris, Sleek, LLC, Forbess Floor Covering, LLC, Kirsten Forbess

Paul Soberg

Age: 55 From: Mound, Minn.

Riding: Arctic CAT ZR6000C

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: I was born and raised in Minnesota. I graduated from Hoffman Kensington High School in west central Minnesota and married my wife, Kari, in 2002. I have been an owner/manager of a manufacturing business for 25 years. I grew up riding minibikes and snowmobiles and have always enjoyed

spending time outdoors. My current hobbies include hunting, fishing, camping, boating, dirt biking, motorcycle trips and snowmobiling. I have been backcountry riding in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming for over 30 years. I went to Alaska for the first time in Fall 2023 for a moose hunt and realized how much it aligned with my interests. I look forward to seeing more of Alaska.

Personal sponsors: My wife, Kari, along with my friends and family, share my enthusiasm for being part of this experience.

Mike Telkamp

Age: 55

From: Hoffman, Minn.

Riding: Arctic CAT ZR6000C

Pro Class Status: Veteran

Race history: 2016: DNF, 2017: 12th place

Bio: I was born and raised in Hoffman, Minn. I have owned and operated my family farm for 33 years. I’ve been married to my wife, Kris, since 1992. We have two sons, Trevor and wife Madison, granddaughter Cassidy and grandson Easton; and Trenton and Bridget. When farming gives us some time off you will find us fishing, hunting, skiing or snowmobiling. In 2014, I decided to participate in a new challenge the Iron Dog Expedition Class (typically you find me in the mountains snowmobiling) and I was excited to see Alaska for the first time. Since then, I’ve made many great friends and been back multiple times. In 2015, I did the Expedition Class, 2016 rode the Pro Class with Dieter Strobel, but due to motor trouble, we scratched in Nome. Then in 2017, I finished the Pro Class with my partner Paul Johnson. In 2020, I did the Expedition Class with Charlie Potter and Brian Jurenka and again in 2023 with Brian Jurenka and David Schreier. Alaska has been a part of my life for many years now and it’s been a great experience with many new friends made along the way. Personal sponsors: Thank you to my wife, Kris, as well as my family and friends. The encouragement and support from everyone is appreciated.

Other race experience: 2014 Iron Dog Expedition Class finisher with a team of seven. 2015 Expedition Class finisher; 2020 Iron Dog Expedition Class finisher; 2022 Expedition Class finisher, 2023 Expedition Class finisher

Brian Jurenka

Age: 42 From: Eagle River

Riding: Polaris XCR

Pro Class Status: Veteran

Race history: 2013: DNF, 2015: 18th place

Bio: Brian works as a mechanic on the North Slope. When not working, he enjoys being a fulltime dad to his son, William. He also enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, playing hockey and working around the house. This will be his fifth trip to Nome with Iron Dog.

Personal sponsors: Laura, William and family.

Other racing experience: Iron Dog 2012 Trail Class, Arctic Man Classic 2014 Men’s Adaptive Ski, fourth place; 2013 Men’s Adaptive Ski, fourth place; 2005 Men’s Snowboard, fifth place; AMMC semi-pro sno-cross series, 2002-09. AMMC cross-country race series semi-pro 50–200-mile races 2003-2015. Valdez Mayor’s Cup cross-country race semi-pro 150 miles, 2003-2018

Team sponsors: Out of Harm’s Way Kennel

Rachel Morris

Age: 50 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris XCR

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: Meet Rachel, born in the quaint village of Knodishall, England. While her neighbors spent their days enjoying tea and scones, Rachel was dreaming of the wild, untamed expanses of Alaska. Fast forward a few years, and she’s swapped her cozy English garden for vast Alaskan wilderness, where the wildlife is wilder and the adventures are crazier. Rachel’s life is a thrilling montage of hiking, fishing, ice climbing and snowmachining. She can catch a fish with the same finesse she uses to brew a perfect cup of tea and navigate icy slopes faster than a British taxi in rush hour. She’s joined in her escapades by her wonderfully tolerant and even crazier husband, whose antics add an extra layer of hilarity to their adventures. Whether they’re racing snowmachines or setting up camp under the northern lights, they do it all with a hearty laugh and a spirit of camaraderie. Surrounded by friends and animals who are as adventurous as they are, Rachel’s life is one big, exhilarating Alaskan escapade. She proves that you don’t need to be born in Alaska to thrive there—you just need a love for the wild, an adventurous spirit.

Personal sponsors: Shawn Andrew Morris, Out of Harm’s Way Kennel

Sue Scott

Age: 51 From: Wasilla

Riding: Polaris XCR

Pro Class Status: Rookie

Bio: Meet Sue 2, born in the untamed wilderness of Alaska. Raised on a diet of adventure and occasional bear sighting. She’s the queen of adrenaline, thriving on hunting, fishing, kayaking … as well as tearing up the trails on her motocross or snowmachine. Whether she’s catching a fish the size of a small car or going for long walks off a short bridge, Sue lives for the thrill. Alongside her in every endeavor is her adventurous and slightly crazy husband, Bruce, whose antics are the dreams of local legend. Along with their loyal dog, Syxx. With a posse of close friends who are just as daring, Sue’s life is a nonstop thrill ride of blood-pumping escapades and laughter-filled adventures. With a heart as big as Alaska and a spirt that is utterly untamable, Sue is a modern-day explorer. Just do not ask her to stay still for too long – she is probably already planning the next great escapade.

Personal sponsors: Valley Natural Gas, Executive Realty, Animalistics, Out of Harm’s Way Kennel and All Dogs Haven — dog boarding. Special thanks to Paul at Eagle River Polaris Arctic Cat, and Bruce Webb

Ambassador Class celebrates safety & make it Run program

Iron Dog Race Inc. created the Ambassador Team to represent our race, sponsors and to support the communities we travel though by promoting snowmachine safety and education.

This year’s lineup includes five riders representing racing, volunteering and industry. We are excited to welcome them to this year’s Iron Dog activities. These individuals will represent the Iron Dog – breaking trail for the 2025 race and working in communities, in coordination with Alaska Safe Riders, to promote topics like the importance of wearing a helmet, safe riding and mechanical skills.

Also new in the last year is the Iron Dog initiative called “Make it Run,” developed in 2024 to assist in the growth of personnel in the trade of small engine and recreational vehicle repairs in rural Alaska. Joining the 2025 Ambassador team are two Polaris employees who echo the importance of this new effort and present an example of “what can be.”

Here are your Iron Dog Ambassador Team members:

Marc McKenna

Four-time champion Marc McKenna is a racer turned trailbreaker, sponsor and fan, and he’s a lifelong Alaskan. He is president and co-owner of McKenna Brothers Paving Inc. Marc was inducted into the Iron Dog Hall of fame in 2022. This will be his 19th trip officially on the Iron Dog trail, and his first as an ambassador.

Continued on next page

2025 Ambassadors,

Aaron Bartel

Aaron Bartel a second-generation racer, volunteer and sponsor. Aaron, like his father, started as a racer, “crashing” his way to second place in 2015 with seven-time champion Scott Davis.

After breaking his leg in 2018 during the race, he has since moved onto volunteer and sponsor status! His smile is contagious on the trail – fans, volunteers and racers all agree!

Dan Hall

Dan Hall a volunteer and employee of longtime sponsor Lynden and president of Knik Construction. He is a lifelong Alaskan who’s worked in hundreds of Alaska communities constructing roadways, roads and harbors. Dan’s passion for rural Alaska and his love of the Iron Dog motivated him to become a volunteer, most recently at the new Whiskey Bravo Checkpoint. Dan and his wife Marleanna have one son, Alex, and two labradors. In his spare time, Dan enjoys all outdoor activities and time at the family recreational property.

Jill Hetteen

Jill Hetteen is project lead in the Snow Powertrain group with Polaris. Her mother put her on a snowmobile first at the age of nine months, and she’s never looked back. She is a mother of two whose husband, Alex, is launching his Iron Dog career this year, racing in the Pro Class.

“Racing and riding has taught me many valuable skills and values, like how to mechanic my own equipment, respect for the sport, trails, land, and clubs, and the value of building relationships and trust with those of us lucky enough to be in the snowmobile community.”

Tyler Bentow

Tyler Bentow is an engineer with Polaris. He grew up riding in Minnesota and is expecting his first child in March. He said he and his wife can’t wait to raise another generation rider.

“After high school, I attended college at the University of North Dakota and earned my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and I began my dream job of working at Polaris in Engineering in 2017.”

Iraces, years

t is no secret that this year’s Iron Dog features some of the most competitive racers in the history of the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race. Todd Palin, who has been racing longer than anyone else in the field, is at the top of that list.

And this year, he says, will be his final race.

Palin, who has stood atop the championship podium four times in his career, is this year marking his 30th race in his 60th year. He captured titles in 1995 (with Dwayne Drake), 2000 and 2002 (with Dusty VanMeter), and 2007 with Scott Davis. He’s raced on all four brands – Yamaha, Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo and Polaris – winning three of his races on Arctic Cat, and one on Polaris. He has not only earned status as one of Iron Dog’s toughest racers, but also as an ambassador to the sport, helping newcomers, keeping a positive attitude, and appreciating the communities and people along the trail every year.

“I think 30 races at 60 is a good way to go out,” Palin said. “I’ve been part of the Iron

Dog family for this long, and I’m sure that will continue. But I’ll also probably be chasing grandkids, taking them to Petersville, doing other things.”

“Todd’s just a super human being,” said Dusty VanMeter, an Iron Dog Hall of Famer who raced with Palin in the early 2000s. “Todd was always the kind of person that no matter what, he was always helping anybody. And he’s always had the mentality that, ‘It will be OK,’ where I’m more of, ‘Everything’s got to be perfect.’”

Iron Dog Hall of Famer Scott Davis and Palin had the longest partnership, racing together in the early to mid-2000s, and capturing their first victory together in 2007. Their last race together was in 2013, when they placed fifth.

“There was never a person I felt more comfortable racing with,” Davis said. “The longevity of our partnership is proof of that. There were enough of those life-and-death situations on the trail that I didn’t want to be out there unless I could trust someone with my life, and Todd was my guy.”

Jim Palin is understandably a proud dad. Todd grew up playing Little League, basketball, and hockey, and began commercial fishing when he was 13. Watching Todd flourish as a racer – and a human being, proud of his Native heritage – has brought him no greater joy, he added.

Fans cheers on Team 49 Todd Palin and Klinton VanWingerden as they approach the finish in 2023. MEGAN ROLINGER PHOTO

“He’s always been competitive, and the entire Palin family has been extremely proud of his accomplishments in the Iron Dog, but also as his accomplishments as a person,” said Jim, who served on the Iron Dog Board of Directors for several years. “I think one of the outstanding features of Todd today is he is so willing to help other Iron Doggers to learn the ropes. He’s very inclusive in that regard.”

Davis described Palin as “tough as nails” – as exemplified in 2006, when Palin hit a half-buried fuel drum while southbound from Unalakleet toward Fairbanks, injuring both himself and his sled.

“He was laying all in a wad there, and you could tell he was hurt,” Davis said. They took a long layover, got the sled off the trail and repaired the damage. Despite his pain, Palin insisted they keep going. Only not so far from Galena, Palin’s motor seized, and they were stopped again.

“So, I drug him basically from Galena all the way to the finish line,” Davis said, noting that Palin’s sled had just enough power to fire on one cylinder for departure from each checkpoint before petering out down the trail, when they’d attach the towrope and continue. Just outside of Nenana, though, Davis’ sled ran out of gas, and now they were at a full stop.

“We’re thinking, ‘Now what? We have no way to go,’” Davis said. Fortunately, there was just enough fuel in Palin’s broken sled.

“I grabbed my top gear bag, threw everything out of it, and we tipped his sled over and dumped the fuel into the bag,” Davis said. Back in business, they limped to the finish, but finish they did. Todd went straight to the hospital where X-rays showed a broken arm, and he got the cast that he needed.

VanMeter said Palin is a great partner to whomever he pairs with – the last two years, it’s been Klinton VanWingerden. Palin brings experience and a level of calm that helps keep a race in perspective.

“It was always a joy to have him as a partner, to race with him,” VanMeter said. “He’s a very levelheaded person and when you’re out on the trail, it’s very important to have a levelheaded person with you.”

In 2001, for instance, he and Todd were racing on Yamahas after having been on Arctic Cat, so their setups were new to them.

“We had some friends help on the machine, and when they put it all back together, they forgot to put the washer that holds the bottom gear on,” VanMeter said. “We didn’t make it nine miles out of Big Lake, and the gear shoots right out the side of the case.”

While many may have called it quits, Palin and VanMeter double backed to town, got to the Wasilla Yamaha dealership, unpacked a new sled and procured the parts they needed from it, and went back to their stalled sled on the trail. They made the repairs and were wildly behind the rest of the racing pack, but on they went.

“Todd had a great attitude no matter what; me, I was going to make up those 100 miles immediately,” VanMeter said. “But he was patient, and we got as close to third place, but had a blown track in the last couple hundred miles, so he had to tow me in. In the end, we ended up sixth, and he towed me faster than he’s ever rode before.”

As Palin toes the line for this, his Iron Dog finale, there will be fans near and far, young and old, cheering him on. He said he will miss the camaraderie, funny moments, and people along the way.

“These villages will take care of you,” he said. “They are the heart and soul of this race.”

But those who were his race partners appreciate and understand his contributions best: They’ve been in the trenches together and know what an accomplishment it is to be a part of Iron Dog for 30 years.

“I hold Todd in the highest regard in every way –his dedication to his family and to this race,” Davis said. “It’s been an amazing ride.”

Palin and partners

2025: Klinton VanWingerden

2024: VanWingerden (DNF)

2023: VanWingerden (6th)

2021: Bob Gilman (12th)

2020: Troy Conlon (5th)

2018: Shane Barber (9th)

2017: Eric Quam (DNF)

2016: Shane Barber (DNF)

2015: Tyler Huntington (10th)

2014: Tyler Huntington (DNF)

2013: Scott Davis (5th)

2012: Scott Davis (5th)

2011: Eric Quam (2nd)

2010: Scott Davis (DNF)

2009: Scott Davis (6th)

2008: Scott Davis (4th)

2007: Scott Davis (1st)

2006: Scott Davis (2nd)

2005: Scott Davis (2nd)

2004: Scott Davis (2nd)

2002: Dusty VanMeter (1st)

2001: Dusty VanMeter (6th)

2000: Dusty VanMeter (1st)

1999 Dwayne Drake (16th)

1998: Dwayne Drake (11th)

1997: Dwayne Drake (4th)

1996: Dwayne Drake (DNF)

1995: Dwayne Drake (1st)

1994: Dwayne Drake (DNF)

1993: Frank Woods (5th)

Todd Palin and Scott Davis’ promotional poster from their 2009 race. COURTESY SCOTT DAVIS

Todd Palin at the 2023 race, flanked by his father, Jim Palin, and mother, Blanche Kallstrom. MEGAN ROLINGER PHOTO

IRON DOG DEALS

COUPON

https://ski-doo.brp.com

Proud Sponsors

of Iron Dog 2025 and Team 7

MTA applauds the dedication and determination of Iron Dog competitors. We understand the need to adapt and pioneer — it's what we've done for 70 years to keep our members connected. We wish all the riders a safe and amazing race, especially our very own Tyler Aklestad!