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IPFS News Link • Entertainment: Outdoor Recreation

Mush! Iditarod Sled Dog Race Underway In Alaska

• by The Associated Press
 

Sixty-six mushers began their quest to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race with the competition's official start Sunday in Willow.

The mushers and their dog teams will spend about the next eight days traveling across nearly a thousand miles of Alaska wilderness in a sled, all trying to be the first musher to reach the old gold rush town of Nome.

The grandsons of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race's co-founder Joe Redington were the first and last mushers on the trail.

Ray Redington Jr. picked the first spot during the musher's draw. The 36-year-old musher is competing in his 11th Iditarod and finished in 7th place last year. He said he hopes to do even better this year.

Ray Redington said this year's competition is "tough, very tough," with the racing teams becoming more professional and serious about winning.

"They're getting better. So am I," he said Sunday.

His younger brother, 29-year-old Ryan Redington, is competing in his 8th race but had to wait to get on the trail after picking the last spot.

There are six former champions in the race, including last year's winner, 49-year-old John Baker of Kotzebue.


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