[Niraya]

Thought I'd give an update on the Iditarod 40!

Dallas Seavey rode into Nome, Alaska and crossed under the burled arch at 19:29 Alaska time with 9 dogs on his team.

This is his first Iditarod Championship and he now holds the record for being the youngest person to have won the Iditarod! (Turned 25 while on the trail)

Dallas finished the race in 9 days, 04 hours, 29 minutes, 26 seconds.
The record is 8 days, 18 hours, 46 minutes, 39 seconds - set last year.

 

[jenz]

Wow, I read that the winner was the youngest to ever win too... 25?

And my little Iditarod biff-- I always feel a bit... embarrassed... by the dogs coming in wearing coats, jackets, and socks/booties when they run into Nome. I mean really... what kind of northern breed is THAT?? (I am incredibly biased though--I still think the best team to ever run the Iditarod was the team of Alaskan Malamute show dogs who did it in the mid-90's. Apparently Alaskans would surround the musher at checkpoints and be like, 'now THAT's a real sleddog!' 'THAT's the type of sleddog WE remember!' lol No coats needed for those dogs!!).

Jen

 

[Niraya]

Yep! He turned 25 while out on the trail during the race!

And they don't run purebreds. They're running mixes known as Alaskan huskies (I'm sure you already know that). Hey mix them (siberians and malamutes) with hounds and labs and whatnot for speed - they're sprint dogs basically. They even put booties on the Siberian teams that run but thu don't constantly have to wear them like the alaskans. They put coats on them also but usually only when resting.

Some of those alaskans have super short/thin coats even though a lot of them live and train on the coast and they develop a thick undercoat their fur is still thin . I think it's silly they have to wear the coats but its all about the speed these days.

But the time to run the Iditarod got quicker and the Alaskans can maintain an 8mph pace. Though I know Karen Ramsteads Siberians were able to hold and run that same speed (roughly) for the race - she hung back and stayed with a rookie - Hank Debruin who is also running an all Siberian team.

I didn't know about the all malamute team! That's pretty fantastic! Most of Karen Ramsteads Siberians are shown and championed - one of her dogs is 10 1/2 years old this year and still running.

 

[spanielorbust]

For those that want to admire some of those Alaskan Huskies - Meet The Sled Dogs.

http://community.adn.com/?q=adn/node/156047

I've been trying to pick a favorite. Its impossible. Boondocks has my eye, but that is cuz she reminds me so much of my old girl.

SOB

 

[wvasko]

Oh! Oh! does that dog have a paw growing out of his neck

 

[Kyllobernese]

One of the Vets at our Vet Hospital was raised in Alaska and was one of the Vets on the Iditarod race in 2006. While she was going to Vet school she started racing her own rag-tag team of a Gordon Setter, an English Setter and a Border Collie. They had a very interesting article in our local paper. She still has Gordon Setters and Huskies and is a super good Vet.

 

[Niraya]

For those that want to admire some of those Alaskan Huskies - Meet The Sled Dogs.

http://community.adn.com/?q=adn/node/156047

I've been trying to pick a favorite. Its impossible. Boondocks has my eye, but that is cuz she reminds me so much of my old girl.

SOB

In response to this - The love of my life is Mr. Crunchie of Karen Ramsteads North Wapiti Kennels! Actually - and I'm not being biased at all because they're Siberians - He's just one of those dogs I fell in love with when I saw him. I also love Wifi and Q. I'm a sucker for her piebalds!

If it were to the Alaskans - it would be Zoya's Demon and DeeDee's Palins. I adore DeeDee's dogs.