Veteran Iditarod musher, Dallas Seavey (bib #23) of Talkeetna, Alaska has won this years Iditarod.
Having previously won the race in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016, his fifth win, takes him to tie with Rick Swenson, who was previously the only musher to have won the race 5 times.
Rick won the Iditarod back in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1991 where the record has been held for the past 30 years.
Dallas has had a great race this year, and has shown how the race is not just a matter of speed and endurance, but also of tactics and determination.
This year, Dallas’ father, Mitch Seavey (a three time Iditarod champion) has taken a year out, and some of his dogs have been incorporated into his sons winning team.
Dallas finished the race with 10 dogs from his starting team of 14.
He completed the 848 mile course in 7 and a half days.
The course normally runs over 1000 miles and takes 8-9 days from Anchorage to Nome, but due to Covid restrictions and trying to keep the mushers away from native villages it was decided that this years race would be slightly different with the route looping from Deshka Landing to Iditarod and back.
Second in this years race was Aaron Burmeister of Nome Alaska.
Aaron has beaten his personal best of third place which he achieved in 2015.
He has had a great race this year and was in the lead at one point and a favorite to take first place.
With a third in this years race under his belt, Brent Sass, will not be disappointed and has shown that the strategies of resting and running can pay off.
This is Brents 6th Iditarod and he is no stranger to long distance races having won the Yukon Quest in 2020.
This years race has been very different to previous years races.
Not only has the route changed, with mushers turning around at Iditarod and passing each other face on, but the covid restrictions have made a big difference to the atmosphere at the start, the finish and at checkpoints.
Cindy Gallea was forced to scratch at Skwetna on the way out due to ill health.
Aliy Zirkle, running her final Iditarod after an amazing career, had an accident coming to Rohn early on in the race and had to airlifted to hospital.
Iditarod Rookie, Brenda Mackey, of the famous Mackey family, was forced to scratch in the best of interests of her dogs at Nikolai. (Interview with Brenda Mackey)
Rookie Christopher Parker scratched at McGrath North.
Gunnar Johnson was withdrawn from the race at McGrath after testing positive for Covid-19.
Rick Casillo (running some of Hugh Neffs dogs) scratched at the half way turning point in Iditrarod.
Riley Dyche also scratched at Iditarod.
Dennis Kananowicz and Peter Kaiserboth scratched on the Southbound leg at McGrath.
Last years, Rookie of the Year, Mille Porslid, has had a great 2021 race, and undoubtedly is one to watch in upcoming years.
Rookie of the Year Award normally goes to the musher who finishes the highest position on the first Iditarod.
