2019 Iron Dog: Riders gear up for weeklong trek across Alaskan wilderness

WASILLA — The 2019 Iron Dog, a weeklong snowmachine race that sends competitors from the Valley to Nome to Fairbanks, starts in Deshka Landing Sunday at 11 a.m.. On Friday, the Menard Sports Center’s turf arena was filled up with scores of racers, their friends and families, and race fans during the Donlin Gold Safety Expo and Racers’ Draw to inspect their sleds and draw their starting positions on the trail.

“In Alaska, it’s the pinnacle of snowmachine racing,” Team 6 racer Adam Drinkhouse said.

The Iron Dog is a team race. It requires partners to work together, not merely for their shot at victory, but to survive the harsh terrains and long hours of nonstop driving between checkpoints, according to veteran racers Shane Barber and his son Cody on Team 39. This is their second race together.

“You need to have a good attitude,” Cody said.

Shane said that keeping constant communication with your race partner is crucial. He said that he and some other racers rigged antennas to their sleds so they can talk to each other on the trail, listening with earbuds.

“You’re constantly a cheerleader for the other guy. A week is a long time to keep a good attitude,” Shane said.

Brad George and Adam Drinkhouse are racing together this year as Team 6. George is a veteran racer with seven previous Iron Dogs under his belt and this Drinkhouse’s first Iron Dog. George noted that it’s actually uncommon for a rookie and a veteran to race together but he is confident in his partner’s abilities.

“I was told Adam had what it takes,” George said.

Both George and Drinkhouse grew up in the Valley riding snowmachines. George said he was raised in the Iron Dog culture since his father Andy, who won the race in 2006, and has been involved with the race for many years. He said that like his father, he not only enjoys the race, but also getting ready for it.

“My whole life, I’ve been involved in the Iron Dog. I grew up watching my dad wrenching his sled, getting ready for it,” George said.

George came in second place last year, losing by a mere three minutes. He said that he lost due to mechanical issues and not for a lack of skill, which was really frustrating but he is using his near win to motivate him this year.

“It’s not just get on a snowmachine and go,’” George said.

George said that every second counts on the trail and one of the most common rookie mistakes include improper time management. He used the example if a rider needs to stop and relive themselves, that may just take about a minute which seems short at the time but if they don’t plan their stops or hold their bladder, they can lose serious ground and even the race itself.

“Say you took three pees, that’s three minutes,” George said.

This will be George’s eighth Iron Dog. He said that he learns something each year and that’s vital to grow as a rider. He said that each racer needs to raise about $50,000 to participate and rookies like his partner, Drinkhouse need to raise more than the veterans because he needed to buy two sleds.

“Moneywise, it’s a lot for a rookie,” Drinkhouse said.

Drinkhouse said that he initially turned down George’s offer to ride with him, but his wife ultimately pushed him to change his mind.

“She said that I would regret for the rest of my life and she was right,” Drinkhouse said with a laugh.

Drinkhouse said that he’s dreamed of racing in the Iron Dog since he was a kid. He said that it’s an opportunity of a lifetime that any serious snowmachine racer would take up if they had the chance.

Between gathering support from family, friends and sponsors to staying patient and remembering lessons from years past, George said that it “takes a little bit everything” to win the Iron Dog. He said that his favorite aspect of the race each year is the sense of comradery.

He said that there’s typically a group of about five to seven people “at the top of the podium” who race neck and neck each year, barley losing to one another. He said that everyone in the race, that circle of close competitors included “have each other’s backs” on the trails. He said that he enjoys having an existing relationship with his fellow riders as they pass each other.

“You’re passing your buddy,” George said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com

ORDER TEAM # RACERS

1 Team 20 Scott Faeo Robby Schachle

2 Team 14 Brian Leslie Casey Boylan

3 Team 5 Brett Lapham Zack Weisz

4 Team 49 Andrew Gumley Klinton Vanwingerden

5 Team 3 Steven Boney Oliver Unruh

6 Team 16 Todd Minnick Nick Olstad

7 Team 42 Amos Cruise Jarvis Miller

8 Team 15 Micah Huss Wesley Selby

9 Team 8 Tyler Aklestad Tyson Johnson

10 Team 44 Kyle Krause Michael Lilley

11 Team 12 Kenneth Kleewein Kruz Kleewein

12 Team 6 Brad George Adam Drinkhouse

13 Team 45 Barney Anselment Thomas Baumgartner

14 Team 17 Corey Berg Ray Chvastasz

15 Team 39 Cody Barber Shane Barber

16 Team 32 George Mountain Kelly Sommer

17 Team 35 Michael Oliver Jerrod Vaughn

18 Team 25 Dietrich Nikolai Nicholas Reader

19 Team 29 Danielle Levine Larry Levine

20 Team 31 Troy Conlon Robert Menne

21 Team 4 Ben Miebs Daniel Thibault

22 Team 30 Kyle Conner Blake Elder

23 Team 26 Ivar Carlson Robert Masson

24 Team 10 Mike Morgan Chris Olds