2022 Iditarod in full swing

WASILLA — The 2022 Iditarod is in full swing with mushers making their long journey through the Alaskan wilderness to Nome.

According to Iditarod race director Mark Nordman, the heavy snowfall hasn’t slowed down the persistent and passionate mushers and their canine companions. He said the overall pace is on part with previous runs.

“It’s actually going really smooth They’re professionals,” Nordman said. “We’re very pleased.”

Nordman has been involved with the Iditarod for over four decades. He said that watching the human and dog athletes grow is his favorite part of the process.

“My passion is all the people at the checkpoints and watching dogs and watching people obtain their goals,” Nordman said.

Veteran musher Brent Sass of Eureka was the first musher to reach the halfway mark at the Cripple checkpoint, winning the GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award with the choice of either $3,000 in gold nuggets or a smartphone with a year of free GCI mobile service.

Sass arrived at 3:50 p.m. with 13 dogs in harness Thursday, March 9.

The halfway award will be re-presented to Sass at the finishers banquet in Nome.

The trophy is made of Alaskan birch and marble and features a photo of Dorothy G. Page, the “Mother of the Iditarod” and remains at Iditarod headquarters throughout the year.

“As the official technology partner of the Iditarod, we are proud to power one of the most historic sporting events in Alaska,” GCI Contributions and Events Senior Manager Megan Mazurek stated in a recent press release. “This race travels through some of the most remote terrain in our state, which we understand very well as GCI works to close the digital divide in rural Alaska. Through our partnership with the Iditarod, we understand how much fans and our neighbors around Alaska really rely on GCI’s statewide network. Congratulations, Brent Sass!”

Two veteran mushers scratched from the 2022 Iditarod as of Thursday, March 10.

Talkeetna musher Anja Radano was the first musher scratch. Radano had 12 dogs with her when she made the decision to scratch at the Nikolai checkpoint at 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 9.

Two Rivers musher Ryne Olson scratched at the McGrath checkpoint at 5:02 p.m. with nine dogs in the harness Thursday, March 10.

For current race standings and more information about the 2022 Iditarod, visit iditarod.com.

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