21 youth mushers set to compete in 2024 Jr. Iditarod

WASILLA — Twenty-one young mushers are competing in the 2024 Jr. Iditarod which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24.

Jr. Iditarod mushers will embark on a race course that spans about 150 miles. They will start the race out of Knik Lake to the halfway point in Yetna for a 10-hour layover then return to the finish line at Knik Lake the following day.

Jr. Iditarod board member Barbara Redington said that she's happy with how the overall preparations for this year's race are going.

"Everything has come together really well," Barbara said.

Redington said this is one of the largest fields they've had in recent years.

"It is a really good field," Redington said.

The Jr. Iditarod is open to young mushers ages 14 to 17. It draws participants from across the state and beyond.

Youth from places like North Dakota and even Norway are answering this year's call of the wild.

This year marks the 47th Jr. Iditarod run. Board President Julia Redington said that she's always impressed by the participants' grit, determination, and supportive nature on the trail. She said they build a lot of character navigating through the Alaskan wilderness with their dog teams.

"I think there's a lot of growth in the young mushers and there's a lot of skill and comradery between them too," Julia said.

While there is no cash purse for the Jr. Iditarod, there is a wide variety of prizes provided by community sponsors. It's also a major educational opportunity for participating mushers due to the scholarships given away each year.

According to Julia, there will be over $28,000 in scholarships given away this year. Top finishers receive corresponding tiers of scholarship amounts, and every musher that finishes the race will receive a $500 scholarship.

"It's wonderful and I think they all appreciate it," Julia said.

Barbara noted that Jr. Iditarod mushers have gone on to become doctors, pilots, engineers, and so on.

"You name it," Barbara said.

Many Jr. Iditarod mushers have gone on to compete in the Iditarod. It serves as one of several qualifying races. Julia noted that about nine Jr. Iditarod veterans are competing in the 2024 Iditarod in March.

"That's pretty amazing," Julia said. "It definitely feeds the into the sport and gives the youth an opportunity to start learning."

For more information about the Jr. Iditarod, visit jriditarod.org.

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