30 teams leave Big Lake to start 42nd annual Iron Dog

The 42nd annual Iron Dog experienced a truly wintry-start on Saturday for the 2026 Pro Class release on Big Lake. 30 teams waited anxiously in the paddock leading up to the 10 a.m. flag drop to be released in two minute intervals to fly through a tunnel of fans and into a wall of heavily-falling snow.

Teams from the Lower 48 and from across Alaska gathered to put weeks, months and even years of preparation for a chance to race to Nome and on to Fairbanks for a shot at a top-finish for the 2,300-mile journey.

The first rider out of the gate was Kevin Niemi, starting in memory of his late partner Skye Rench, who passed away last year only days after completing his very first Iron Dog. Tom Rench, Skye’s father, shared a rider’s prayer as he sent the racers on the course ahead.

A mix of veteran teams with decades of experience on the trail will face off against several rookie teams that they’ve fostered along the way, with some racers not even old enough to purchase alcohol.

Although team number 3, Evan Barber at 21 years old from Willow, and Steffen Booth at 20 years old from Nome, are young, the two are both accomplished veterans of Iron Dog and come from families rich in race history. They are a unique combination of youth and experience and go head-to-head against racers that have been on the trail more times than either of them have been alive.

“It’s a unique experience, running with someone the same age against all these guys that have been doing it for a long time,” Barber said.

When asked about having youth and a drive for a high-placing finish versus experience and years upon years of race strategy, Barber answered with a response that mirrored his race style.

“You have to have both,” Barber said. “You have to ride beyond your age if you’re going to be young and go for it. That’s our strategy, we’re going to ride beyond our age, very mature. Try to not make mistakes most young guys would make and just take our time and get through it.”

Evan will be racing alongside his sister Shana Lapham and father Shane Barber from team 39. Shane will now have competed with all three of his children in the race. With two decades of experience in Iron Dog, Shane said he’s pretty calm going into race week because he knows what to expect.

“You’ve seen about everything that this race has to offer, at least you think you have. Every year has its own little unique challenges that separates it. But for the most part, I’ve seen about 95% of what experience you’re going to have this year,” Shane said. “I feel prepared in that regard. Priority one is to keep us safe and make good choices out there. I feel advantaged because of that experience.”

First time Iron Dog racers and brothers team 23 Adam and Joseph Gabryszak, from Willow and Chugiak, didn’t show that they were feeling the pressure as they waited in the paddock with family. Their goal was to finish strong and stick to what they know, looking to be a contender for top rookie team.

“We were raised on machines, this is second nature to us,” Joseph said.

The bond between brothers is different than many of the other teams in this year’s race. While experience plays a huge role in execution, truly understanding a partner could mean the difference between a finish or a scratch.

“There’s a lot of good riders here, a lot of good veterans. They’re going to be really hard to compete with,” Adam said.

The two relied on input from past champions to come up with their strategy, relying on years of previous knowledge. But there are some things that can only be learned through personal experience.

“Slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” Joseph said.

Nic Olstad, from Wasilla, is a past champion of the Iron Dog, with six first place finishes under his belt. A force to be reckoned with, team 7 Olstad and partner Tyler Aklestad from Palmer are a pair to watch in this year’s race.

The 2026 race makes this Olstad’s 21st time on the trail. All of that experience helps him to know what to expect and what to better prepare for during the race. Olstad said he hopes to continue sharing some of that knowledge with younger teams to keep them in the race and encourage them to push forward.

“Don’t give up, keep going,” Olstad said. “Move forward. That’s the most important thing, is to keep going.”

Rookie team 30 Dustin Scalisi from Palmer and Duncan Brewer from Nikiski sat near the back of the starting order of the race. Scalisi experienced his first start, while Brewer is returning for another shot at a finish after a breakdown on day one the last time he competed.

Both Scalisi and Duncan mentioned how open and forthcoming with knowledge many of the long-time racers have been for the younger teams. Duncan said hearing about the race and learning different things to watch out for makes the overall race more attainable, and less scary.

“We’re excited,” Brewer said. It’s a big, scary, daunting task, but we’re up for it.”

Team number 49 Todd Palin from Big Lake and Klint VanWingerden from Wasilla hit the trail on Saturday with a combined almost four decades of experience.

That knowledge is a cushion, and VanWingerden said it makes him feel more comfortable knowing what to expect. That experience is an equalizer compared to younger teams that want to push hard and go fast.

“It’s a long trail,” VanWingerden said. “There’s a lot of turns and a lot of different options, so definitely feel better about having run it a number of times.”

Palin, who is participating in his 30th Iron Dog, said he looks forward to the adventure with his teammate and visiting the various checkpoints and villages along the journey. Despite his knowledge of the race, he said one of the most exciting parts is that he’s always learning and appreciates the opportunity to participate once again in the race.

“I’m lucky to be here 30 years of doing this,” Palin said. “I wish all the racers a great trip and appreciate all the sponsors for Iron Dog and the brands that support this race. It’s just a great group of people and I appreciate the opportunity.”