68 sign up for 2013 Iditarod

WASILLA — It appears another field loaded with starts from the sport will be headed from Willow to Nome in March in the 41st Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Seven former champions are among the 68 mushers now officially in the running for the 2013 Iditarod crown, and will compete in the legendary long-distance sled dog race, which is scheduled to begin March 3 in Willow.

“It’s another great field,” Iditarod communications director Erin McLarnon said.

Past Iditarod winners Mitch Seavey, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Lance Mackey, John Baker, Rick Swenson and defending champion Dallas Seavey are among the 68 who signed up for the race before the event’s enrollment deadline, last Friday night.

Runner-up Ally Zirkle and 18 of the top 20 mushers from the 2012 field are also back for the 2013 race. In addition to 60 mushers from the United States, there are eight mushers from outside the US in the field. Russia, New Zealand, Norway, Jamaica, Brazil and Canada will all be represented.

McLarnon said the Iditarod is excited about the 2013 field, but lack of snow throughout Alaska is a concern.

“People are somewhat concerned, more about how it effects future rookies of the Iditarod trying to qualify,” McLarnon said.

McLarnon said many mushers are heading to areas such as the Denali Highway to find snow.

One of the Iditarod qualifying races, the Sheep Mountain 150, is tentatively scheduled for later this month. On Monday, race organizer Zach Steer said a decision whether or not to host the race in 2012 will be made Dec. 11. As of Monday, there was only about six to eight inches of snow at and around race headquarters, the Sheep Mountain Lodge, which is located at Mile 113.5 of the Glenn Highway.

“We’re waiting on snow,” Steer said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

2013 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race field

Christine Roalofs, Anchorage; Newton Marshall, St. Anne, Jamaica; Ken Anderson, Fairbanks; Michelle Phillips, Tagish, Yukon; DeeDee Jonrowe, Willow; Gerry Willowmitzer, Whitehorse, Yukon; Scott Janssen, Anchorage; Peter Kaiser, Bethel; Gerald Sousa, Talkeetna; Jesse Royer, Fairbanks; Michael Suppernant, Chugiak; Kelly Maxiner, Big Lake; Robert Bundtzen, Anchorage; Luan Ramos Marques, Macae, Brazil; Paul Gebhardt, Kasilof; Mike Williams Sr, Akiak; Mitch Seavey, Seward; Bob Chlupach, Willow; Ray Redington Jr, Wasilla; Martin Buser, Big Lake; Rudy Demoski Sr, Wasilla; Jason Mackey, Kasilof; Cim Smyth, Big Lake; Paige Drobny, Fairbanks; Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Roros, Norway; Curt Perano, Queenstown, New Zealand; Angie Taggart, Ketchikan; Ed Stielstra, McMillian, Mich.; Jan Steves, Edmonds, Wash.; Kristy Berington, Kasilof; Jodi Bailey, Chatanika; Cindy Gallea, Wykoff, Minn.; Jeff King, Denali; Ally Zirkle, Two Rivers; Travis Beals, Seward; Allen Moore, Two Rivers; Karin Hendrickson, Wasilla; Mike Ellis, Two Rivers; Linwood Fiedler, Willow; Michael Williams Jr, Akiak; Rohn Buser, Big Lake; Ramey Smyth, Willow; Lance Mackey, Fairbanks; Aaron Burmeister, Nome; Jake Berkowitz, Big Lake; Charley Bejna, Addison, Ill.; Justin Savidis, Willow; Dallas Seavey, Willow; Anna Berington, Kasilof; Kelley Griffin, Wasilla; John Baker, Kotzebue; Richie Diehl, Aniak; Zoya DeNure, Delta Junction; James Volek, Big Lake; Brent Sass, Manley Hot Springs; Matt Failor, Big Lake; Jessica Hendricks, Two Rivers; Aaron Peck, Bezanson, Alberta; Jim Lanier, Chugiak; Josh Cadzow, Fort Yukon; David Swatzky, Healy; Sonny Lindner, Two Rivers; Mikhail Telpin, Yanrakkynot, Russia; Wade Marrs, Wasilla; Rick Swenson, Two Rivers; Louie Ambrose, St. Michael; Matt Giblin, Sterling.