IditaRiders develop strategy

WASILLA -- What do mushers Martin Buser of Big Lake; Matt Weik of Outing, Minn.; and Ed Stielstra of McMillan, Mich., have in common? Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race fans have offered $500 apiece to ride with them during the first few miles of the 2004 race's ceremonial start.

The annual IditaRider program benefits the race and provides fans, particularly those from Outside, a chance to experience part of the event and meet their favorite mushers.

Apparently, being a four-time winner such as Buser doesn't ensure big-time offers -- at least according to the latest offers listed on the Iditarod's Web site. Even perennial crowd favorite Charlie Boulding had only drawn $600 as of Monday.

Then again, fans might be playing the same cat-and-mouse game that mushers do on the trail. Maybe the deep pockets are waiting until just before the Jan. 23 deadline to strike. Like the Iditarod itself, everyone has a strategy they believe will work best.

"A lot of bids do come in during the last week," said Iditarod spokeswoman Deby Trosper. "We're running neck and neck to where we were last year."

Iditarod took in $103,000 last year through IditaRider bids, the ninth year of the program. Auctioning space in sleds has helped finance the race, Trosper said, but it's also expanded the race purse to 30 places. In addition, money from IditaRiders allows race officials to give every finisher from No. 31 through Red Lantern winner a check for $1,049.

Past auction results indicate Buser and Boulding will close fast. An Alaska man came up with $4,100 to ride in Buser's sled bag during the 2003 race while Boulding was third in overall with a Washington man ponying up $3,500 for the privilege.

An anonymous Alaska woman has bolted to the 2004 bidding lead as of the last posting, offering $1,700 to ride with DeeDee Jonrowe of Willow.

Jeff King, who pulled the only automatic lock in the 2003 IditaRider competition with a $7,500 bid, already has a $1,500 offer from someone in Nebraska -- the home base of Cabela's outdoor gear, King's sponsor.

Aliy Zirkle of Two Rivers, a former Yukon Quest champion and runnerup Sunday in the Knik 200, is lodged with King at $1,500. A California woman pledged that amount for Zirkle.

Aaron Burmeister of Nome has a $1,400 bid for a ride in his sled.

Rick Swenson of Two Rivers and Doug Swingley of Lincoln, Mont., who have nine Iditarod victories between them, each has a $1,000 bid. Swenson's is from a California man and Swingley's is from an Alaska man.

Anna Bondarenko of Chugiak, Ramy Brooks of Healy, Ray Redington Jr. of Two Rivers, Sonny Lindner of Fairbanks, and Karen Ramstead of Alberta, Canada, each has a $1,000 bid.

Running just behind them is Frank Sihler of Wasilla with a $900 bid from a Utah man. That tops the best bid for Mitch Seavey of Seward by $100.

G.B. Jones of Knik, who has camped out at Iditarod headquarters for the last three years to register first for the race, has a $750 bid from a Texas man.

The Iditarod's ceremonial start is scheduled March 6 with the restart scheduled in Wasilla on March 7.