Iditarod 35: Tailgating - AK style

March 6, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WILLOW - Portable grills, bonfires and snow machines - Alaska-style tailgating was in full swing for the 2007 Iditarod restart on Willow Lake Sunday.

&#8220It's too nice not to come out,” Wasilla's Steve Jakab said.

Jakab brought his family out to Willow to watch mushers and enjoy the sunshine. But race fans had that opportunity once already this week - Saturday in Anchorage. So why make the trip to Willow?

&#8220This is way different,” Jakab said. &#8220This is more me.”

Jakab's assessment of the Willow scene was echoed time and again by the many race fans who gathered for small parties along the trail. Some huddled around bonfires or sat on cabin decks to watch the show, which included not only mushers and their teams, but helicopters, news crews and hundreds of snow machines buzzing to and fro across the lake.

Kevin and Roxy Knight have a cabin on Willow Lake, and said they've been having small gatherings at their place for each of the nine restarts that have been held there.

On Sunday, the Knights hosted a small get-together at their cabin, an event that was similar to countless others around the lake - a few friends, a small fire, maybe a couple dogs running around - a great way to enjoy the state's signature event.

&#8220It's perfect, it's right off our deck and the weather's great,” Kevin Knight said.

Roxy Knight said she's glad the event has been held in Willow in recent years, and hopes the Iditarod Trail committee decides to make the move permanent.

&#8220I can understand why Wasilla wants it to stay there, but Willow can use this kind of thing, too,” she said.

Plus, she pointed out, the trail out of Willow has the advantage of being closer to the wilderness - a big plus for mushers used to rural conditions.

&#8220From right here they go three miles and they're in the swamp,” she said.

Not everyone had a cabin with a deck to utilized for their race parties. Wasilla's Jason Peterson made do with a portable grill propped on the back of a four-wheeler. Enjoying a hot dog as the race start went on behind him, Peterson said he was glad he made the half-hour trip to Willow for the big event.

&#8220This is great,” Peterson said. &#8220This is my first time. I'm really glad I came.”

Spectators who didn't bring their own food had plenty of opportunities to pick up a race-side meal from one of the many vendors who showed up on the lake. One of those included doughnut vendor Stephen Darilek - who was hard to miss in his red, white and blue &#8220Uncle Sam” costume.

&#8220Hot, fresh mini doughnuts right here, folks!” Darilek cried out, over and over again, attracting a large crowd to his mobile doughnut van.

&#8220My wife runs the shop and I do the selling,” Darilek said.

Darilek said the wild get-up gave him both plenty of exposure and a chance to mingle with the large, enthusiastic crowd.

&#8220I meet people from all over,” he said. &#8220Its fun.”

Fun was the operative word to describe the event, said tailgater Steve Jakab while standing around a small trailside fire.

&#8220I just love it,” he said. &#8220It's a great time.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com