Iditarod champ visits Snowshoe Elementary School

WASILLA — The 2023 Iditarod championship, Ryan Redington, recently visited students at Snowshoe Elementary School.

"We were so excited," special education teacher Dawn Vallely said.

Redington shared his experiences on the trail with a sideshow in front of a classroom full of enthusiastic students. Vallely said they also live-streamed Redington's presentation so the entire school could see it.

"We found it really helps kids with identity and their own culture. It kind of gives them an idea of how special Alaska is," Vallely said.

Redington has been visiting schools across the state in light of his historic Iditarod victory. He said it felt nostalgic coming to Snowshoe Elementary since that's one of the schools he attended as a child.

"It's a lot of fun and it's an honor to be here," Redington said.

Redington credited his success to his top-notch team of canine companions.

"I'm really proud of my dogs," Redington said.

Redington said that he is the first one in his family to win the Iditarod out of 70 attempts.

"It's a dream come true for me," Redington said.

Redington received a special statue of his grandfather Joe Redington who's commonly referred to as the "Father of the Iditarod."

"It's very cool," Redington said. "When I was growing up I wanted to be like my grandpa and be a top Iditarod musher."

Redington said that he plans to continue mushing and he's going to try to take another first-place victory. He said that his favorite aspect of mushing has always revolved around the bond he builds with the dogs.

"To be on that journey with them… It's been some of the best days of my life," Redington said.

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