Iditarod on ice? The race must go on

Frontiersman Editorial Board

The decision came down to two choices, really. Either move the Iditarod Sled Dog Race to a place where there was adequate snow and frozen water for river crossings, or cancel the race. It was really that simple. Iditarod executive director Stan Hooley said that the safety of the mushers and dogs was, and always is, the committee's first concern. Had they not been able to find a route that would guarantee a safe race, Hooley said they would have made the tough decision to cancel the race.

Though the race will go on, the last few years have raised some questions. Three of the last six restarts have taken place someplace other than Wasilla, and this year the official start has been moved out of the Mat-Su Borough for the first time in the race's history. Are weather patterns changing to the extent that we'll have to endure the waiting game every January and February? Will it simply become necessary to move the official start place further north? Hooley says he hopes the weather will turn back around, and he also said that Wasilla will always be "Plan-A" for the Iditarod committee. "We're organized enough and efficient enough that we can retool and reorganize in a reasonable amount of time to restart the race in another place if the weather works against us," Hooley said.

It seems Wasilla doesn't need to worry about losing the race, but that is little comfort to vendors and businesses who will suffer again this year. Ed Brittingham of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce said Iditarod days will go on as planned. The annual festival is scheduled to end as the race begins. We hope that locals and others will get out and enjoy the events and support their local businesses. While the celebration is always linked to the race, it really has taken on a life of its own, and it's a great opportunity for locals to get out in the winter -- or February spring -- to let off a little steam.

In an ideal world, the race would start here -- the way it ought to be. But things are less than ideal. However, the race is not going to sweat a little warm weather, and Wasilla shouldn't either.

While we've lost the restart again this year, we do have some amazing weather for Iditarod Days. Let's hope the community turns out in force to support our local businesses and to celebrate whatever curve balls Mother Nature decides to throw at us. After all, facing the unexpected challenge is what Alaskans are best at.