Iditarod update: 1 DQ, 2 scratches, 2 awards, 2 brothers

TANANA — A winner for the 2015 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is still days away, but a slew of other news coming from the Iditarod Trail Committee.

Thus far, it’s announced a race disqualification, a pair of scratches and two awarads to mushers in the 2015 contest.

Race veteran and 2015 Yukon Quest winner Brent Sass was declared disqualified March 10 in Tanana after he was found to be in possession of a two-way communication device prohibited by Iditarod race rule 35.

“No two-way communication device, including cell phones, shall be carried or used unless provided by ITC,” the rule states in part.

The device in question, according to established news outlets, was Sass’s iPod touch, a music player with WiFi capabilities.

Rule 35 seems to be in place to prevent competitors from tracking each other during the race. By the same rule, racers are allowed to carry a one-way emergency device, though activation of such would result in “automatic withdrawal.”

As for voluntary withdrawals, mushers Zoya Denure and Gwenn Bogart both cited “personal reasons” in scratching from the race in Tanana Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

On a more positive note, two-time Iditarod winner Mitch Seavey and four-time winner Jeff King each received special awards for being the first mushers to reach Ruby and Galena.

Seavey was presented with the PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award by PenAir representative Danny Seybert Wednesday for reaching Ruby. As the winner of this award, Seavey will receive an original “Spirit Mask” created by Bristol Bay artist Orville Lind for the event as well as a $500 PenAir credit for travel or freight shipments.

For reaching Galena first, King received the Millennium Alaska Hotel’s “First Musher to the Yukon Award” Thursday from Food and Beverage Director Patrick Cashman. Included in the award was a $3,500 cash prize and a five-course meal with accompanying wine and champagne for each course.

Back on the trail, Valley grown brothers Lance and Jason Mackey are running the race together after Lance’s hands succumbed to Raynaud’s syndrome, a malady that affects blood circulation in the extremities, and limits the mobility in his hands.

“Jason and Lance are very tough men,” Lisa Mackey, Jason’s wife, wrote in an email Thursday. “Put the bond and the strength of two brothers together and the sky is the limit.”

Jason opted to do his 24-hour layover with his brother at an earlier checkpoint than most so they could help each other get to Nome, she said.

Though no outside help is allowed during the race, Iditarod rules permit racers to assist each other.

“No doubt that the guys will make it to Nome, in what place is the question,” Lisa Mackey wrote. “Hard to say.”

As of press time Thursday, Aaron Burmeister of Nome was in the lead on the way to Huslia, followed by Big Lake’s Martin Buser about 15 miles behind. Dallas Seavey of Willow was in third, followed closely by Norway’s Thomas Waerner.

Follow the race online at Iditarod.com.

Contact Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.