Iditatips

WILLOW — Anyone believing sled dog racing isn’t a spectator sport has never attending the official restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Also known as the Last Great Race on Earth, dozens of the world’s best mushers will take off from Willow Lake on Sunday while an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 fans look on. Like the Super Bowl, which attracts more than hard-core football fanatics, the Iditarod restart is the place to be for anyone looking for a fun time for the family.

“No matter what the weather’s like there’s always a big crowd,” said Cheryl Zachary, a former Wasilla resident and a 15-year Iditarod volunteer. This year, she’s coordinating the event’s Anchorage race headquarters.

Long before the 2 p.m. restart — which will have the 71 mushers leaving the starting chute in two-minute intervals — the crowd begins to build at Willow Lake, she said. Sometimes people catch a musher or two for a photo or kids ask for autographs. For others, the day wouldn’t be complete without starting it with a huge breakfast at the Willow Elementary School pancake feed.

From 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., the school’s parent-teacher association is serving up pancakes, ham, sausage, potatoes, eggs, fresh fruit, juice and coffee, said Sam Newman, the group’s president.

“It’s a pretty good spread,” he said. “Last year I think we served about 250 people.”

The breakfast — $9 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7-17 and free for kids 6 and younger — is the PTA’s largest fund-raiser and is walking distance to the restart, Newman said.

Zachary helps with a primer for those attending the sled dog event.

• Arrive early.

• Dress for the weather.

• Take snacks and water with you.

• Bring something to sit on — the lake is covered in snow.

• Bring a camera.

• Help avoid parking hassles by taking a shuttle from Wasilla.

“Probably the best place to go and see the racers is out on the lake,” Zachary said. “Take some snacks with you, take your chairs, and you can also purchase food there too at the clubhouse.”

Dressing in layers is also recommended, she said. “Warm boots are probably the most important, and mittens. And dress in layers, because it can warm up as the day goes on. You don’t want to get cold out there, but if you do get chilled, you can go into the recreation center and warm up.”

Picking out a prime viewing spot along the restart route on the lake is also important, Zachary said. To do that, arrive early.

“If you want a good spot, I’d be there by noon,” she said. “It does get crowded, especially closer to restart time.”

A big time- and aggravation-saver can be taking a shuttle bus to Willow instead of driving yourself, Zachary said. Shuttles cost $2 for a round trip and leave every half hour beginning at 11 a.m. from Wasilla High School, and from 11, 11:30 and noon from the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center.

“That’s the best thing to do, take the bus from Wasilla,” she said. “Parking (in Willow) is crowded and you have to pay for parking.”

When packing your gear, remember that whatever you take you have to carry with you, Zachary said.

“You can take a binoculars, and a camera is a big plus,” she said. “Remember weight, because you’re going to have to carry all this stuff with you. A backpack is nice. A lot of people take coolers, but you don’t have to.”

Be a shutterbug

A good camera is probably one of the most important items to bring to capture your Iditarod restart experience, said Jeff Schultz, who’s been the official Iditarod photographer for the past 29 years.

“The best bet is to bring a camera with, ideally, a telephoto lens,” he said. “If you want to be on the start area on Willow Lake, then get there early.”

Although much of the crowd gathers along the starting chute on the lake, it’s possible to get a little farther down the trail to snap some photographs, he said.

“If you have a snowmachine, you can go out early and go on down the trail — slowly so you don’t hurt the trail,” Schultz said. “Then, you can pick your own spot.”

While zooming in on the racers and dog teams can capture some great action, Schultz advises to also capture the overall flavor of the event.

“Try to get the environment as well, waving to the crowd, the crowd waving (at mushers),” he said. “Get a variety of photos so you can tell a story of your day out there.”

For the little ones, an afternoon of photography can be an enthralling activity. Parents can purchase inexpensive disposable cameras for the kids “or let them use your cheap point-and-shoot digital camera,” Schultz said. “That would be fun.”

Get to know them

Like attending a baseball game in the summertime, Iditarod fans can also purchase a program of the 2010 race for $5. With a program, you can read about all the mushers in the race and learn more about the Iditarod and its history, Zachary said. Another benefit to an early arrival is a chance to meet and greet some of the mushers. Although it’s race day, many will mingle with fans before the race, signing autographs and posing for photographs.

“Well, it is race day, so don’t be offended (if a musher doesn’t respond),” she said. “But most mushers are pretty friendly, and the earlier you’re there the better chance you’ll have of meeting some mushers.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.