Iron Dog teams hit trail

Feb. 13, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

BIG LAKE - Screaming fans and roaring engines rocked Big Lake Sunday morning for the start of the 2007 Tesoro Iron Dog Snowmachine Race.

27 two-man teams took off at two-minutes intervals across the frozen surface of the lake, all of them hoping to be the fastest to traverse the 1,971-mile trail across the Alaska wilderness. The winners will receive the lion's share of a $124,600 purse.

&#8220It's time to get on the trail,” said race announcer Martin James.

First out of the starting chute were Todd and Kyle Malamute of Fairbanks. As the Malamutes revved their sled and prepared to hit the trail, they were greeted by none other than Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose husband, Todd, is a longtime Iron Dog participant.

Before dropping the green flag on the race, Palin had some advice for all the competitors.

&#8220Don't break a leg,” Palin said. &#8220Best of luck to all of you.”

Also on hand for the festivities were Wasilla Mayor Diane Keller and Mat-Su Borough Mayor Curt Menard, who also took their turns dropping the flag and wishing the racers luck.

Palin, however, was the main attraction, with fans constantly getting their pictures taken with the new governor, who graciously smiled and laughed throughout the event. She also stuck around to hug her husband, a three-time race champion who finished in second place last year with partner Scott Davis of Soldotna.

More than a thousand people packed the starting area and surrounding area for the race start. Standing on a hardpacked berm that ran along the starting chute, spectators clad in Carharts and bunny boots waved and yelled encouragement as the teams began making their way out onto the lake, zooming past at 50 miles per hour.

Although the race start was the focal point of the event, much of the action took place just off the course, where vendor booths and the nearby Islander Bar competed for people's attention. All around the lake, snow machines and private airplanes buzzed to and fro, adding to the carnival-like atmosphere of the event.

As the teams made their way to the starting line, each competitor was given a chance to say a couple words to the crowd; but with face-masks and helmets on, much of what was said was garbled. Most simply thanked their families and the dozens of sponsors needed to compete in the grueling race, which sends riders from Big Lake to Nome and then on to Fairbanks.

&#8220It's a long, long way,” commented one onlooker.

As the day wore on, spectators broke away from the masses to gather in small groups to laugh and talk, turing the event into what looked like the world's largest coffee break. Alaska State Troopers worked their way through the crowd, but there were no major incidents among what turned out to be a well-mannered, happy bunch, and no arrests were reported.

As of Monday afternoon, the team of Nick Olstad of Wasilla and Marc McKenna of Anchorage were leading the race, arriving in Galena at 2:51 p.m. Olstad and McKenna were followed into Galena by the Palin/Davis team, which arrived a half hour later. Both teams declared layovers at Galena, where they were resting Monday evening.

Iron Dog executive director Laura Bedard said first teams are expected to arrive in Nome sometime this afternoon.

Racers will take a 36-hour layover in Nome, during which time a halfway banquet will be held before the teams are sent back out on the trail for Fairbanks on Thursday.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 35202265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com