ITC denial makes no sense for Last Great Race

Frontiersman editorial board

In a decision that's likely to spur national debate, the Iditarod Trail Committee on Friday denied the request of Rachael Scdoris to run in the 2004 Iditarod. The 18-year-old musher from Bend, Ore. has been running sled dogs since she was three years old. She's finished other races, including the Atta Boy 300 in 2002.

The young musher has many other accomplishments academically, socially and in athletics. In the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 distance runs, she's ranked third in the nation by the United States Association of Blind Athletes. And there's the rub. Scdoris is sight impaired, and it would require some accommodations for her to be able to run the Last Great Race.

Scdoris presented a painstakingly detailed race plan to the ITC clearly spelling out what it would take for her to run the race. Most significantly, she needs a visual interpreter to help her assess her on-trail strategy and decisions. Scdoris' plan makes it clear that her VI will not be used to scout the trail ahead or to provide her with information the other mushers wouldn't have access to. The initial race plan requested a tandem sled that Scdoris and her VI would share. The ITC felt that would be too dangerous, and would also afford too much opportunity for the VI to assist Scdoris in the race.

A second plan suggested the use of snowmachines that could mostly ride along behind Scdoris. That, too, has been rejected, and Scdoris' request has been indefinitely tabled by the ITC.

Perhaps the most stunning thing about the decision is the fact that it required so little debate. The ITC, claiming both concern for fairness and for Scdoris' safety, made the decision very quickly, and has not offered a clear explanation why Scdoris will not be able to compete. In April, one ITC member suggested verbiage for a 63rd rule that would require the ITC to consider reasonable and equitable accommodations for disabled mushers. If such a rule is even being considered, it seems the Scdoris request is a perfect litmus test for the decision-making process.

For a race that has struggled to gain national attention and sponsorships for many years, this can't be the kind of attention the ITC has coveted. We believe the ITC should revisit this issue and embrace Scdoris as the very embodiment of what the Iditarod means. It's about endurance, perseverance and about people overcoming obstacles. It's about everything Rachael Scdoris has personified, and the Last Great Race could be even greater with her in it.