Knik 200 nixed in wake of warm temperatures

WASILLA — Folks around the Knik 200 Joe Redington Sr. Memorial Sled Dog Race had plenty to be excited about.

Interest in the annual race growing at a rapid pace and a field bursting with some of the sport’s top talent were among reasons why organizers predicted a great year for the race. But unfortunately, Mother Nature did not cooperate.

A recent rise in temperature created poor racing conditions and ultimately led to the cancellation of the annual event, slated to start Saturday on Knik Lake in Wasilla.

“It was a hard choice, but we had to do what’s best for the dogs and mushers and everyone involved,” race manager Robert Sexton said Thursday afternoon.

An impressive field of 46 mushers, which included four-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey, were set to compete in the 2013 Knik 200. Another 14 were on the wait list.

“We were very excited this year,” Sexton said.

But in the last week as temperatures began to rise, organizers became more worried.

“It just heated right up,” Sexton said.

Sexton said the changes were about as drastic as overnight. Conditions at the site of the start and finish, Knik Lake, quickly deteriorated. Sexton said he also consistently received poor reports from the trail. Sexton began to poll mushers and fellow organizers New Year’s Eve, and by New Year’s Day, Sexton said he felt the official call needed to be made.

With mushers potentially coming from across the state, Sexton said he didn’t want to wait too long to make the decision.

“People wanted to know as soon as possible,” Sexton said.

In addition to the veterans in the race — widely-known mushers such as Tim Osmar, Ken Anderson and Paul Gebhardt — the field was also loaded with rookies hoping to secure qualifying races in preparation for a future Iditarod run. Another Iditarod qualifier, the Sheep Mountain 150, was cancelled in December.

“A lot of rookies are still trying to get their qualifiers in,” Sexton said.

Sexton said organizers toyed with the idea of postponing the race or even looking for an alternate course, but logistically, making those drastic changes would be too difficult to do this season. A change, Sexton said, would create too many scheduling conflicts for the mushers and the volunteers who help run the race.

Another local race, the Don Bowers Memorial 200/300 Sled Dog Race was also recently cancelled according to its website. The race was slated to start Jan. 18 in Willow.

Twenty-two mushers did recently complete The Top of the World 350 Sled Dog Race, which started and ended in Tok. Mackey won the race, following his 12 dogs into Tok at 4:17 p.m. Dec. 30. Gerry Wilomitzer, Jake Berkowitz, Joar Ulsom and Nicole Faille rounded out the top 5.

The next major race on the schedule is the Copper Basin 300, which is set to begin Jan. 12 in Glennallen.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.