Valley riders reach Poorman, lead 2015 Iron Dog

BIG LAKE — A pair of Valley riders is leading the 2015 Iron Dog into Ruby Monday, evening after completing their 14-hour layover in McGrath.

The first teams checked in to McGrath around 8:30 p.m., Sunday and were back on the 2,031-trail by 11:25 a.m., Monday.

Wasilla’s Scott Faeo and Palmer’s Eric Quam hit McGrath in the lead just before 8:30 p.m., Feb. 22. Faeo and Quam owned the fastest race time from the restart in Big Lake to McGrath.

But by Poorman, a new leader was out in front.

The Valley's McKenna/Hill departed McGrath for Poorman 3 minutes ahead of Faeo and Quam who left at 3:27 p.m. In a twist of fate, Team 17 was the last team off the ice at Big Lake during the restart Sunday.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the field battled along the 99 miles of trail between Ophir and Poorman.

Reaching Ruby around 6:36 p.m., McKenna/Hill retained a one-minute lead over Faeo/Quam.

Of the 35 teams that left the ice in two-minute intervals at the Big Lake Restart Sunday, 16 teams represent the Valley.

Open water, glare ice and bare ground made trail conditions the talk of the Big Lake Restart where spectators waded through several inches of standing water mingled with slush and glare ice to cheer on riders heading out on the 2,031-mile trail.

Among Valley riders is the youngest member of this year’s pro class, Colony High School senior Jonathan Sindorf, 18. He’s racing on Team 23 with his dad, Iron Dog Paul Sindorf.

Race veterans — Team 16 — Todd Minnick and Nick Olstad had a broken A arm and steering trouble early in the race and broke down twice before reaching the Skwentna Checkpoint. Olstad rallied on to Skwentna to radio their support team of the needed parts, before returning to the trail to wait with Minnick.

The team rallied and was running in 20th position on the trail to Poorman Monday night.

Team 9 — Joshua Plumb and Hordan Starr — reached Skwentna by cabling up and towing the broken sled into the checkpoint. They arrived in McGrath at 10:48 a.m., Monday.

Valley teams in this year’s race are Team 2 Shane Barber and Ryan Sottosanti; 5 Chris Carroll and Ray Chvastasz; 6 Andy George and Brad George; 8 Tyler Aklestad and Tyson Johnson; 11 Tyler Huntington and Todd Palin; 14 Mark Tope and Wayne Wold; 15 Brian Jurenka and Charlie Potter; 16 Todd Minnick and Nick Olstad; 17 Allen Hill and Marc McKenna; 18 Chad Gueco and Andrew Zwin; 20 Scott Faeo and Eric Quam; 23 Jonathan Sindorf and Paul Sindorf; 25 Mark Carr and Micah Huss; 33 Conner Kyle and Donald Koontz; 39 Cody Barber and Brett Lapham; and 49 Klinton VanWingerden and Kris VanWingerden.

Other teams competing are: 3 Steven Boney and Doug Dixon; 4 Rachel Kidwell and Ashley Wood; 7 Aaron Bartel and Scott Davis; 9 Joshua Plumb and Hordan Starr; 10 Mike Morgan and Chris Olds; 12 Robert Strick and Steffen Strick; 13 Rick Lie and John Schaeffer; 21 Stan Brown and John Dean; 22 Randy Gravatt and Dieter Strobel; 27 Tyler Delimont and Larry Jones; 28 Jason Gundersen and Josh Norum; 29 Stanley English and Larry Levine; 30 Geoff Crouse and Jerrod Vaugh; 31 Chad Dow and Tim Lessard; 32 Jerry Alward and Tim Kanady; 34 John Bahnke and Chrstopher Collins; 36 Ryan Folsom and Tony Greene; 40 Archie Agnes and Arnold Marks; 41 Cory Davis and Ryan Simons; 42 Rurik Lindner and Sonny Lindner; and, 48 Wayne Dyer and Chris Kruse.

Thus far, five teams have scratched. Three scratched out before reaching the race’s first checkpoint, including Johnson/Akelstad; Team 28 Jason Gundersen and Josh Norum; and Team 34 John Bahnke and Christopher Collins. Scratching in McGrath were teams 27 and 31.