Wasilla rookies eager to tackle the 2025 Iron Dog

Racers Kevin Niemi and Skye Rench of Wasilla will be rounding out Team 11 in this year’s Iron Dog snowmachine Race.

New to racing, both Niemi and Rench have been preparing themselves mentally and physically for their rookie debut in the longest and toughest snow machine race on Earth.

“It’s a learning curve for us just being new,” Niemi said. “I’d say that our biggest challenge is just being green.”

Friends since the age of 7, Niemi and Rench have been running snowmachines together to access family cabins on the Yentna River. They both followed the Iron Dog for years, watching racers go by their cabins each winter. They had always wanted to participate, and together decided 2025 was the year to sign up.

“We were both on the same page and always wanted to do it together, so we decided this was the year,” Rench said.

Working well together is one of their strengths, Rench said. He noted how important it is to have a partner that can remain level-headed and work through tough scenarios they might encounter on the trail. Rench described Niemi as taking the lead, asking questions and talking to other teams to prepare for the race. Niemi described Rench as accountable and strategic, making sure they stayed on schedule, worked out in the gym and made as many training runs as possible.

One of the initial hang ups was the financial aspect of competing in Iron Dog. Niemi and Rench both had to purchase practice sleds, race sleds, spare parts, tools and racing gear. Neither of them have much racing experience and relied heavily on information from Iron Dog veterans on how to prepare for the race this year.

Niemi credits his friend Brett Lapham, a 2024 Iron Dog champion, for his support this year. Niemi explained that Lapham helped build their sleds and talked about race strategy and what to expect on the trail. Team Barber Racing was also a resource for both Niemi and Rench.

Together, Niemi and Rench put nearly 1,000 miles on their machines to prepare for the race this year. Less than ideal weather conditions and waiting on parts prevented them from making as many training runs as they had initially planned.

The training they’ve been able to do has made Rench more comfortable hitting the trail. He explained that it took time to get familiar with the sleds and learn how to adjust suspension for different types of terrain. Being able to work on the sleds and being able to pull them apart and put them back together was a huge confidence boost.

“Having your hands on every nut and bolt is comforting knowing that you’ve touched everything on the sled and have it dialed in the way you want it,” Rench said.

Both racers placed an emphasis on getting prepared physically for the race. A lack of snow will make for a bumpy ride, especially when travelling at high speeds. Rench explained how they have prepared for the tight, twisting trails through the denser sections of trail that will take its toll on the body.

“Getting on the river is easy, but once you get into the trees where the trail gets rough and you're turning back and forth every couple seconds, that really wears on your shoulders and your forearms, so that’s what we focused on in the gym,” Rench said.

They plan to run their own race, and their goal is to finish without too many hiccups.

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a long race,” Niemi said. “We’re just going to try to ride at a comfortable pace to where we’re keeping our stuff together and keeping our bodies in good shape.”

They both agreed that the most challenging aspect of the race this year will be navigating portions of the trail that they haven’t experienced yet. They are both anxious going into the weekend, but feel ready to hit the trail.

“I feel good, I’m really, really excited,” Niemi said. “You can prepare and prepare and prepare and run scenarios but you don’t know until you’re doing it. And that’s kind of where we’re at right now.”

“It’s definitely nerve wracking,” Rench said. “I think it’s something that we know we’re capable of doing… Come race day we’ll be ready.”

Both Niemi and Rench want to perform well and finish the race, representing all those that have supported them this year. The race means a lot to each of them, and finishing it among those that they’ve looked up to all their lives is what’s most important to them.

“It means a lot to me,” Niemi said. “I’ve wanted to do it since I was a kid. I’ve always looked up to all the guys that do it.”

“I just enjoy a good challenge and this has been on my radar for a long time,” Rench said. “Being able to actually make it happen is a pretty big deal, which is why we have every intention of finishing this race.”