SO....we have our top ten finally in.....it was a little crazy there at the end with the Blow Hole, but Aliy was able to stay on track for 4 place! Matt Hall and Paige Drobney switched up positions a few times during this last leg, but Matt was able to pass her just a few miles outside of Nome for 6th, with Paige at a respectable 7th. Mitch finished strong even after all the issues he had after Shaktoolik coming in at 9th place. And Ramey Smyth, who also appears out of nowhere come in at 8th. Here the all are, in order:
1. Pete Kaiser
2. Joar Ulsom
3. Jessie Royer
4. Aliy Zirkle
5. Travis Beals
6. Matt Hall
7. PaigeDrobney
8. Ramey Smyth
9. Mitch Seavey
10. Aaron Burmeister
A Few Take Aways:
I cant help but notice we have 2 women in the top 5, and a total of 3 in the top ten...that is AWESOME! Always nice to see more women entering in this somewhat male dominated sport!
I certainly hope they keep the 14 dog rule this year, as it did save on flying dropped dogs out and kept Mushers from using their dogs as weight through the Alaska Range (yes, I'm talking to you Mitch). The strategy did give an advantage to a whole new way of running the race, but in my humble opinion whenever you alter the dogs purpose of RUNNING the trail and instead use them as as blast and weight early in the race is taking away from the dogs experience. This rule made that tactic unattractive....especially when on a soft trail. The Mushers get to vote on this rule change after this race.....I hope it stays permanently. Hopfully the "returned dog" logistics of this race proves far fewer dogs had to be flown off the trail because less dogs were dropped overall.
Climate Change.....with no sea ice, LOTS of wet snow, rain on the trail and 30 miles of overflow, even the most skeptic among us must now truly feel climate change is real. I'm sure this will be all to common going forward. It does put a damper on the sport....we might be at the new normal....years with low snow, or years with deep snow but no ice, and warm temperatures....that was crazy! Lets continue to enjoy this sport while its possible to still have races, weather permitting!
Dallas Seavey, who was NOT running the Iditarod again this year has scratched from the Finnmarkenslopet in Norway. He came in 3rd last year and now this year has scratched. Look for Dallas to return to the Iditarod next year, since he has "kissed and made up" with the
Iditarod about the doping scandal a few years ago.
For you Jesse Holmes "Life Below Zero" Fans.....don't worry, Jesse has already said he will be back....hopefully without having his dogs catch a nasty stomach bug. He did the right thing by stopping for very long periods of rest to nurse them back to health.
Mitch Seavey I believe has been humbled by this finish...we can only hope. I'm just glad Aliy finally got to beat him after all these years!
Until next year.....On By!
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Blow Hole is the Trail Boss
Do you remember the Blow Hole....you know, the wind funnel that basically starts at the base of Topkok hill and is about 7 miles long....well, today the wind was blowing in the hole!
For a while Paige Drobney and Matt Hall were pinned down in it. Travis Beals passed Matt, not sure if he even saw him....anyhow, Beals made it to the Safety checkpoint. Aliy was 11 miles ahead of everyone leaving White Mountain, and spent 20 some odd minutes in the checkpoint. You only do that if its bad.
Jessie Royer, who came in 3rd place and is probably showered and sleeping soundly right now, said its was the worse she has ever traveled into Nome....a slog....white out....she was glad to have good leaders who could find the trail.
Aily seems to be moving well now, at mile 898 along the beach
Travis Beals is at mile 893 about to ascend Cape Nome
Paige Drobney and Matt Hall are sticking close together, both at mile 965
Ramey Smyth is entering the Blow Hole at mile 954...traveling well, so maybe the wind did indeed die down to tolerable speeds.
It appears Mitch has passed Burmeister and is running at mile 948. Danny Seavey reports that his Dad is just in it to finish this year....he stopped trying to win some time ago and just wants to finish. This is a change for Mitch, who has been recently quoted as "I need to win". Perhaps Mitch did some soul searching on this trail and maybe, just maybe, he realized winning isn't everything. Losing actually builds charactor.
Burmeister is at mile 946...if the Blow Hole is blowing....I can see Mitch and Aaron switching up again. Time will tell.
Richie Diehl is at mile 937....again, the Blow Hole can shake things up in these last 3.....I'll keep an eye on it.
For a while Paige Drobney and Matt Hall were pinned down in it. Travis Beals passed Matt, not sure if he even saw him....anyhow, Beals made it to the Safety checkpoint. Aliy was 11 miles ahead of everyone leaving White Mountain, and spent 20 some odd minutes in the checkpoint. You only do that if its bad.
Jessie Royer, who came in 3rd place and is probably showered and sleeping soundly right now, said its was the worse she has ever traveled into Nome....a slog....white out....she was glad to have good leaders who could find the trail.
Aily seems to be moving well now, at mile 898 along the beach
Travis Beals is at mile 893 about to ascend Cape Nome
Paige Drobney and Matt Hall are sticking close together, both at mile 965
Ramey Smyth is entering the Blow Hole at mile 954...traveling well, so maybe the wind did indeed die down to tolerable speeds.
It appears Mitch has passed Burmeister and is running at mile 948. Danny Seavey reports that his Dad is just in it to finish this year....he stopped trying to win some time ago and just wants to finish. This is a change for Mitch, who has been recently quoted as "I need to win". Perhaps Mitch did some soul searching on this trail and maybe, just maybe, he realized winning isn't everything. Losing actually builds charactor.
Burmeister is at mile 946...if the Blow Hole is blowing....I can see Mitch and Aaron switching up again. Time will tell.
Richie Diehl is at mile 937....again, the Blow Hole can shake things up in these last 3.....I'll keep an eye on it.
Travis Beals and former Yukon Quest Champ Matt Hall battle for 5th!
Matt Hall and Travis Beals are at mile 961.....both of them.....battling it out! WOW!!!
Aliy Zirkle is still 11 miles ahead of that race, solidly in 4th place at mile 972 approaching the checkpoint of Safety!
Jesse "Hollywood" Holmes is back on the runners headed to Elim....Mitch is about to leave White Mountain.
Still lots of racing yet to be enjoyed!
Aliy Zirkle is still 11 miles ahead of that race, solidly in 4th place at mile 972 approaching the checkpoint of Safety!
Jesse "Hollywood" Holmes is back on the runners headed to Elim....Mitch is about to leave White Mountain.
Still lots of racing yet to be enjoyed!
Jessie Royer 10 miles from NOME....Jesse Holmes Stalled AGAIN!
As Jessie Royer is about to finish her best Iditarod in 3rd place, Jesse Holmes (aka Hollywood Holmes) appears to be stalled again in between Koyuk and Elim. Matt Failor is about to come upon him....he was the Musher stalled out on the shelter cabin at the edge of the ice yesterday, but after several hours was able to get his Team going. As I wrote earlier Mitch too was stalled on the ice and got them going...then gave them a long rest in Koyuk before going to Elim. Then he TRIED to leave Elim after a 3.5 hour rest, just to have his dogs say NO and he turned around and rested more in Elim. He did make it to White Mountain and will rest for 8 hours before going to Nome....but now that I see Hollywood is stalled even after a super long rest in Koyuk its a possibility Mitch could stall again. If his Team holds together he is bound for a 10th place finish. Hollywood on the other hand should really think about pulling the plug. OR perhaps it makes for good TV.....whatever the case may be Mushers are sure having a difficult time of it.
Here is a run down:
Nome is at mile 998
Jessie Royer is on the Beach running at mile 989 now
Aliy will be next....she is running at mile 944 coming down Topkok to the sea coast and infamous Blow Hole
Matt Hall is behind her at mile 933
Travis Beals is hot on his heels at mile 930!
Paige Drobney is a mere 4 miles behind Beals.....these last 3 are in the battle for 5th, 6th and 7th!
Here is a run down:
Nome is at mile 998
Jessie Royer is on the Beach running at mile 989 now
Aliy will be next....she is running at mile 944 coming down Topkok to the sea coast and infamous Blow Hole
Matt Hall is behind her at mile 933
Travis Beals is hot on his heels at mile 930!
Paige Drobney is a mere 4 miles behind Beals.....these last 3 are in the battle for 5th, 6th and 7th!
Kaiser is the 2019 Iditarod CHAMP!!!
And we have a winner.....Pete Kaiser of Bethel Alaska....a Yupik Alaskan Native and 4 time Kusko 300 Champ! He know now add an Iditarod Championship to his resume! Well done Pete!
Joar came in about 12 minute later in 2nd place. These 2 are good friends and have great respect for eachother....well done Joar, yet another top 10 to your racing resume!
Jessie Royer is presently on her way to the Safety checkpoint....right now running at 967.
Aliy was just released from her 8 hour mandatory rest in White Mountain and is now heading to Nome, 77 miles away. She is presently running at mile 923.
Matt Hall will be the next to leave after Aliy....but unless something terrible happens on the Trail Aliy will capture 4th!
For the first time in Iditarod History, there will be 2 women Mushers in the top 5!
Joar came in about 12 minute later in 2nd place. These 2 are good friends and have great respect for eachother....well done Joar, yet another top 10 to your racing resume!
Jessie Royer is presently on her way to the Safety checkpoint....right now running at 967.
Aliy was just released from her 8 hour mandatory rest in White Mountain and is now heading to Nome, 77 miles away. She is presently running at mile 923.
Matt Hall will be the next to leave after Aliy....but unless something terrible happens on the Trail Aliy will capture 4th!
For the first time in Iditarod History, there will be 2 women Mushers in the top 5!
8 Miles to go.....3 miles of separation!
Kaiser is still holding the lead by about 3 miles......only 7 more miles of trail left.....Joar is posting faster times as they head down the beach!
Heading to the Beach....and the winner is.....
Nome....the prize, the truck, the accolades, the celebration is awaiting its 2019 Champion at mile 998. As the crowd gathers, the 2 Teams are battling it out. Kaiser had approximately a 45 minute head start from White Mountain, with his small squad of 8 dogs. Joar, last years Champion with also 8 dogs took chase, and through the night they have been racing and chasing.....up and over TopKok, through the infamous Blow Hole, through the checkpoint of Safety, and now down Cape Nome to the Beach.
Kaiser is running at mile 986 and is nearly at the beach at 6.5 mph......
Joar is currently climbing Cape Nome going 5.4 mph at mile 983.....his GPS has not "pinged in" in 12 minutes, so probably is a little closer.
As the 2 sprint to the finish, Jessie Royer, in her best place ever in the Iditarod, is just coming down off of Topkok and now on the beach entering the Blow Hole at mile 951 going 6.2 mph.
Coffee is ON, Live Feed is on the screen.....
Kaiser is running at mile 986 and is nearly at the beach at 6.5 mph......
Joar is currently climbing Cape Nome going 5.4 mph at mile 983.....his GPS has not "pinged in" in 12 minutes, so probably is a little closer.
As the 2 sprint to the finish, Jessie Royer, in her best place ever in the Iditarod, is just coming down off of Topkok and now on the beach entering the Blow Hole at mile 951 going 6.2 mph.
Coffee is ON, Live Feed is on the screen.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
