|
See Related File
See related pages:
http://www.adn.com/pf/mushing
http://www.iditarod.com/
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/
The Next Great Race. You would think the mushers who do The Last Great Race would be satisfied with the challenge, that the Iditarod would be enough for them. But when they think of the future, many envision a complementary Alaska long-distance dog-sled event - a stage race. A race perhaps starting in Seward and going all the way to Fairbanks. Pretty much traveling along the Seward Highway, Glenn Highway and Parks Highway with easy access for spectators. "I would love to see it," said Mitch Seavey. "I would love to see Seward get the recognition as being Mile Zero on the Iditarod Trail." Seavey, 39, of Seward, is racing near the front of the 27th annual Iditarod right now, but a few years ago, before the start of the event, he mushed his dogs the 120 miles from his hometown to Anchorage as a warmup. "Logistically, it's a nightmare," he said. "I ran on the railroad tracks. They pretty much told me it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so I'd better enjoy it." That's the thing. Mushers who have tried stage races do enjoy them. The European Alpirod was popular with Alaska mushers before it folded a few years ago, though it was extraordinarily expensive to reach. The recent hot race is the International Rocky Mountain Stage Stop Race in Wyoming, founded in 1996 by Iditarod veteran Frank Teasley. Covering the 1,100 miles between Anchorage and Nome, mushers pretty much set their own pace, determine their own rest schedule. In the Alpirod and in the Wyoming event, mushers race a predetermined distance every day, and at the end of the day attend a banquet, sleep in hotels and socialize. Mushing stage races mirror the structure of the Tour du France bicycle race. Teasley, back in the Iditarod as "a vacation" for the first time since 1994, said the success and popularity of the Stage Stop has exceeded his fondest hopes. As race director, he receives frequent inquiries at his Jackson, Wyo., home from additional small communities that want to be added to the route. "There's been a lot of gratification," said Teasley, who said three towns were added to the 1999 race and five more want in. There were 11 daily stages and 11 postrace receptions this year in the event won by Iditarod defending champion Jeff King of Denali Park. Teasley said he could see a stage race working in Alaska - if someone is willing to step forward and organize it. "All it takes is a tough skin going into it," said Teasley. A couple of years ago when five-time Iditarod champ Rick Swenson of Two Rivers planned to retire from the Iditarod he floated the idea of starting a stage race. Swenson returned to the Iditarod and is competing this year. However, he remains a strong proponent of a stage race for Alaska. "This is the future of middle-distance mushing," Swenson said. "And this is the place to do it." Alaska mushers come home praising the Wyoming experience, and those word-of-mouth testimonials have more Iditarod veterans seeking ways to pencil it in for their pre-Iditarod winter. "I'm going to try it," said long-time racer Raymie Redington of Knik. "I just think it sounds like a good thing to do. I'd like to see the Iditarod get that way, take eight hours of rest at a time." The Iditarod is not moving in that direction, but after his February victory, King, 43, said he believes strongly that Alaska would love its own stage race. He said if no one starts one by the time he retires from the Iditarod in several years, maybe he will become race director. The Iditarod provides good lessons, according to Teasley, who said he already has sign-ups for his 30-team maximum field next year. "A lot of what I'm doing in the Wyoming race, I learned in the Iditarod," Teasley said. Teasley said he doesn't fear competition from an Alaska stage race and would like to see a whole circuit of stage races so mushers could breed dogs for the specialty. Such a time seems to be in the far-off future, though. Meanwhile, Teasley just wants to enjoy his vacation in this race. "I'm a dog musher before I'm a director," said Teasley. "I'm just reminding myself."
|
