March 24, 2015

2015 Iditarod Finishes Without a Fulcrum

Over Alaska’s Iditarod course, 13 of the original 79 mushers had to abandon the race leaving 66 to finish at Nome. With the even number of finishers, no Point d’Appui could be awarded.

On the cusp of the fulcrum were Justin Savidis of Willow, Alaska, at 33rd and Charley Bejna of Addison, Illinois, at 34rd.

It was the second year in a row that Savidis finished 33rd.

Dallas Seavey, the reigning champ, won again this year, edging out his father, who finished second. Dallas Seavey has finished in the top 10 since 2008 and has won the race three times now.

The Lanterne Rouge this year goes to Cindy Abbott of Irvine, California, who finished 4 days and 16 hours behind the leaders. This was her third Iditarod and first finish.

March 14, 2013

As First Mushers Finish, Failor Running on Fulcrum of Iditarod

Matt Failor

Matthew Failor, 29, was at the fulcrum of the 2013 Iditarod as the first mushers finished at Nome, Alaska, late Tuesday night. Failor, who grew up in Ohio, was an Eagle Scout along with three brothers and learned his way around the outdoors during that period. He began learning about sled dogs and mushing while working summers at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

He moved to Alaska in 2010 to accept a dog handling position with the Buser family. His boss, Martin Buser, somewhere ahead of him on the trail, asked if he would be interested in running a yearling team to Nome. Said Failor: “That is when I became interested in running the Iditarod.”

Failor arrived at White Mountain, the penultimate checkpoint, at 11 a.m. Wednesday with 10 dogs still on the run.

The winner of the Iditarod appears to be Mitch Seavey with a time of nine days, 7 hours, 39 minutes and 56 seconds. So far, the Lanterne Rouge continues to be Cindy Abbott.

We’ll update again once all finishers have crossed the line and we have a final Point d’Appui, if indeed the odd number of mushers survives to the finish.

March 10, 2013

Perano Mushes into Iditarod Point d’Appui

Curt Perano

Curt Perano, a dog handler who now calls Willow, Alaska, his home, is running his second Iditarod and has become the Point d’Appui of the race on Day 7 of the 2013 Iditarod. Perano, 40 has lived in New Zealand, Singapore, Europe, the United States and British Columbia, so staying on the move doesn’t appear to be a problem for him. He began running dogs in 2000.

Martin Buser continues to lead the race, and the new Lanterne Rouge is Cindy Abbott.