THE FINAL 14!

DRUMROLL…..Here are the final 14 athletes who will be competing in the 2021 Iditarod!

It was a VERY tough choice. For the most part, I had the 13 picked out, but that number 14 dog was very much up for grabs. Kalyn and Derek will be loading up the team, my sled, Jezzy, and Sasha and driving south today. I’ll meet them in Wasilla, and we’ll stay the night at a hotel. Tomorrow, we have to be at the Deshka Landing staging area by no later than 11:00. It’s nearly time!

Today, Cartel and I are relaxing in Anchorage. We’ll meet up with Kelsey and Tyler to get them gear for picking up any dropped dogs.

A bit about the decision making for the final 14.

Bowser- this guy has zero race experience. As a two year old, he trained with the yearlings rather than the adults due to his incessant dipping (biting and eating snow on the side of the trail), which would cause him to vomit. This year, he has done every training run. He seems to have outgrown the dipping, and he works hard with a smooth, effortless gait. It’s a big race to tackle as your first race, but I think he’s up to the challenge. This decision probably falls on the more emotional side on a the emotional to rational decision making spectrum.

Dolly- Dolly is 7 years old, which is getting on the older end of the racing range. She’s also kind of slow. All that being said, she’s one of the team’s safety nets. She’s completed many 1000-mile races, has a great attitude, and if things get crazy, she’ll lead us out of the chaos, which is invaluable. Plus, she’s real cute.

Etta- Other than the Goose Bay 150 last year, this will be Etta’s first big race. Even though her race resume is sparse, I’m relying heavily on Etta’s leading skills. She’s exceptional. She has enthusiastically run every training mile this year and thrives in lead. Expect to see her in lead for a good chunk of the race.

Faff- This will be Faff’s first 1000-mile race! She has started a couple 300-mile races last year, but did not finish. It’s a bit of a gamble taking her on the team, but she has run every training mile and has a fantastic attitude. She’s playful, strong, happy- just a really fun dog to be around. So she’s going. And that’s that.

Goblin- Goblin is the oldest at 8. BUT he’s a young eight. He just turned eight. And I found I just didn’t want to leave the starting line without him. He’s the only dog who raced with me in 2016. And he’s a badass. He’s looking strong, healthy, and ready to lead.

King Louie- Sweet, emotional Louie is ready for Iditarod! There are few dogs in this world who are as sweet as Louie. We’ve been managing a weird condition called Chronic Ulcerative Paradental Stomatitis, which will probably result in ultimately pulling out all his teeth. It’d be tough for a toothless dog to eat the number of calories required for a 1000-mile race, so for now, I’m just cherishing every race mile we get to travel together!

Maple- She’s dynamite. Strong, happy, good eater. She is currently in heat, so the boys think Maple is REAL cute right now, and she thinks she’s quite a catch as well. Hopefully she’ll be out of heat soon otherwise team dynamics could get interesting! Maple is an Iditarod finisher from her time with Jason Campeau.

Oryx- Oryx beast is ready to rock. With two 1000-mile races under her belt, I’m relying on her as a trail-hardened veteran to show all these newbies what a long distance trek is all about.

Smoky- Smoky hasn’t completed a 1000-mile race yet (he was dropped in Eagle last year after picking up a stomach bug), but I’m counting on him to be a main leader. He has what it takes. Expect to see him in lead for a good chunk of the trail.

Thresher- Thresher is small and mighty. He’s been 100%, finished all training miles, and is ready. He’s a back pocket leader, meaning if need be, he would run up front. He seems happier in team or farther back, but it’s reassuring to know that he’s there and has the abilities.

Uno- Energizer bunny Uno is back for another 1000-miler. Like the other veterans, I’m counting on her to show the rookies how it’s done. Uno has an exceptionally fast recovery time, so her energy is always a nice addition to the team atmosphere.

Wingman- This guy is the best. I can’t imagine racing without him. He’s the cheerleader and one of the hardest workers. Plus he’s a 1000-mile veteran.

Yoshi- This will be her first 1000-mile race, but she finished on our competitive Copper Basin schedule last year, so I know she’s up for the challenge. She’s quiet and unassuming, but she has a beautiful gait and works hard.

Mario- This guy was dog #14. I was debating between Mario, Elmer, and Otis up until yesterday. Mario is 100% healthy, chunky, and a 1000-mile veteran. Elmer is a reliable leader, pulls harder than Mario, but is coming back from a sore illiopsas and hasn’t finished 1000-mile race. Otis is a cheerleader and harder puller, but he can get thin on long races and has fewer miles this season after his incident with the stick. Ultimately I chose Mario for his reliability. And his cuteness. You can’t beat Mario cuteness.

The stats:

7 Female/ 7 Male

9 1000-mile Finishers/ 5 Rookies

This team is a quiet team. Most of the athletes are on the calmer side. Rather than crazily harness-banging, they prefer to stand at the ready, tails gently wagging. Most of the athletes hold weight exceptionally well (except for Etta, Smoky, and Dolly). And most importantly, they’re all just really nice dogs who are ready for an adventure! I can’t wait to cover 850 miles with these amazing canine athletes!