AK residents how much interest in the Iditarod? (Fairbanks, Willow: renting, houses)

[Mary2014]

I have zero interest in most sports. If there was never another baseball, football, basketball or hockey game in the USA I would never miss it. Not big on following the Olympics either.

Any combination of cold, dark and/or snow is not for me - so I have no desire to visit Alaska.

BUT, there is something about the Iditarod that has me glued to the computer when March rolls around. I am not sure if it is because it is an equal opportunity sport ( with one third or the participants being women) or if it is because there are people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50'sand 60's competing against each other and the weather.

I follow all the participants as they pass through each checkpoint, worry about the weather conditions, how many dogs remaining on each team etc. etc. etc.

Do AK residents get excited about and follow the Iditarod or not so much?

Any sense how the weather is shaping up for March and expected conditions this year for the Iditarod?

[AKStafford]

There's a huge turnout for the start downtown and the restart in Willow. And it's a huge deal in the villages that the race goes through.
I think most Alaskans follow it at least a little.

[riceme]

I don't really follow the Iditarod but I follow the Yukon Quest pretty closely. And like you, aside from this I have subzero interest in sports. Ehhh, well besides old school UFC, which I am a little bit of a maniac about. Seems like YQ is a much bigger deal in the Interior than the Iditarod.... ??

[warptman]

Vvhaaat iz diz Iditarod?

[parfleche]

Originally Posted by warptman

Vvhaaat iz diz Iditarod?

You don't want to know I read it is racist

[Metlakatla]

No real interest, although I did admire Susan Butcher a lot. She treated her dogs well, which was somewhat of a new concept among many commercial mushers of her time. I'm glad that the race itself has gotten more humane over the years. Every now and then, some human interest type of aspect concerning the race catches my attention.

For whatever reason, the Yukon Quest has always been more interesting to me.

You rarely even hear the Iditarod discussed on the panhandle.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by riceme

I don't really follow the Iditarod but I follow the Yukon Quest pretty closely. And like you, aside from this I have subzero interest in sports. Ehhh, well besides old school UFC, which I am a little bit of a maniac about. Seems like YQ is a much bigger deal in the Interior than the Iditarod.... ??

Yukon Quest




But what I enjoy the most are the North American and multinational (Winter World) sled dog races in North Pole and Fairbanks.

[6.7traveler]

Those are some nice pictures Ray, thanks for sharing! I am pretty interested in both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod this year, it will be my first time being in Alaska this time of year and plan on keeping up on both. I am taking care of some sled dogs right now for the person that I am renting their cabin from. I don't have experience mushing them, but plan to learn soon. You probably will never see me in any sort of race though I have grown quite attached to them in a short time just working with them and taking care of them. And yes, they are taken very well care of and are kept in nice clean enclosed kennels, with houses and straw and plenty of love from both me and their owner.

[riceme]

Nice, Ray!

I can't wait... we're allowed to watch/monitor our teams while we work. That's how important Yukon Quest is around here. :-D

[AKStafford]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

You rarely even hear the Iditarod discussed on the panhandle.

True... It wasn't until I moved to Southcentral that I noticed that most people at least had a passing interest. Growing up in Southeast, I don't remember much mention of it.