Iron Dog 2025: Recapping the beginning of the 41st annual race
BIG LAKE, Alaska (KTUU) - After plenty of anticipation and build-up, the 41st running of the Iron Dog Snowmachine race finally stepped off from Big Lake on Saturday.
Team 19, featuring Chad Moore and Shane Barber, were the first racers to hit the trail. In total, 30 teams — consisting of 60 riders and 60 machines — now begin the hard-fought trek to Nome, hoping to do so with little difficulty.
“Slow and steady, don’t break anything, keep moving. We’ll make it there in one piece,” Collin Clayton of Team 24 said.
“We’re just gonna run it smooth and steady,” Team 23’s Adam Stafford said. “We packed a little bit of ice with us. Once we get to the berm we’ll see what happens.”
For some, this year is a chance to correct past mistakes. the duo that makes up Team 14 of Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie hope to finally reach the top of the podium after three career second-place finishes in the race.
For Team 5, Kruz Kleewein says just finishing will be better than last year.
“It’s like my eighth try. Not finishing last year definitely stings,” he said. “When we were running up front with the leaders, you wanna try and stay there. Just the internal battle of fighting yourself, it’ll be good.”
As of 9:30 p.m. on day number one, Multiple teams have already started reaching the McGrath checkpoint with Bradley George and Robby Schachle from Team 20 leading the way. Our trail team will keep you updated as the 41st Iron Dog continues.
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