The drawing of the Kuskokwim 300 marks the start of the racing season for Kaiser Racing and many of the mushers gathered tonight in Bethel, Alaska. As old friends gathered to hear the rules and see what’s in store, it reminds me of “Old Home Week.”
Myron Angstman began tonight with a tribute to Rudy Demoski, who passed away earlier today. A mushing legend, Rudy Demoski left his mark on many races, but as Myron’s voice shook a bit as he spoke, it was evident that it left a lasting impression on him, and the Kuskokwim 300 trail race. A fitting tribute to an old time musher for the old breed. Tough, talented, and a bit rough around the edges, but a true musher and racer and friend.
The 2018 Kuskokwim 300 will be far different from any race that has started under its name to date. The starting line is near the airport on a trail Pete and the team have been using for training. Warm condition and dangerous river conditions canceled completely the upper regions of the trail. Bogus Creek will be the upper most checkpoint and Teams will run from the start to Bogus in two 150 mile “laps.” It should be an exciting weekend and a unique opportunity for Bethel mushing fans to see Teams at a checkpoint. The M.E. School will be the Bethel checkpoint as Teams water and feed their Teams and also get a quick bite to eat as well. Bethel has never hosted a checkpoint, so this will be a great opportunity for fans to see how it works “on the trail!”
Team Kaiser will have two Teams in the race this year as Pete and the A Team will be joined by Nik Wikstrand and the B Team out on the Trail. Pete told me tonight that training has been marginal with much of the time spent out on the tundra with little snow and much ice.
Pete chose bib #5 and Nik chose #3. Teams are placed on the lake with odd numbers on one side and even on the other. So by choosing these positions, Nik and Pete will be side by side on the same side of the lake. Logistically it is just much easier for it to happen this way.
18 Teams will leave the chute tomorrow at 6:30pm near H-Marker lake. I’ll have mileages and such soon on this complex race for 2018. It should be a great deal of fun for spectators and as always, I’ll have lots of photos and video for you to devour if you can’t make it or are one of our online fans.
Go Team Kaiser!!
