Pete and the Team leading out the Honor Procession for Joe Demantle Jr.
Howdy Race Fans!
Welcome to the Start of the 2021 Race Season!
After a two week delay, this season will start a little differently from years past. Generally we kick off with a weekend of mushing with Teams in both the Bogus Creek 150 and the Kuskokwim 300. This year both Pete and Ron will be driving Teams in the 150 and the Kuskokwim 300 will be held in two weeks beginning on February 12.
Covid is on everyone’s minds and as such the Race Committee has come up with a great plan for Teams that keeps them away from Villages, but allows the Race to Go On!!
This year the Teams will leave Bethel in a Mass Start at 12:00pm Noon in front of the Boat Harbor. They’ll head out on the local trails for 75 miles returning to Hangar Lake in Bethel for the halfway layover. After the layover they will reverse course and return to the Finish Line where they started.
Pete says the trail is in pretty good shape and after only a mild warm spell it has plenty of snow and all kinds of trail challenges. Open tundra, river, woods, and hills. It’s all there for Teams this year!
Both Pete and Ron have been training the Team and he is pretty happy all around with this year’s crew. “I’m not sure if they’re the best group I’ve had, but you never know,” said Pete. “Never know until we get out there.”
Temperatures are expected to drop well below zero for the Race and the wind will be a factor as well with windchills expected to be -40F or so.
Spectators are advised to stay apart from each other and the Teams. The Race Committee is excited to have Teams participate and fans cheer on their mushers, but they also want to minimize any risk with regards to Covid 19. At the Finish of the Race there won’t be interviews or crowds except in vehicles, but it should still be a very good time.
Let’s all work together to help put on this race safely! Go Team Kaiser!!
