Author Archives: tundratech

Iditarod 51 Starts Today! Bib 33 for Team Kaiser!

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It’s been a busy week for Team Kaiser prepping for today and the last step before heading on the trail to Nome tomorrow.

It all started last Sunday when Pete and the Team made their way to Anchorage, but not without a little excitement to be sure. The weather was deteriorating and the Team had reservations to leave on Northern Air Cargo. That flight was delayed and as the weather got worse, Pete began to get a bit nervous. He checked the flight tracker and lo and behold an Everts Air Cargo flight was inbound. Hmm… What to do?? The Team had Vet checks the next day and they HAD to get to Anchorage.

In the bush, when you need to get home from a remote outpost, a flight in the hand is way better than a schedule on the books! It’s very common to get on whatever plane is on the ground as you never know if you’ll get stranded.
Weather on his mind, Pete went for the flight, loaded the Team and watched then fly off to Anchorage as he got on Alaska Airlines to meet them.

Later that night Northern Air Cargo’s plane headed out for Bethel and made one approach to the airport, but the weather had deteriorated too far and they aborted, cancelled, and headed back to Anchorage. The gambit paid off!

On Thursday, after a fan meet and greet at the Da’naina Center in Anchorage, Pete and the rest of the 2023 mushers met to draw starting positions for this years race.
Pete drew 33, or second to last, in the very small group of Teams scheduled to make their way to Nome.

This morning Ron and the Team will be driving in from Palmer for the Ceremonial Start. Pete and the Team, with Dick Wilmarth’s grand-daughter as the Iditarider, will leave the Ceremonial Starting line at 11:06 for the 10 mile run to the Campbell Creek airstrip.

This is the Fan Day of the Iditarod, so if you are in Anchorage, Come on Down!

One mention of note– Wishing Pete’s Mom a very happy birthday! Janet got an Iditaride one year as a birthday present, but today she is managing the rest of the Team in Bethel. It’s a family business, and Team Kaiser Grandma is hard at work with her own helper Team making sure the rest of the dogs are fed and cared for.

Happy Birthday Janet!!

Go Team Kaiser!!

 

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2023 Kuskokwim 300 Champion – Pete Kaiser

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It was quite a crowd that gathered today to cheer Pete and the Team across the Finish line.

Pete and his Team of 11 dogs arrived at 12:27pm to claim his seventh Kuskokwim 300 Championship.

It was a tight race and not too long after the photos and interviews before Pete had to clear the chute to see second place finisher Matt Failor arrive exactly 10 minutes later. After leaving Tuluksak 8 minutes in front of Matt, Pete and the Team maintained only a 10 minute interval for the entire 50 mile trail to Bethel. It was really a nail biter for me, but Pete was confident, cool, and collected at the finish line, “It’s much nicer to have a good lead, but it is what it is,” he told me later.

Many Teams crossed the Finish Line very close to one another making for a real celebration of the event. Fans stuck around for the Teams crossing which often doesn’t happen when it’s brutally cold. Today though, people were anxious to see Teams and each other. After all of the Covid situation, it was good to see one another.

Here are the stats, photos and video coming shortly.

Go Team Kaiser! Congratulations Pete and the Team!!

 

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It’s Going To Be a Close One!! 8 Minute Lead!!

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Good morning race fans! It was a close one last night and a nail biter at Kaiser Racing HQ.

As all eyes were glued to the tracker Pete and the Team saw a 21 minute lead steadily decrease over the miles between Kalskag and Tuluksak. Pete could see Matt Failor as we all could slowly gain ground mile by mile. In the end Pete narrowly arrived ahead of Matt with an 8 minute lead going into the Tuluksak checkpoint and a four hour rest and veterinary check.

Pete arrived into Tuluksak at 3:39am with an elapsed trail time from Kalskag of  5hrs 35 min. Matt arrived at 3:47am with an elapsed time of  5hrs 22 min.

It’s going to be a close one for Team Kaiser and one of the most exciting races in a long time!

Pete is prepping to leave right now and can return to the trail at 7:39am. Let’s hope he got some coffee for the early morning run into Bethel and the Finish Line.

Go Team Kaiser!!

(Editor’s note- Originally had written as 12 minute lead. My hardly open eyes can’t do math when the brain isn’t fully going- haha) 8 minute lead

 

 

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Racing through Kalskag

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Pete and the Team raced through Kalskag, stopping only for coffee, but unfortunately there was none. No time to make a pot, “We gotta go!”

Iditarod Race Marshall Mark Nordman was on hand to capture the action and shared this video. Thanks Mark! Nice Job!!

Teams are really close together and every minute counts!

Matt Failor has gained on Eddie Burke to move into second position with only a 1.9 mile or 14 minute differential. Stay tuned as it is going to be a really exciting night on the 50 mile run to Tuluksak.

Weather in Bethel is a little warm, but it’s about dead calm and cloudy. I’d imagine Teams will be seeing water and a tough trail in some parts, but other parts could actually be pretty fast. Temperatures are just below freezing.

Here is Pete blowing through Kalskag. Go Team Kaiser!

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Halfway! Team Kaiser First into Aniak!

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We call it the Halfway point in the race, but in a Whitefish loop year, it’s actually a bit past half way.

Pete and the Team look to be doing very nicely in the 2023 Kuskokwim 300. Followed closely by Wildstyle Racing’s and Superfan turned competitor Eddie Burke Jr., Pete is first into the “Halfway” checkpoint at 3:11pm with 12 dogs. this afternoon.

Arriving first into Aniak, Pete and the Team will receive $1000 store credit from longtime Kuskokwim 300 sponsor Alaska Commercial! Thank you and way to go! Steaks for the Team! Haha!

Word from the trail is that it is not great, but that doesn’t seem to be holding back our favorite Team!

Weather is a bit better than expected. At least it isn’t raining!!

I’m not sure what to expect here. He could take a 2 hour break and regroup and then head back to the trail and take the last hour in Kalskag. If he takes 3 hours, then it’s an 85 mile run from Aniak to Tuluksak. The reasoning behind taking the layover in Aniak is to rest longer and take advantage of cooler temperatures later in the day. We’ll see what happens, so stay tuned!

Currently in Aniak it is 30 degrees with a 3 knot breeze with high clouds.

It’s snack time for Pete and the Group and a bit of shuteye as well.

It’s going to be a barn burner of a race tonight, so STAY TUNED!!

Go Team Kaiser!!

 

 

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