With all of the Covid Restrictions, it wasn’t in the cards for Kaiser Media to accompany Pete and the Team to the Starting Line. I watched it at home with all of you. Here are a few shots (I actually shot photos of the TV- Haha!) But I did get the “Money Shot” of Pete giving Bethany his last kiss before the trail. It is going to be another exciting race! Stay Tuned!
The first 100 feet of Iditarod 49, the morning before the race start. Photo by Dave Poyzer
Good Morning Race Fans!
Pete and the Team are readying to head out on the 2021 Iditarod Trail. Weather this morning at the Deshka Landing Starting Line looks to be excellent. With a very limited crew, Pete and the Team will be leaving the Starting line with Bib 3, in second position.
This year, due to Covid restrictions, Pete was limited to himself and four handlers. I bowed out, so just like you, I am relying on the online and other media outlets to view the excitement remotely.
In Alaska, check out KTUU-TV which will have the race start live beginning at 1:30pm.
Online, just head over to www.iditarod.com which will have the start live and free. (Highly recommended to get an insider subscription as well)
This may be a one of a kind race as Teams will head to Iditarod and then return to Deshka Landing for the finish. It should be exciting to see Teams traverse the Dalzell Gorge both ways and I’m sure all normal strategies are out the window as Mushers try to figure this out.
In many ways the 21 Iditarod will have a Kuskokwim flavor as Teams head up to Iditarod and the old ghost town of Flat. I’ll have plenty of stories as we move into our area and an unknown gem of history and legend. With three Teams from the Kuskokwim competing, once again the K300 can be proud of it’s program. Pete will be joined on the trail by 21 Bogus Creek 150 and K300 Champ, Richie Diehl, and Victoria Hardwick, who finished the 2019 Iditarod.
This is the pinnacle of Dogsled Racing and Pete will be right in his element. We spoke last week about mushing and why he does it. “Competition” was his answer. Putting the Team and himself up against the best in the world is what motivates him year after year. Today all the Teams get the opportunity to showcase all of the hard work, training miles, and breeding program on the biggest dogsled mushing stage in the world.
It should be a great race!
Stay tuned!
Go Team Kaiser!!
2021 Race Map
Pointing to the new Champ!
It was a great race any way you put it. Pete and the Team crossed the Finish Line at 7:21am to claim second place about 43 minutes behind his best friend Richie Diehl. “I couldn’t be happier for him,” said Pete of his friend and first Musher from one of the villages on the K300 race course to win the event. “It’s huge for his whole community and his family who’ve been involved with the race for so long.”
Pete had nothing but great things to say about the Team. It’s the first time he’s finished the K300 with all 12 dogs and was the only musher this year to do so. “It’s one of the best Teams I’ve driven,” he said.
Conditions on the trail were a little “punchy” or soft on the way up to Bogus Creek, but coming down the cooler temperatures had hardened the trail and made for perfect conditions. Richie had a faster race on the way up and Pete said they just couldn’t make up the time. “We could match him pretty much the same later on, but Richie ran such a nice race, we just couldn’t make up the time.”
The next challenge for Team Kaiser is to prep for Iditarod. Drop bags are due in Anchorage soon, so the focus at the dog yard will be on drop bags for checkpoints and all of the other logistics. With a scaled back race, no Ceremonial Start or public events, it is going to be a very different and in some ways better. As I’ve said before, mushers don’t necessarily like the limelight, so Covid distancing and getting right to the trail is right up their alley.
Both Pete and Richie will be hard at it before the race start in 3 weeks. (March 7, 2021)
Again- A big hearty congratulations to Richie and all of the folks up in Aniak. They say it takes a community to raise a child? Well it takes one to raise a dog team as well!
Here are the photos from this morning’s Finish. Go Team Kaiser!
2021 Kuskokwim 300 Champion – Richie Diehl
What a great win for a great Team! If you look up tenacity and perseverance in the Webster’s Dictionary, it’s a wonder it doesn’t say, Richie Diehl. The Team has been at it for many years and finally this year, the stars began to align. I was surprised at this year’s Bogus Creek 15o Finish when Richie, just nonchalantly, said, “This is my first trophy” when handed the prize. I spoke to Richie off to the side this morning and he told me, “You know what this means? I finally get to have a Ron Kaiser Trophy on my shelf!” (Ron makes the K300 Winning trophy each year)
Year after year Richie and his Team have stuck to it. Last year’s Iditarod Team looked excellent as well and he led the race for a time. This year’s Team– Well look out! He calls them the “Spring Break kids” as they are just happy and excited and ready to party down on the trail. Of course, Richie was ecstatic as were all of the fans who showed up for his 6:38am finish. His trail time was 36:08:32 and 43 minutes in front of pal Pete Kaiser who was as thrilled with his win as much as Richie. “If I was to want anyone else to win this, it would be him.” said Pete in his post race interview.
As Richie crossed the line a cheer went up and Gonders Hoffman handed him a rose. “It’s Valentine’s Day, don’t you know!” Richie laughed and handed it to his sweetie and fiance, Emerie Fairbanks. The Team looked great and ready to go another 300 miles.
Here at Kaiser Racing we share his excitement and are so happy for Real Diehl Racing. All the years traveling together makes this just like a win for the Team. Pete and Richie are tied at the hip, so to speak, so a win for him is just the best! Congratulations Richie and the Spring Break kids! Awesome!
Here are the Photos from the line-
Richie Diehl has held his lead all night and is expected into the Finish about 6:45. (I’ll see how close my prediction of 6:51 was!) Pete and the Team are about 8 miles behind with Nic Petit close behind. Pete looks to have had better speeds, but who knows what can happen in the last 10 miles or so. Fr. Alexander Larson and Isaac Underwood are just behind as well. It looks like we may have 4 of the top 5 Teams from the Kuskokwim!
This will be Richie’s first Kuskokwim 300 win and a first and maybe only Double Championship! He won the Bogus Creek 150 a couple of weeks ago as well.
Time to make some coffee and head on down to cheer on this great Musher!
Pete will be right behind, so it should be a really fun morning.
Check out the Kaiser Super Dogs in Mushing Magazine!
