Author Archives: tundratech

Hello Race Fans! It’s that time of the night on the Saturday of the Kuskokwim 300. When do we need to be at the Finish Line to see who claims victory?

Richie Diehl is just about into Tuluksak and a 4 hour mandatory layover. So if he reaches the Checkpoint by 10:30, he will be able to leave at 2:30am. It took Richie and his Team 4 hours and 21 minutes to make the trip from the Starting Line. Add them together and we are looking at a 6:51am possible Finish. Add a little fudge factor just in case he is in a hurry or if Pete closes the gap and they start running for the gold? I’d say it’s a good bet to set the alarm clock for 6:00am and check the tracker!

Weather for the evening is perfect. It’s a little chilly and there’s some Northeast wind to cool the trail from the warm day. Pete said today that the trail on the river was pretty soft, so a little chill will keep it hard and fast. (Hopefully) Both Pete and Richie are in a good position for the run as generally a trail degrades if it is too soft. I’d bet it will be better that it was going up. I guess we’ll see!

See Ya There!

Go Team Kaiser!!

Jenn with the Leaders

As K300 Teams were making their way into Bethel for the halfway checkpoint, an exciting race was building in front of Bethel. The Akiak Dash started at 2:00pm for a run up to Akiak and back. The sprint dogsled race is always exciting with Teams jockeying for position.

Kaiser Racing was represented by our own Jenn Peeks, of Bogus Creek 150 fame, for her second run in the race.

Napaskiak’s Jackie Larson was the winner followed by Matt Scott and his brother Greg Larson. Jenn finished in a very close 5th place. She said she had a great time and the Team, well of course they were awesome.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is the amount of family involvement at Kaiser Racing. Each person is not only a family member, but a Team member, each chipping in to help out. I was surprised as Bethany grabbed the sled and wrapped it up and started putting dogs in the truck. Everyone has really grown to know all of the facets of the Team. Very cool!

Here are the photos! As per usual, when a Kaiser Team finishes, there are always people there to cheer on the finisher! Congrats Jenn on a fun race!

Bethel isn’t the traditional halfway point in the race, so while fans in Bethel normally get to see the Start and the Finish, the real fun of the race is watching Mushers care for their Teams and all of the activity in a checkpoint. A couple of years ago Bethel fans were treated to a similar event when the trail wasn’t safe to travel to Aniak. It was great fun to visit with mushers and watch the activity. This year, with Covid restrictions, fans could still see but had to stay a safe distance away and weren’t allowed into the rest area for the mushers.

It was still a great day with loads of activity and many opportunities to see and snap a few clicks of the goings on.

Of course, I over-clicked (Haha) and have quite a bit to share. In the following gallery see Pete, Father Alexander Larson, Isaac Underwood, Josh Cadzow, and Matt Failor.(a little oops! Sorry Pete! Matt is the 2019 Champ, not last years! Haha!) Speaking of Matt, we got to see the new couple that will always live on in K300 History as Matt proposed on the finish line to his sweety Liz. Okay– All together… Awwe… Haha!

So here is the activity and video of Pete leaving the Checkpoint.

Go Team Kaiser!

Isaac Underwood

Taking a look

Isaac Underwood

Bedding down

Fr. Alexander Larson

Fr. Alexander Larson

Fr. Alexander Larson

Fr. Alexander Larson

Fr. Alexander Larson

Matt Failor

Fr. Alexander Larson

Liz

Fr. Alexander Larson

Love at Musher-Style…

Kaiser Family

Hi Daddy!

Sleeping sitting up in the sun

Jeff King

Isaac Underwood

Matt Failor

Matt Failor

Liz and Matt

Relaxing on the runners

Relaxing

Relaxing

Relaxing

Sleeping

Time to get ready

Josh Cadzow Fan Club

Mini Me

Musher Talk

One on one time

Time to go?

A few last words of encouragement

Ready

Ready

Future King of the Kusko?

Off and Running

Richie Diehl into Bethel

It’s been a flurry of fur at the Bethel Checkpoint this morning. Richie Diehl was first into Bethel at 9:35 followed closely by Nic Petit who had been right on their heels, but made a wrong turn and cost them about 15 minutes. Pete and the Team were into Bethel at 10:31 and looked great! The whole family was there to meet him and say hi, they can’t help, but being there is moral support for sure. Even little Aylee was glad to see Daddy!

Local mushers are going excellent in this year’s race. Isaac Underwood has a great looking Team as does Father Alexander Larson. Of the top 5 Teams into Bethel four are local mushers! Well done!

Remarkable is that Alexander Larson has the fastest Tuluksak to Bethel time of the top five by 12 minutes. He has yet to be bested and pulled away from Jeff King.

There will be action in Bethel all day as the Akiak Dash will begin at 2:00pm and the rest of the K300 mushers making their way through.

2019 K300 Champ Matt Failor took a wrong turn on the Gweek which cost him greatly. We’ll see how it plays out, but that may have been is “poptart moment” – Darnit!!

Here’s some of the photos! I have to run down and get Pete leaving the Checkpoint!

GO TEAM KAISER!!

Good Morning Race Fans!

Teams are headed into the halfway point of Bethel led by 2021 Bogus Creek Winner Richie Diehl. Mushing weather is absolutely beautiful with light winds, nice temperatures and great competition. Just a few miles behind Richie is Nic Petit, with 2020 K300 Champ Matt Failor and our own 5 time Champ Pete Kaiser about 8 miles behind them.

This year’s race is way off the rails in terms of a “normal” K300 with great temperatures and conditions in addition to the Covid 19 Race Course. Other changes are in terms of layover rest. A traditional race mandates that Teams must have 6 hours of rest in the checkpoints of Kalskag on the way up, Aniak, or Kalskag on the way down. Teams can “spend” their rest in any configuration as long as it adds up to 6 hours. Finally, on a “normal” race, Teams have a vet check and mandatory 4 hour rest before heading to the Finish Line.

This year, with a change to the race course, the layover rules are also different. It’s a bit confusing, but here goes–

Teams will pass through the Tuluksak checkpoint 4 times.

1. Tuluksak 1- On the first loop to Bogus Creek.
2. Tuluksak 2- Coming down from Bogus Creek on the way to the halfway Bethel Checkpoint
3. Tuluksak 3- Headed back up to Bogus Creek and the “second lap”
4. Tuluksak 4- Coming back down from Bogus Creek on the way to the Finish Line.

Teams can “spend” their rest, or split it up, between Tuluksak 2, Bethel Halfway, or Tuluksak 3.

One the way down from Bogus Creek, Tuluksak 4, Teams will be required to have the mandatory 4 hour layover and vet check.

Some Teams have already taken some layover time in Tuluksak 2, while Richie, Nic, Matt, and Pete have decided to make the run all the way into Bethel. This would be similar to a run all the way to Aniak on a traditional course.

Teams will be sequestered from the Public near the Bethel Fitness Center. The public is not allowed in the building and is encouraged to watch from a distance.

Richie and Nic should be in Bethel soon and Matt and Pete probably an hour behind.

It’s looking like a great race. Winds have been predicted to increase from the Northeast, but so far we have a reprieve!

Go Team Kaiser!!

Pete and the Team leaving Bethel.

What a great Start! I have been covering dog races for many years and you just don’t get calm winds, warm temps (but not too warm!) and a relaxed atmosphere.

The crowd started forming about 5:30 and by 6:00pm there were at least 100 vehicles lined up to see the mass Start of the 2021 Kuskokwim 300. In a Mass Start, mushers watch the starting flag and when it drops, away they go! We got to see how it would work during the Bogus Creek 150 and the only thing missing in this race was the sun.

My how the daylight is increasing! Usually the K300 starts on the third Friday of January or so and at 6:30 it is pretty dark. Add a few weeks and the change was dramatic.

The Starting Line of a dogsled race is really a celebration in many ways. After months of hard work and a summer of tending the Team, mushers and dogs alike are ready to show their stuff. For support crews it’s the culmination of lots of time and energy and once the Teams leave it’s BREAK TIME!! I’m sure that’s why each year, just after Teams have left fans are treated to an amazing Fireworks show put on by the Kuskokwim 300 race committee.

A few noteables from the Starting line-

1. Our friend Josh Cadzow is back in Bethel to try his luck on the race course. Josh is an amazing musher from Fort Yukon. Thanks to his family, he was able to travel here to compete. Welcome back!
2. Our most awesome Host Family, the Maddens, have sent down Reese Madden to try his luck as well. “I’m a little short handed, but I’m here to give it a go!” said Reese. I imagine Bob and Sherrie will be tuned in to check out his progress! Welcome as well!
3. This last noteable is a really big one– Master Ari Kaiser, who has spent his whole life as part of the Kaiser Race Team is now promoted to lead poop scooper! AWESOME!! We have followed young Mr. Kaiser’s progress each year and I personally get to spend time with him during the races. Some day we will be able to say we saw it first. Bottom rung on the ladder always starts with dog poop in a Race Team, but we hope to see great things from this young man!! Way to go Ari! Thanks from the Team!!

Here are the photos from tonight’s festivities. It should be a pretty great race. Pete said he had been expecting a slow trail after all of the snow we just had, but then a warm spell and a bit of rain hardened the trail and may make rather speedy. We shall see!

Thank You Sponsors

Ari Kaiser – First Dog Poop Scoop at a Race!!

Pete and the Team leaving Bethel.

I’m alway’s asked, “Who’s in the Team?” (I always refer to the “Team” capitalized on purpose- after all, they are the stars of the show)

But by the time I think about it, they are long gone and making their way up the trail.

This year, I got a list for you! Kaiser Fans will recognize many names as this bunch is a pretty experienced group of dogs! Go Team Kaiser!