Author Archives: tundratech

K300 Starting Line – 2021

It’s late, but its ON!

I just got off the phone with Pete and he’s pretty excited to get on the trail. The 2021 Trail (description here) is changed, but the competition is hot as always! I just got back from the Start line and it looks great. I saw Jeff King setting up his sled, “Hey, Hey! Jeff King! Welcome to Bethel!” “Hey John!” He looked relaxed and said that snow and not too cold temps looked like fun!

As per usual, Pete Kaiser does a great job explaining what’s happening this year.

Here’s this year’s group of mushers. Like the Bogus Creek 150, the Teams will all leave in mass start. In other words at 6:30, the flag will drop and away they will go. It was super fun to watch for the Bogus Creek and I expect the same this evening.

1 – Dennis Kananowicz
2 – Dave Turner
3 – Pete Kaiser
4 – Jessica Klejka
5 – Aaron Peck
6 – Richie Diehl
7 – Matthew Failor
8 – Jeff King
9 – Joshua Cadzow
10 – Reese Madden
11 – Isaac Underwood
12 – Robert Redington
13 – Nate DeHaan
14 – Lewis Pavila
15 – Father Alexander Larson
16 – Nicolas Petit

Bib numbers are in the order of registration. Check out the Bio’s Here!

The weather is great, but a reminder that Covid-19 is on the prowl, so keep social distancing and enjoy the race. Here are the Kuskokwim 300 tips for watching the race, but as always, stay tuned to Kaiser Racing for updates from our perspective.

Go Team Kaiser!!

2021 Bogus Creek Champion – Richie Diehl

It’s been a long time coming for Richie Diehl, but tenacity and an always positive attitude is really what are the hallmark of his life, training, and dog program. As Teams left the halfway point in the Race, it was evident from looking at the tracker that Richie’s group were the ones to watch. To win, though, there had to be perfect conditions and no mistakes as the field of mushers for 2021 were very closely matched.

Richie and the Team crossed the finish line in Bethel at 5:02am, cheered on by fans distanced by the Covid crisis, and chilled by the -10 degree air, but by no means not enthusiastic. “Yay Richie” could be heard by the voices of Jill Hoffman and Bev Hoffman, who perennially are there to great Team Diehl and Team Kaiser.

This year, as there is no banquet or award’s ceremony, the trophy was presented at the finish line. A beautiful grass woven mat made by Kelly Lincoln was presented by Race Manager Paul Basile and winnings of $9000 will be mailed out and waiting for Richie once he returns home to Aniak.

As KYUK’s Anna-Rose MacArthur was getting her finish line interview with Richie a light appeared and only 12 minutes after the leader, Team Kaiser’s own Ron Kaiser arrived into Bethel to claim second place. Ron was thrilled with his performance. “I kicked from Akiachak, but it wasn’t enough. This Team is great though. It was a blast,” said Ron, still sweating from his efforts. Asked about the race he said that it was really a special race because he got to race with his son, Pete. Due to the Covid rescheduling, Pete could enter two Teams in the Bogus and Ron got to take the A-Team around the course. “I wanted to give him the best chance to win this thing,” said Pete. “It was close, but Richie’s got a good group this year as well.” Pete was pretty proud of the B-Team and said that he was easily as fast as his Dad’s group and several young dogs really showed their stuff. Pete arrived at 5:20, just 8 minutes after the A-Team and 20 minutes behind Richie and this year’s Championship Team.

In two weeks we’ll all meet again for the running of the 2021 Kuskokwim 300. One notable mention this year is the Father-Son connections. Ron and Pete were the only duo running together in the race, but two other Teams, the Pavila and Alexie families are also doing something similar. Jason Pavila, son of Louis Pavila is running the Bogus 150, while his Dad will take the same Team into the K300. Raymond Alexie is running this race and his Dad, Harry, will be running it as well in the 300. I thought it was pretty neat to see this relationship play out in the sport. The best part of it is that it shows the health of our sport– Continuing it on into the next generation. AWESOME!!

Here are tonight’s Finish Line photos. I’ve got video that I’ll put up, but right now it’s time for a bit of shuteye!!

Go Team Kaiser!!

Good Evening Race Fans! What a beautiful day!!

After a near perfect day out on the trail, Teams made their way to the halfway point in the race just as the sun had set on the Tundra.

Father Alexander Larson was first into the Hangar Lake halfway point at 6:26 PM, but the 2004 Bogus Champion was only two minutes in front of Richie Diehl at 6:28. Team Kaiser A Team Ron Kaiser was in at 6:32, and B Team Pete Kaiser at 6:33. Jason Pavilla arrived at 6:38 to round out the top 5.

Both Ron and Pete remarked that conditions were almost perfect. Pete said, “I can’t believe this no wind thing. It sure doesn’t happen very often out here!” Both mushers were in great spirits. Ron said “I’ve never been this close to the front at this point in the race. Too much fun!”

I try to keep my distance always during a race as there is much work to do. As soon as the Team made it to the camp, Pete and Ron were hard at work putting grass beds down and watering and feeding the Team. The camp is in a really nice spot on the northeast corner of Hangar Lake. They were surely expecting wind as it is tucked into the trees. Richie Diehl and his Team share the spot and everyone is staying in their “bubble” or masking appropriately.

Every cloud has a silver lining and the change to the race because of Covid brought some really nice benefits. Bethany has never been at a Bogus Halfway point and it was special for her to be able to bring food and hang out with Pete and the Team. Pete hasn’t run this race since 2008 when he won it as he is usually in the Kuskokwim 300. Father and Son, Pete and Ron, have never run a race together, so this is special for them as well. I know I like the format as Bethel spectators get to see part of the race as well.

The menu tonight at Che’ Hangar Lake is Chicken and Moose Soup and bread for the humans, while the Team is eating Sheefish from Kotzebue as well as Pork Bellies.

After a 4 hour break, Teams can head back onto the trail. I’m figuring 4:15 to 5:00am finish early Sunday Morning.

Here are some photos from the halfway checkpoint. Go Team Kaiser!

Sundog over the Start Line

Even the Sundogs were ready for the mushing season to get underway. A cold morning turned brilliant with a bit of frost in the air and crystal clear conditions for the start of the 2021 Bogus Creek 150. A good sized crowd sat warm in their vehicles while mushers readied their Teams for the day of mushing in the brisk -1o morning. Though maybe not as festive as Starting Lines past, everyone was ready for some entertainment in the outdoors. At the stroke of Noon, all mushers had their eye on Starting Flag and when it dropped, all 17 Teams left at the same time jockeying for position as they made their way up river. It was hugely exciting to see all of the Teams and the snow dust they kicked up as they left. What fun!!

Pete and Ron were in the middle of the pack joined by Richie Diehl who is also racing today.

This race should be pretty exciting as it pits several Kuskokwim 300 teams, trained and bred for longer distances for more days, against these Village Teams that train for sprint as well as the 150 mile race. They are a bit different from each other, and you’ve got to believe that Max Olick and the other village Teams are having a great time racing against the long distance Teams.

Pete expected to be into the Hangar Lake halfway point between 5 and 6pm. After the layover they’ll head back out onto the trail for the return to the Finish Line. Usually “Pit Crews” snowmobile up the trail to the halfway point at Bogus Creek, but this year it is less than 2 miles from the Starting Line. Pete and Ron will be able to take a break, get some warm food, and rest up for the midnight run back to Bethel.

Here are photos from the Start! Keep an eye on the Tracker to check in with your favorite Team!

Go Team Kaiser!

Sundog over the Start Line