Category Archives: 2020 Iditarod

Pete and the Team are back on the trail and they seem to be doing a run/rest strategy we have seen before. With the news from the trail being that the trail was a one lane “Slot Car” track with little room to pass, we are seeing that it must be better than that to some extent.

I was wondering about resting outside of checkpoints and how that would work out with so much snow, but it seems that Pete and other Teams are able to take their rest when the want it rather than when the trail conditions allow it.

Pete left the Starting line about 2:17pm and right on target, with a loaned Timex from Rick Hanson, stopped almost exactly 6 hours down the trail around mile 63. He left back onto the trail about 10:15, after a two hour rest.

Times are slower, but Team speeds seem to be showing better trail than expected. With the loose snow, Teams further back could have a tougher time of it as the trail becomes softer with all the traffic. Teams will want to take their rest, but also stay on track with the larger picture of where they will take a longer break.

Forecasts are showing tonight and tomorrow being snowy, but as they move out of the Alaska Range temperatures will drop and clearer skies will prevail allowing for a faster harder trail.

Stay tuned! And get your Insider Ultimate Plus to see all of the action. I don’t normally advertise, but it is really the best way to experience the Iditarod.

Go Team Kaiser!!

Oh what a day! A quick recap to today and all the excitement already brewing on the trail.

First thing this morning Pete got a text from friend and fellow musher Matt Failor– 18 inches of snow at his place in Willow. Most he’s ever seen in 24 hours. Hmmm…

So Pete makes the call that we should leave a little earlier and we all gather up and hit the highway. As we made our way North to Willow the road got snowier and snowier and traffic got slower and slower. Luckily Pete was up front and got into the dog lot with little trouble. That wouldn’t be the norm, however. Later on, Sterling Rearden got stuck in traffic of over a mile of cars. It took an hour to go 2 miles.

Pete was in good spirits and it was snowing, oh how it was snowing! Temperatures were in the twenties so we didn’t get to wet too quickly, but it was sure a white one!

I’ll write up more later, but as we made our way back South there were still a couple of miles of cars headed northbound to see a race start that had already happened 🙁

We got to Doug Dorland’s house for our annual dose of fresh homemade pizza and watched the tracker as Pete made his way to Yentna.

Pete and the Team are presently leading the race having been first into Yentna at 7:01pm with a 2 minute signin and back onto the trail at 7:03pm. Looking at last year’s time, that’s 36 minutes slower.

Pete stopped for just a few minutes out of Willow at friend and Knik President, Dan Hall’s place that sits right on the trail. Pete is carrying a banner honoring a Knik employee, Ryan Lee Armenta, who was killed earlier this year in a motorcycle accident. After a quick photo with the Knik folks, he was back on the trail. Word was that the Team looked great as they made their way up the trail.

No word on trail conditions at this hour, but Teams are slower than last year for sure.

More soon!

Go Team Kaiser!

Ceremonial Start day is always pretty busy. It starts early before the crowds arrive to get the Team down to 4th avenue and ready for fans, sponsors, and friends and family to meet and greet both Pete and the Team.

Pete’s Mom, Janet, didn’t sleep a wink in the excited anticipation of her first ride out on the Iditarod Trail. It was going to be a really fun experience, but she still was pretty nervous.

It was really just a very nice morning in Anchorage. Light snow, but warm temperatures brought out lots and lots of people to send off the Teams. As the defending Iditarod Champion, Pete saw a bit more activity than usual, but after 11 race starts, he took it in stride.

It’s been a long week for Pete and the Team and all of the Teams were excited to get this party started so they could begin concentrating on the larger task– The Trail to Nome!

Soon it was time to go. The way it works is we show up and meet and greet our fans, but about 30 minutes before our Start time, the dogs come out and Pete begins to get his “Race Face” on. That means it’s time to move everyone back, get loaded up and begin the trek down 4th avenue to the Start Line.

Janet got seated, the dogs were lined up, and off they went to thousands and thousands of fans and dignitaries. Each year we see Lisa Murkowski, who always stops and says hi to Pete.

Then it’s time…

“Next up to the chute, please welcome, from Bethel, Alaska– Peter Kaiser”

The fans go wild and a loud cheer goes up.

The dogs know it’s time and they begin to start barking. They know…

“30 seconds” says the announcer.

Pete walks calmly through the Team talking to them and then walks back to the sled held back by several volunteers.

“10-9-8-7-6-5” A kiss from Bethany “4-3-2-1- GO!”

And they’re off!

Janet waved to the crowd and the crowd cheered as Janet and Pete followed in the tag sled by Ron, went off onto the trails of Anchorage.

It was a great moment!

Later as they arrived at Campbell airstrip, the finish for the day, Janet was ecstatic and just bubbling with excitement. “IT WAS GREAT!” She said she had no idea what to expect, but it was such a great experience. She had a great time! Thanks Ron!!

What a great day! Go Team Kaiser!!

Here’s the photos!

Howdy Race Fans!

Iditarod 2020 is underway! Pete and the Team arrived into Anchorage earlier this week to get started on the preliminary events before they head off on the trail to Nome.

First things first- Thanks to Northern Air Cargo for the First Class ride into Anchorage! Always at the ready, NAC got the Team and Sleds into town which is always the kickoff event to the race.

Thank you Northern Air Cargo!

Then it was off to the Veterinary Checks. Sled dog racing is all about dog care and there is none better than the Iditarod Vets. They get blood checks, heart and lung checks, and a physical before the start of the race. Each Team member has a chip to verify them at the start and the finish, but also to make it easier to pull up health records and such. Consider that there are over 600 dogs competing in the race, it has to be very organized for this to happen.

Thursday is Musher Meeting day and then off to a Meet and Greet the Iditarod Fans. Now that Pete is the “Champ” he had a long line of fans waiting to get his autograph and personal photo.

Kuskokwim 300 is everywhere!

Super Fan and 2019 Iditarider!

Northern Air Cargo with Pete.

It is a very full day for Pete and the other mushers. The day ends with the traditional Iditarod Musher’s banquet and drawing.

Kaiser Racing had two full tables this year! Pete and Bethany were joined by Gonders and May Hoffman, Ron and Janet Kaiser, Boyuk and Lee Ryan, Sterling Rearden, Rick and Kathy Hanson, Chase and Tillie Powers and Mort came all the way from Norway as well as Colin McDonald and myself. (I think I may have forgotten one 🙂 Fans stopped by as we all had a nice steak dinner and dessert.

The main event is the drawing and this year Pete drew bib number 9 (Again!) It was Pete’s lucky winning number last year and this year he will be wearing it again by the luck of the draw. (Haha!) Super fun to be introduced as the “Defending Champion, Peter Kaiser!”

The Redingtons

SuperFan Quintin and his Mom

Full Table ready to Eat

Defending Champ

Pete draws Number 9

Littlest Kaiser

Grandma Time

Today (Friday) is a day off for Teams and Mushers to get organized for the big weekend. There are last minute supplies to find as well as a little downtime with families before being off on the trail for almost 2 weeks.

Tomorrow will find us at the Ceremonial Start at 4th avenue in Anchorage. Please come find us and say hi if you are in town!