tundratech – Page 28 – Kaiser Racing Kennel

2021 Bogus Creek 150 – Covid Edition

By tundratech | January 29, 2021 - 6:12 pm |January 29, 2021 2021

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Pete and the Team leading out the Honor Procession for Joe Demantle Jr.

Howdy Race Fans!

Welcome to the Start of the 2021 Race Season!

After a two week delay, this season will start a little differently from years past. Generally we kick off with a weekend of mushing with Teams in both the Bogus Creek 150 and the Kuskokwim 300. This year both Pete and Ron will be driving Teams in the 150 and the Kuskokwim 300 will be held in two weeks beginning on February 12.

Covid is on everyone’s minds and as such the Race Committee has come up with a great plan for Teams that keeps them away from Villages, but allows the Race to Go On!!

This year the Teams will leave Bethel in a Mass Start at 12:00pm Noon in front of the Boat Harbor. They’ll head out on the local trails for 75 miles returning to Hangar Lake in Bethel for the halfway layover. After the layover they will reverse course and return to the Finish Line where they started.

Pete says the trail is in pretty good shape and after only a mild warm spell it has plenty of snow and all kinds of trail challenges. Open tundra, river, woods, and hills. It’s all there for Teams this year!

Both Pete and Ron have been training the Team and he is pretty happy all around with this year’s crew. “I’m not sure if they’re the best group I’ve had, but you never know,” said Pete. “Never know until we get out there.”

Temperatures are expected to drop well below zero for the Race and the wind will be a factor as well with windchills expected to be -40F or so.

Spectators are advised to stay apart from each other and the Teams. The Race Committee is excited to have Teams participate and fans cheer on their mushers, but they also want to minimize any risk with regards to Covid 19. At the Finish of the Race there won’t be interviews or crowds except in vehicles, but it should still be a very good time.

Let’s all work together to help put on this race safely! Go Team Kaiser!!

Somber Start to 2021 – Remembering Joe Demantle Jr.

By tundratech | January 29, 2021 - 4:37 pm |January 29, 2021 2021

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Joe Demantle Jr. – 2020 Akiak Dash – KYUK Facebook

Howdy Race Fans! 2020 is now in the past and as we have hope for better days in 2021, we must share some sad news from the Trail. As the Covid virus has impacted all of our lives in so many ways, it really brought it all home with the news of the passing of Veteran Musher Joe Demantle Jr. from Tuluksak from the Covid virus.

The whole Demantle family has been a part of the larger mushing family for as long as anyone can remember. In the early days of the K300, the Tuluksak checkpoint was the old Demantle home. The moose soup from that table still makes my mouth water.

Joe Jr. won the 1985 Kuskokwim 300 rookie of the year finishing in 9th place, but was a staple in many of the local races every year. Last year he finished runner up in the 2020 Akiak Dash besting many of the younger crowd always with that smile on his face.

Like his Dad, he wasn’t a man of many words, but truly part of the fabric that makes the mushing community special. Each person dedicated to helping out, participating, or just enjoying the social nature of gathering together each winter to enjoy the outdoors, the animals and each other.

Joe had planned to run in this year’s Bogus 150, but had opted out due to the quarantine. His passing came as quite a shock to many and Pete as well. Pete was asked to lead the trucks out of Bethel that would be taking Joe home for the last time and he was honored to be asked.

About 50 vehicles gathered to send off the procession. Everyone distancing in their vehicles, but wanting to be a part of the send off.

Returning home, Pete texted, “That was pretty special…” I called and he said that it was a special thing for a special guy. “There aren’t too many around like Joe” he said. I asked about their relationship and he said that Joe was always super excited to talk about mushing and the dogs. Joe was so thrilled when Pete won the Iditarod. Pete related that at AFN, while he was there for the keynote address, Joe stopped by their table while they were eating to say a short hello and before you knew it they had been talking dogs for almost an hour. “I went to school with Joe’s son Misha” so we knew each other for a very long time. He just loved mushing and our lifestyle.

“It’s sad, but there aren’t too many guys like Joe around anymore– You know, old school mushers. Joe was definitely one of that generation and he’s going to be missed.”

Our condolences to the whole Demantle family and the mushing community who knew him.

2020 Iditarod – Pete Kaiser Finish

By tundratech | March 19, 2020 - 10:58 am |March 19, 2020 2020 Iditarod

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2020 Iditarod Homecoming – Sleeping at Home!

By tundratech | March 19, 2020 - 10:50 am |March 19, 2020 2020 Iditarod

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Good Morning Race Fans!

With all of the changes to our lives, one benefit to Pete and the Team is that they were able to sleep at home after finishing! Pete is still recovering from his stomach bug, so it was huge to be home. The Team as well were very excited.

We can’t say enough about our sponsor and friend, RyanAir. They are always there for Pete and the Team as well as for Richie Diehl and Ryan Redington. As soon as Pete and the Team were checked out by the Iditarod Veterinarians, they were whisked up to the Nome Airport where a RyanAir Cessna 208 Caravan was waiting to take them to Bethel. Upon arrival Pete crossed the “finish line” one more time to an eagerly awaiting family. Bethany and the kids were super excited to see Daddy come home. They are always at the finish of races, but under these conditions stayed home in support of CDC recommendations.

As the plane rounded the corner, Ari said, “I see it!” The plane pulled up and shutdown and the little family was escorted to the plane to see Pete finally after almost 10 days. Little Aylee was smiling ear to ear.

As always, Rick Hanson was there with his trailer to help out and get the Team to the yard. Upon arrival at the yard, the dogs went wild to see their Teammates come home. The puppies, new to all of this, were really curious. Soon they will know as some of them will begin training and may make the 2021 Iditarod Team.

Pete has been battling a stomach bug since Galena. He is on the mend, but being at home was huge for him. He was tired and just ready to slip under the covers at home and get some needed shuteye.

Thank you all for your support! Thanks again to RyanAir for all of your support. Boyuk, Lee, and the entire RyanAir family are our family! We really appreciate your help!!!

2020 Iditarod – Finish!

By tundratech | March 18, 2020 - 1:31 pm |March 18, 2020 2020 Iditarod

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Pete and the Team crossed the 2020 Finish Line at 12:56:19 to claim 14th place!

He has to be so proud of the 2020 Team. Crossing the line with 9 dogs, the dogs had tails up and were lunging to go. What a beautiful sight! Not only that, but Team Kaiser has had the fastest Safety to Nome time so far at 2 hours 47 minutes! That’s 33 minutes faster than the Thomas Waerner over the last 22 miles of this 975 mile race! NICE!

Total Elapsed time for 2020 is 9 days 22 hours 56 minutes and 19 seconds which is pretty similar to his 2018 race where he finished in 5th place.

With all activities cancelled, mushers will collect their prize money and be off to their homes this year. We are so lucky to have Ryan Air in our corner! A Ryan Caravan will be whisking Team Kaiser back to Bethel this afternoon. So different from the long week after a finish. Pete is going to enjoy sleeping in his own bed on the day he finishes. That’s never happened before!!

A big thank you to all of your support throughout the Race Season. Kaiser Racing wants to wish you the very best. Stay Healthy and Stay Safe!

Janet’s Iditaride

By tundratech | March 18, 2020 - 11:49 am |March 18, 2020 2020 Iditarod

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As Pete approaches the Finish Line, I wanted to stop and take a moment to remember a really cool moment for Kaiser Racing. As happens each year, the activities of the Start of the Iditarod happen swiftly and then the news starts coming in from the trail and before you know it we are at Takotna!! Then this year, with all of the distraction and apprehension about the Covid-19 virus, well, one really important story didn’t make the pages of Kaiser Racing Kennel!

Janet, Pete’s Mom, is easily Pete’s biggest fan! (no offense to Beth or the kids, of course) She get’s to be a bit of a nervous Nellie at times, but her pride is only matched by her love for a son that took his dream and made it reality.

Love is the cornerstone of the Kaiser family and it was so important to show just a little to his bride with her birthday gift of the Iditarider seat. This year especially was a bit expensive as Pete was the returning Champion. But it meant so much to Ron to have the whole family leave the Starting Line together.

You know the story– Pete heads off to college as is the normal thing to do, but spends his time studying and dreaming of running a professional dog Team. He heads back to Bethel and sits his parents down to tell them his plan. Sitting at their kitchen table must have been a bit nervous, but both Janet and Ron totally supported his decision. His mushing career began with him and his Mom and Dad… It was only fitting for them to leave as Champions together. To me, it’s almost a poetic statement.

Janet hardly slept before the race and was pretty nervous before sitting down in the sled. But then things got easier and way more fun! 3-2-1 GO! And they were off! As I can attest from my ride last year, it’s very exciting to hear the crowd cheering and all of the support of the fans. Janet had such a great time!

Here’s Janet’s ride to share with all of you! Her interview at the end is really “the best!” Go Team Kaiser!!

Mort’s Famous Flag

By tundratech | March 18, 2020 - 10:34 am |March 18, 2020 2020 Iditarod

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Mort and his Flag – LA Times!!

Hot news from the Iditarod Finish Line last night!

Mort, Nik Wikstrand’s Dad, traveled from Norway and has been with Team Kaiser since the first of the month. Nik had traveled with him to help Pete and the Team, but unfortunately was turned around by some paperwork snafu at the border. Mort, undaunted, kept going and has been helping and cheering on the Team since.

Ron and Mort headed up to Nome last night to cheer on Pete and the Team as they came into Nome and as luck would have it became almost an instant celebrity upon Thomas Waerner’s win last night.

Waerner hails from Norway as well and unfortunately they didn’t have a Norwegian flag for the finish. As word traveled to Mort of the situation he thought, “I wonder if I left my Norwegian flag here last year!” As they sat thinking about it Bob and Sherrie Madden wondered as well. They began a house-wide search and as the men were about to give up, Sherrie was convinced that it was there and lo and behold she found it!!

Mort and Ron headed down to the Finish Line and as Waerner crossed the line it was Mort and his Norwegian Flag in all of the photos! Kaiser Racing to the Rescue!!

Heie Norge! Heie Norge! (Go Norway!)

Mort and his Flag!

Halfway Nome!

By tundratech | March 18, 2020 - 10:08 am |March 18, 2020 2020 Iditarod

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An Awaiting Nome

Good Morning Race Fans! Welcome to the last day of the 2020 Iditarod!

First off a hearty congratulations to Thomas Waerner who crossed the Finish Line to become the 2020 Iditarod Champion. His Team looked beautiful as he ran up front street last night to claim his victory.

Kaiser Fans can recall the moment of elation that happens with such a win! All of us were lucky enough to experience that feeling last year and to see it happen for another Team is awesome as well. Congratulations to Thomas Waerner!

Pete and the Team left White Mountain right on time at 3:17am with 9 dogs. At present the Team is about halfway to Nome and in a solid 14th position.

Halfway NOME! Haha!

Let’s give a shout out to the Team for 2020! Not all of them will make it to the Finish Line, but each and every one contributed the program and the success of 2020! Each of these fine animals cheered each other on, trained hard all season, and had great success in winning Pete’s 5th Kuskokwim 300. Luck wasn’t in their corner for the 2020 Iditarod, but a top 20 finish is A-OK!! Meet the Team!

Tune into the Live Finish on the Insider!

Go Team Kaiser!!