Thirty-five Pro-Class teams are set to compete in the 2017 Iron Dog Snowmachine Race. But the Recreational class has been canceled due to limited numbers.
Kevin Kastner is the Executive Director of the Iron Dog organization. He says there is disappointment as to the low turnout for non-competitive class sign-ups, but the organization is looking forward to a strong Pro-Class this year, including some out-of-state participants.
“Given the fact that there’s a little bit of uncertainty because of the election and a little bit of uncertainty with the economics in the state, we’re really pleased with the turnout. 35 teams is still very good. It’s a solid average for us,” Kastner says.
As far as preparations for the 2017 race, he says the organization is in the middle of logistics planning. “We’re starting to move fuel materials to some of the furthest, most remote checkpoints, so that’s beginning. We’re also going through the process of getting racer bios and finishing the racer data entry, so all the racers are entering all their sponsors and supporters and all their information about what snowmachines they’ll be riding this year.”
Kastner says permitting is a final piece of logistics, in addition to starting their educational programs and hosting promotional events with sponsors.
Registration for the 2017 snowmachine race closed on Monday, October 31st. An initial report from the organization shows 14 teams will be riding Ski Doo snowmachines; 11 will be on Polaris; 9 teams chose Arctic Cat, and one team is still undecided. Final team bios and machine information is expected to be available in mid-November.
Team #8’s Tyler Aklestad of Palmer and Tyson Johnson of Eagle River took first place in the 2016 Iron Dog race.
The 2017 race from Anchorage to Fairbanks starts on February 18th, with halfway ceremonies in Nome scheduled on February 22nd.
