Brent Sass and Ed Stielstra are the latest mushers to withdraw from the 2017 Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
Both Sass and Stielstra also withdrew during the 2017 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race. Sass did so for the health of his dogs, Stielstra in support of the scratch of his race partner, Laura Neese.
Nine other mushers have withdrawn before the race start, such as Nome musher Rolland Trowbridge, “armchair musher” Sebastian Schnuelle, Lance Mackey, Curt Perano, and others.
Veteran musher Jim Lanier has also pulled out of the race, due to medical reasons. Iditarod veteran Gunnar Johnson will be filling in as a replacement.
Larry Daugherty was the last musher to sign up for the 2017 Iditarod.
72 teams will compete on this year’s trail from Fairbanks to Nome. The race starts in 12 days, with the ceremonial start on March 4th.
