At 2018 Finisher’s Banquet, Tales from a Difficult Iditarod
![A trophy of Joe Redington, Sr. — known as the father of the Iditarod — awaits the 2017 champion at the finisher's banquet in Nome on Sunday afternoon.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-03-19-Iditarod-Banquet-Joe-Redington-Sr-Trophy-iPad-1200x800.jpg)
During the 2018 Nome banquet, each Iditarod finisher collected their winnings and took time to express gratitude. Although he didn’t finish this year’s Iditarod, veteran musher Scott Janssen was given the sportsmanship award for helping to rescue fellow musher Jim Lanier near the notoriously unpredictable stretch of Iditarod Trail known as the “blowhole.”
Starting Positions Set for 2018 Iditarod; 67 Mushers to Depart from Willow on Sunday
![Miss Alaska 2017, Angelina Klapperich, poses next to the trophy (bearing a likeness of the late Joe Redington, Sr.) that will be given to the 2018 Iditarod champion.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/03012018-MusherBanquet-Miss-Alaska-1002x1200.jpg)
After bib #1 was dedicated to this year’s honorary musher, the late Joe Redington, Jr., Cody Strathe and all the other 66 registered mushers drew numbers from a traditional mukluk boot during Thursday night’s mushers banquet in Anchorage. Strathe will be the first musher to leave Willow Sunday afternoon.
Paige Drobny Scratches, Allen Moore Wins 2018 Yukon Quest With Full Team of Dogs
![A group of sled dogs dashes over the snow in front of a crowd behind white and yellow barriers.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/YukonQuest-start-1200x900.jpg)
Just before 8 am PST this morning, Moore mushed into Whitehorse, the finish line for this 1,000 mile international sled dog race. The veteran musher from Two Rivers took the win home with all of the dogs he started with.
Iditarod to Develop Kennel Management Program
![Aliy Zirkle, mushing into Unalakleet](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-08-iditarod-unk-1-14-1216px-1200x800.jpg)
The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) announced last week that it’s working on a formal kennel management program to be put in place next year.
Iditarod Musher Zirkle Visits Western Alaska Schools in the Off-Season
![Aliy Zirkle at the podium](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-16-iditarod-banquet-91-1216px-1200x800.jpg)
This week, Aliy Zirkle saw Golovin, Elim, and White Mountain in a way she’s never seen them before: without snow.
Ten New Faces Competing In Iditarod 2018; 52 Mushers Already Signed Up
![Tara Cicatello at the K300 finish. Photo: Ben Matheson, KYUK.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_6917-1200x801.jpg)
Recognizable names on the Iditarod 2018 roster include last year’s champ, Mitch Seavey, as well as his son, Dallas. First-time registrants include former Nome resident Tara Cicatello.