2018 Yukon Quest Begins on Saturday
26 teams, including two mushers from Western Alaska, are set to compete on a 1,000-mile course from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.
Mushers from Multiple Countries and Western AK Signed Up for 2018 Yukon Quest
An international competition, the Yukon Quest features mushers from Germany, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, the US and UK, as well as New Zealand this year. Ike Underwood of Aniak is a Quest rookie and the only musher from Western Alaska signed up thus far.
2018 Iron Dog Pro and Trail Class Rosters Set; Current and Former Nome Residents on List
Of the 58 registered competitors, 24 of them are rookies, including former Nome resident Casey Perkins and his racing partner Dale Bennett. Other 2018 Iron Dog racers with ties to Nome are Mike Morgan and James “Tre” West. Morgan will sport bib #10 alongside teammate Chris Olds, while West has registered under #7 with Aaron Bartel.
2018 Iron Dog Roster Features 27 Teams, 21 Rookies, But Not 2017 Champions
2017 champs Cory Davis of Soldotna and Ryan Simons of Alberta, Canada, claimed the win after another team, Tyson Johnson and Tyler Aklestad, were controversially disqualified. According to a press release from Iron Dog, Inc., Davis is focusing on the X-Games and Simons is healing from a back injury, so neither racer will compete this year.