A record number of competitors signed up on the first day for the 2008 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, including three locals hoping for a better result than last year.
Jim Lanier of Chugiak, Eric Rogers of Eagle River and rookie Mike Suprenant from Chugiak were among the record 56 mushers on hand at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters June 30 to sign up for Iditarod XXXVI.
They were joined by 15 other mushers, who mailed in their applications for a record first day signup of 71 mushers.
The sign ups were part of the 2007 Volunteer Picnic Celebration hosted annually by the Iditarod Trail Committee. Gov. Sarah Palin was on hand to join in on the celebration. The Millennium Alaskan Hotel was also there to feed hundreds of volunteers who attended.
Wasilla's G.B. Jones, who traditionally camps out at race headquarters the week prior to the picnic, was once again the first musher in line. Last year, Iditarod champion Lance Mackey showed up a day before Jones to ensure he was able to select bib number 13, the same number worn by his father and brother during their race victories.
Rogers was the first of the locals attending the picnic to sign up for the race, as the eighth musher to register.
“For an Iditarod musher, going to the annual picnic and not signing up is like an alcoholic standing outside a bar talking to the patrons for four hours and not going inside for a drink,” he said of entering the race for the third time.
Rogers finished 68th in the 2006 race, crossing the finish line in 15 days, 14 hours and 17 minutes.
This year, Rogers crashed his sled, broke his leg, suffered frostbite and spent nearly 65 hours on the trail between the Ophir and Iditarod checkpoints alone with his dogs before he was rescued by race officials.
Rogers and his team of 15 dogs held up at Don's Cabin to escape the elements last year. He said he has his sights set on making it all the way to Nome in 2008.
Lanier, whose goal is to drive his team of all-white sled dogs to victory, benefited from a little luck during the picnic. After being one of the last mushers to register in person, his name was drawn from a hat to receive a refund on his $3,000 entry fee.
“It felt like I had just won the GCI halfway prize of $3,000 in gold nuggets,” Lanier said. “I'm grateful to have got the refund, but I probably don't need it as much as others.”
A veteran of 12 races to Nome, Lanier finished 27th last year, crossing under the Burled Arch on Front Street in 10 days, 19 hours and 1 minute.
Despite being a rookie, Suprenant is a veteran at entering the race to Nome. He entered the two previous races, only to scratch before the start. This year, he is hoping to realize his Iditarod dream.
In addition to the three locals, five former champions registered on the first day, including last year's winner Mackey, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Mitch Seavey and Rick Swenson.
Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.
