About The Junior Iditarod ---
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(Alana Schlang out on the trail in the Junior Iditarod 2004. Photo courtesy of Troy Wayrynen)
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General Race Information:
Eligibility Jr. Mushers must be at least 14 but not yet 18 to be eligible for entry in the Jr. Iditarod. Each driver must obtain a signed statement from a recognized musher or mushing organization attesting to the belief that the entrant is capable of handling himself/herself and a team in a safe, humane, and competitive manner in Alaskan wilderness conditions.

Teams and Gear Each team shall consist of a maximum of ten dogs and at no time shall less than five dogs be on the tow line. Gear is basically the same as mandatory gear on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Requirements are clearly spelled out in the rules booklet which is sent to all entrants.

Food Shipment Food for the team and the mushier is flown by the Jr. Iditarod Committee to the half-way point two weeks prior to the race

Prizes and Trophies Trophies are awarded to those mushers finishing in first through third places. All contestants receive a participation trophy. All drivers finishing the race earn the large Jr, Iditarod finishers patch similar to those awarded to successful Iditarod mushers.

The winner of the Jr. Iditarod also receives round trip tickets to Nome for themselves and their parents for the Iditarod Awards' Banquet, at which he/she is presented with a beautiful championship trophy. Additional placement prizes awarded to those who run the Jr. Iditarod are donated by local businesses - items such as a new sled, snow shoes, fur caps, fur mits, cold weather clothing and gear, portraits, and a variety of other nice gifts. Every finisher gets something.

In 1987 the Junior Iditarod started our scholarship program which we hope with contributions to build on. In 2003 The UA College Savings Plan signed on to sponsor the race and award scholarships as follows:

Special Awards-

• Sportsmanship Trophy: (Recipient chosen by fellow mushers)
• Blue Harness Award: ( Most outstanding Lead Dog) (Recipient chosen by fellow mushers)
• Humanitarian Award: (Recipient chosen by race officials. Presented by Wasilla Veterinary Clinic)
• Rookie of the Year: (top placing rookie driver)
• Red Lantern Award: (Presented to the last place finisher by the Mat-Su Humane Society)

Trail Typically, the Jr. Iditarod trail follows the Iditarod trail from the Wasilla area to the Big Bend of the Yentna River approximately 80 miles from the start. At that point, the mushers take a mandatory 10 hour layover depending on trail conditions and experience camping out with and caring for their dogs and themselves. The half way point is at Yentna Station Roadhouse . Another checkpoint is located about midway between the start and Yentna Station, in the area of the Susitna River. Race officials medical and veterinary personnel are available at each checkpoint also.

Every possible precaution is taken to insure that the trail is adequately marked. Snow machine crews sweep the trail before and after the teams leave from either end of the trail. Volunteer pilots fly cover over the race trail and reports of teams' progress are relayed to Headquarters by volunteer HAM operators located at each checkpoint.

History:
Blazing the Trail for Future Generations
In 1975 Eric Beeman, Rome Gilman, Mark Couch, Susan Wagnon, Clint Mayeur, Carl Clawson, and Jessee Reynolds, had a dream of starting a competitive race and providing a training ground for young mushers like themselves interested in distance racing. During the next two years other young people including Kenny Pugh, Jeff and Kirsten Pralle, Clarence Shokley, Randy Rader and others joined them and turned this dream from extended camping trips into the beginnings of the premiere race we know today.

Joe Redington Sr., after discussing the idea with these young people, advised them to "go for it" and that was the beginning of the Jr. Iditarod.

This dedicated group of young mushers, with the help of their parents and other interested adults, worked very hard and saw their dream realized when the first Jr. Iditarod Trail Race took place in March of 1978. From then on, the race has grown in stature and professionalism to an event of approximately 160 miles in length. It is held on the weekend immediately preceding the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and draws young mushers from all over Alaska and from outside the state as well as Europe with Thomas Krejci of Czechoslovakia being our first international entrant in 1992.

The Race Course for Junior Iditarod 2004: