In this Day 8 update from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the competition intensifies as the leading teams approach the Bering Sea coast. Defending champion Jessie Holmes continues to lead the field, with Travis Beals running just miles behind as the race transitions into its final stretch.

Holmes added another honor to his growing list of awards by claiming the Ryan Air Gold Coast Award after arriving in Unalakleet with 13 dogs in harness. The award includes gold nuggets and commemorative artwork recognizing the first musher to reach the Bering Sea coast.

The episode also discusses the evolving situation with the Expedition Class as one support musher withdraws while another continues toward the ceremonial finish in Nome. Listeners also hear a musher profile of defending champion Jesse Holmes and learn more about the history and superstition of Old Woman Cabin along the Kaltag Portage.

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In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, Robert Forto continues his conversation with early Iditarod racer Rod Perry. Rod shares firsthand stories from the race's rugged early years, including his experiences running the 1974 and 1977 Iditarod.

The discussion dives into what racing was like when the event was still a rough, experimental challenge rather than the highly organized race we see today. Rod describes brutal storms on the trail, the steep learning curve faced by the first competitors, and the constant innovation required in gear, sled design, and dog care.

He also shares stories about legendary sled dogs, early sponsorships, and the evolving culture of the race. The episode closes with Rod reflecting on how the Iditarod has changed over the decades and what the future may hold for dog mushing.

For fans of sled dog racing and Iditarod history, this conversation offers a rare look into the experiences of one of the sport’s early participants.

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On this Day 7 update from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the field continues moving along the Yukon River as the race begins transitioning toward the coast. Jessie Holmes continues his strong performance on the trail, winning the Bristol Bay Native Corporation Fish First Award after arriving in Kaltag with 13 dogs in harness.

The episode breaks down the current leaderboard, with the top teams spread across dozens of miles of trail while the back of the pack continues to make its way through the Yukon checkpoints.

The show also highlights rookie musher Jody Potts-Joseph, a Han Gwich’in musher from Eagle Village whose journey to the Iditarod is deeply connected to family, cultural tradition, and life along the Yukon River.

Listeners also hear another segment of Moment in Mushing History, revisiting Susan Butcher’s historic third straight Iditarod victory in 1988 and reflecting on how the race has evolved over the decades.

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In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, Robert Forto sits down with a very special guest: nine-year-old junior musher Teos, also known as the “Tiny Musher.” Teos has already been racing in junior sled dog events in Anchorage and is gaining attention for interviewing mushers on social media to help promote the sport.

Teos shares how he first stepped onto a dog team at six years old and describes what it feels like to race one- and two-dog teams in junior competitions. He also talks about the responsibilities of working in a kennel, from feeding dogs to helping prepare teams for races.

Beyond racing, Teos has begun interviewing mushers such as Destiny Lytle, Buddy Streeper, and others, asking questions about their experiences and helping introduce new audiences to dog mushing. His goal is simple but powerful: to help keep the sport alive and inspire others to learn about mushing.

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In this Day 6 update from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, teams are moving onto the long and demanding Yukon River stretch of the trail. Jessie Holmes becomes the first musher to reach Ruby on the Yukon River, earning the “First Musher to the Yukon” award and continuing a strong performance in this year’s race.

The episode breaks down the current leaderboard and examines how the top teams are managing their mandatory rests and race strategy as they head deeper into the second half of the race. Paige Drobny continues to run a strong race from Squid Acres Kennel and remains in close pursuit of Holmes.

Listeners also hear a detailed musher profile of Paige Drobny, including her background in fisheries biology, her life along the Denali Highway with fellow musher Cody Strathe, and the story behind their well-known kennel, Squid Acres. The show also explores the unique villages along the Yukon River and includes a moment in mushing history recalling the dramatic 1978 Iditarod finish between Dick Mackey and Rick Swenson.

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In this Day 5 update from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the field begins moving into the second third of the race as teams head toward the Yukon River. Jessie Holmes claims the Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award after reaching the checkpoint first with a full team of 16 dogs.

The episode also covers dramatic wildlife encounters on the trail, including reports of mushers confronting woodland bison while traveling between checkpoints. These incidents highlight the unpredictable challenges of long-distance mushing in Alaska’s wilderness.

In addition to race updates and analysis with guest Jonathan Hayes, the show features a musher profile of rookie Joey Sabin and a look back at sled dog racing history, including debates about breed diversity in racing from decades past.

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In this Day 4 update of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, teams are settling into the strategic middle portion of the race as many mushers begin taking their mandatory 24-hour rests. Jessie Holmes earns the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award for being the first musher to reach McGrath. day-4-iditarod

The episode also features an in-depth conversation with musher and biology teacher Jonathan Hayes from Maine. Hayes shares insights from his 30 years of dog mushing, including his participation in the Centennial Serum Run expedition and his work preserving the historic Seppala Siberian sled dog bloodlines. day-4-iditarod

The discussion dives into race strategy, including how mushers plan their run-rest schedules, how trail conditions influence decisions during long-distance races, and how the new Expedition Class may affect the future of the Iditarod. The episode also includes a musher profile of Matt Hall and a historical look back at the 1976 Iditarod race.

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In this Day 3 update from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, teams are pushing through challenging terrain across the Alaska Range as leaders approach the race’s early checkpoints. Jessie Holmes currently holds the lead while several mushers rest and prepare for their mandatory 24-hour breaks.

The episode covers the first scratch of the race after rookie musher Jaye Foucher suffered a crash that destroyed much of her sled and equipment near Rainy Pass. The discussion also highlights the impact of heavy snow and difficult trail conditions that are testing mushers, gear, and teams.

Listeners also learn about mandatory gear requirements, the historic checkpoint village of Takotna and its famous pies, and the story of Expedition Class musher Kjell Inge Røkke. The episode wraps with a look back at a memorable moment in Iditarod history and the ongoing evolution of sponsorship and merchandise in the race.

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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

The 2026 Iditarod is officially underway, and the first 24 hours of racing are already shaping the early storylines. Defending champion Jessie Holmes leads the field near mile 188 as teams push through Finger Lake, the Steps, Rainy Pass, and the Gorge on their way toward Rohn. Early reports from the trail indicate strong winds reaching up to 50 miles per hour across the Alaska Range, creating challenging conditions for mushers and their dog teams.

Robert and Michele Forto break down the early race standings, discuss how tightly packed the field remains, and analyze the significance of the first major trail section. They also examine the debut of the new Iditarod Expedition Class, a program allowing non-competitive participants to experience the thousand-mile trail through a pay-to-participate model.

The conversation explores the financial realities facing the Iditarod, including new funding streams and sponsorship challenges. The hosts also profile rookie musher Richie Beattie and share a memorable moment from Iditarod history featuring Joe May’s record-setting 1980 victory.

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The 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially began from the Willow Restart and the teams are now on the trail heading toward the Alaska Range. In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, Robert and Michele Forto report directly from Willow, Alaska, after spending the afternoon in the staging area speaking with mushers, handlers, and fans before the start of the race.

They share the atmosphere of the restart, including tailgate-style trail cooking for Paige Drobny’s team, conversations with sprint racers Bailey Vitello and Keaton Loebrich about sled design and race strategy, and an interview with rookie musher Jody Potts-Joseph from Eagle Village.

The episode also features insights from the new Expedition Class mushers discussing why they chose to attempt the race and what this category could mean for the future of long-distance dog mushing.

The show concludes with a musher profile of Wade Mars and a historical look back at Libby Riddles’ historic 1985 Iditarod victory during the new “Moment in Mushing History” segment.

With the first miles already behind the teams and early leaders emerging on the tracker, the race has officially begun, and the strategies for the first night on the trail are starting to take shape.

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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved