Ryan Redington came across the finish line under the burled arch today in Nome at 12:15 pm, winning his first-ever Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The weather was sunny and 4 degrees, with blowing snow.
Redington is the son of racing legend Raymie Redington and the the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., who is considered a co-founder of the Iditarod. “Something he has dreamed about his entire mushing life. I’ve heard him say it countless times when meeting new people and talking about this race. ‘The winner gets a 50 pound bronze statue of my grandpa and that’s my dream- to take home that trophy.'” his Facebook page wrote on Monday evening. This is his 17th Iditarod race.
In his three previous races in the Iditarod, Ryan Redington has placed in the top 10 finishers.
Pete Kaiser was about 10 miles behind Redington, who has set the pace for much of the race.
Redington was born in Knik, Alaska into the legendary mushing family, a tradition he carries even as he trains in fall and winter in Brune, Wisconsin. In the summer, he and his dogs give tours in Girdwood, Alaska.
Joe Redington, Sr. co-founded the race in 1973, and helped establish the route as a National Historic Trail.
Like his father and grandfather, Ryan has been mushing ever since he “could hold onto the sled”, and has excelled at sprint and marathon sled dog races across the Midwest and Alaska. His daughter Eve and son TJ also carry on the family tradition of racing sled dogs, according to his website.
Ryan’s best time before 2023 was in 2021, when he placed seventh. He is also the winner of the 2019 and 2021 Kobuk 440 in Kotzebue.
