It’s the Super Bowl of mushing in Western Alaska … and we have a winner.
Bethel musher Pete Kaiser has won his ninth Kuskokwim 300 title, sledding into Bethel at 1:57 a.m. on Sunday. Only legendary musher Jeff King has the distinction of that many wins of the K300.
Kaiser was followed in by Big Lake musher Riley Dyche, who crossed the finish line about 18 minutes later.
The race start time was moved up by seven hours to start on Saturday afternoon due to an expected warm front moving in, which could make conditions more challenging as racers went from Bethel to Aniak and back.
Kaiser gets about $30,000 of the $200,000 purse, which is all raised locally through pull-tabs and other donations, as well as merchandise. Because it does not depend as much on national sponsors, like the Iditarod Sled Dog Race does, it is a stable regional race. Many of the race’s sponsors are Alaska businesses.
The K300 is one of the qualifiers for the more internationally known Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which starts in 21 days.
Here’s the leaderboard as of 9 a.m. on Sunday:
And my FAVORITE Rookie, 17 yo Emily Robinson of Robinson Racing Kennels is there in 6th place!!! The only rookie, only youth, and only lady this year!!!!