Mitch Seavey and his team of dogs cross finish line to win Iditarod Great Sled Race 2013
Mush! Mush! Mush! Mitch Seavey, 53, became the oldest champion of the 2013 Iditarod Great Sled Race on Tuesday. The win comes a year after his son became the youngest winner.
Heralded as the “Last Great Race,” mushers and their dogs take on a grueling 1,000-mile sled-dog race track from Anchorage to Nome in Alaska. The first race began on March 3, 1973 and finished 32 days later.
Browse photos taken by Bill Roth of the Anchorage Daily News and Nathaniel Wilder of Reuters.
- Mitch Seavey became a two-time Iditarod champion when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Seavey, 53, had won the race previously in 2004. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey, with his dog Taurus, became a two-time Iditarod champion when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Seavey, 53, had won the race previously in 2004. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey became a two-time Iditarod champion when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Seavey, 53, had won the race previously in 2004. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Aliy Zirkle finishes second in the Iditarod for the second consecutive year when her dog team crossed under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Aliy Zirkle finishes second in the Iditarod for the second consecutive year when her dog team crossed under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey became a two-time Iditarod champion when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Seavey, 53, congratulates second place finisher Aliy Zirkle after she arrived in Nome. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey became a two-time Iditarod champion when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Seavey, 53, congratulates second place finisher Aliy Zirkle after she arrived in Nome. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey became a two-time Iditarod champion when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Seavey, 53, had won the race previously in 2004. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey is the first musher to leave White Mountain, Alaska, toward the finish line in Nome on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Seavey, 53, had won the race previously in 2004. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey became a two-time Iditarod champion when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Seavey, 53, had won the race previously in 2004. Race marshal Mark Nordman is at right. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Aliy Zirkle drives her dog team up the Fish River outside White Mountain, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Sled dogs in Aliy Zirkle’s team howl as they prepare to leave White Mountain, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Aliy Zirkle puts booties on her dogs prior to leaving White Mountain, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Musher Dallas Seavey embraces his father, Mitch Seavey, minutes before Mitch left White Mountain, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Children from White Mountain School look at Mitch Seavey’s dogs resting in White Mountain, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Mitch Seavey puts boots on his dog team prior to leaving White Mountain, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Aerial view of dog teams resting on the Fish River in White Mountain, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Mushers are required to take an 8-hour layover before proceeding to the Nome finish line. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Aerial view of Aliy Zirkle as she drives her dog team outside White Mountain, Alaska, toward the finish line in Nome on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Musher John Baker’s dogs cross an island in the Yukon River as they near the Iditarod checkpoint in Anvik, Alaska, on Friday, March 8, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser drives his dog team up the Yukon River after leaving the checkpoint in Anvik, Alaska, on Friday, March 8, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Iditarod musher Jessie Royer drives her team across an island in the Yukon River as she nears the Iditarod checkpoint in Anvik, Alaska, on Friday, March 8, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Iditarod musher Ken Anderson drives his team up the Yukon River as he nears the checkpoint in Anvik, Alaska, on Friday, March 8, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser was the first musher to reach the Yukon River when he arrived in the Anvik checkpoint at 2:17 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser examines one of his dogs after becoming the first musher to reach the Yukon River when he arrived in the Anvik checkpoint at 2:17 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser was the first musher to reach the Yukon River when he arrived in the Anvik checkpoint at 2:17 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Veteran Iditarod musher Rudy Demoski prepares food for his dog team at the McGrath, Alaska, checkpoint on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT) O
- Iditarod volunteers bring dropped dogs to the Nikolai, Alaska, airport on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, during the Iditarod Dog Sled Race. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Iditarod musher Matt Failor lines out his dog team while leaving the McGrath, Alaska, checkpoint on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Iditarod musher Matt Failor packs up his sled prior to leaving the McGrath, Alaska, checkpoint on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Iditarod dog teams rest at the village of Nikolai, Alaska, along the Kuskokwim River, on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Iditarod Veterinarian Julie Kittams examines Jubilee after Christine Roalofs arrived at the Rohn checkpoint on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in Rohn, Alaska. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Veteran Iditarod musher Robert Bundtzen drives his team away from the Athabaskan village of Nikolai, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Veteran Iditarod musher Kelley Griffin leaves the Athabaskan village of Nikolai, Alaska, on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- An Iditarod musher crosses ice between the Rohn and Nikolai check points on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in Alaska. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Two mushers work their way across the Farewell Burn during the Iditarod on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser leaves Rohn, Alaska, after finishing his 24-hour layover on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Sled dogs in Anna Berington’s team negotiate a steep drop off in the trail leaving the Iditarod checkpoint on Finger Lake, Alaska, Monday, March 4, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Musher Sonny Lindner of Two Rivers snacks his dogs before leaving the Iditarod checkpoint on Finger Lake, Alaska, Monday, March 4, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Brownie, foreground, a sled dog in Mike Surenant’s team from Chugiak rests at the Iditarod checkpoint on Finger Lake, Alaska, Monday, March 4, 2013. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)
- Paige Drobny of Fairbanks heads out of the gate at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- A dog belonging to Nicolas Petit’s team awaits the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Dallas Seavey, 25, winner of the 2012 Iditarod, prepares his team at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Cindy Abbott’s team charges down the trail after the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- David Sawatzky’s team charges down the trail after the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Musher Matt Failor greets well-wishers along the trail after the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- The lead dogs of Sonny Lindner charge down the trail after the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Linwood Fiedler’s team charges down the trail during the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Louie Ambrose’s team charges down the trail at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- The lead dogs of Cindy Gallea charge down the trail at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Cim Smyth’s team races down the trail at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- A dog from Jeff King’s team leaps before it hits the trail at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Dog teams are lined up for the start gate at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- A dog from Scott Janssen’s team lies on the snow before the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Champion Martin Buser kisses one of his dogs before the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. Buser has finished 27 Iditarod races, 4 of which he won. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Kristy Berington greets fans as she heads out of the gate at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. Berington has a twin who is also racing a team in the Iditarod this year. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Gerald Sousa’s team charges down the trail at the re-start of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska March 3, 2013. From Willow, the race runs for almost 1000 miles as it crosses the state. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- The dogs of musher Jessica Hendricks charge out of the start gate at the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Allen Moore’s team charges out of the starting gate on 4th Avenue during the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- The lead dogs of musher Brent Sass race down 4th Avenue at the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- The lead dogs of musher Richie Diehl race down 4th Avenue at the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- The dogs of musher Curt Perano of New Zealand charge out of the start gate at the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Musher Matt Failor greets spectators as he races down 4th Avenue at the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Ed Stielstra’s team charges out of the start gate on 4th Avenue during the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- The dogs of Brazilian musher Luan Ramos Marques charge out of the start gate on 4th Avenue during the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Matt Giblin’s team charges around the corner during the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- Sonny Lindner’s team trots through downtown during the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
- A dog team are seen before the line up to race during the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 2, 2013. (Nathaniel Wilder/Reuters)
Oldest Iditarod winner, 53, follows in son’s footsteps
Yereth Rosen | Reuters
8:16 a.m. EDT, March 13, 2013
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) – The 2004 winner of Alaska’s famed 1,000-mile sled-dog race, the Iditarod, won again at age 53 on Tuesday to become the oldest champion, a year after his son became the youngest winner.
Mitch Seavey and his team of dogs sprinted across the finish line just 24 minutes ahead of Aliy Zirkle, who was bidding to become the first woman to win the Iditarod since 1990, when Susan Butcher claimed her fourth championship.
Seavey mushed his way from Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, to the Bering Sea town of Nome in nine days, seven hours, 39 minutes and 56 seconds, his winning margin one of the narrowest in the event’s 40-year history.
“I just now stopped looking over my shoulder, so I kind of realized we’re here,” Seavey said.
Seavey had been just 13 minutes ahead of Zirkle on Tuesday morningwhen they departed White Mountain, an Inupiat Eskimo village where racers must stop for 8 hours.
Last year Zirkle finished second to Seavey’s son Dallas, then just 25. Dallas Seavey was on course to come in fourth this year.
The family have a long tradition in mushing. The race was Mitch Seavey’s 20th Iditarod, and his father competed in the inaugural race.
“I hate to go off into the sunset thinking I only did it once out of 20 or more tries,” said Seavey, who lives in Seward, Alaska, and operates a seasonal sled-dog touring business.
This year’s contest was marked by unusual thaw conditions and unseasonable rain in the northern part of the trail, conditions that Seavey said helped his team.
“It seems like the tougher it is, the better we can do.”
He also gave credit to Zirkle, a New England transplant who now lives in Two Rivers, Alaska.
“She’s a great musher, and she’s going to win the Iditarod sometime, and probably more than once. We just had a little more steam, I think,”
Zirkle, one of the most popular mushers, was greeted by chants of “Aliy, Aliy” from spectators as she drove her dog team into the finish chute on Nome’s Front Street. “I am pretty happy to be here,” she said. “I was going for it.”
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which commemorates a 1925 rescue mission that carried diphtheria serum to Nome by sled-dog relay, is one of the few major U.S. sporting events in which men and women compete on an equal footing.
The name “Iditarod” derives from a local Athabascan term meaning “a far, distant place,” according to race officials.
The year’s event started on March 2 with a ceremonial run in Anchorage. Of the 66 mushers who started the race, 10 had dropped out of competition as of Tuesday night.
For his victory, Seavey will take home $50,400 and a new truck.
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Kevin Liffey)
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Interesting facts, according to Iditarod, include:
• The slowest winning time of 20 days, 15 hours, two minutes and seven seconds was recorded in 1974 by Carl Huntington. The fastest winning time was recorded in 2011 by John Baker in 8 days, 18 hours, 46 minutes and 39 seconds, which broke Martin Buser’s 1992 record.
• Rick Swenson is the only five time winner, the only musher to win in three decades, and only musher to complete 35 of 40 Iditarod’s.
• There are 707 mushers that are members of the “Finishers Club.” They represent 23 states, five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, & Australia) and 22 foreign countries (Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) have finished the Iditarod since 1973 including 118 women.
• The Iditarod traditionally pays the highest purse in sled dog racing. In 40 Iditarod races, Iditarod has paid out a total of $13,759,174 to 237 mushers.
IDITAROD: Website
IDITAROD: Champions & Record Holders