All in the Family
Zachary and Kazimir Cizmowski, like many Alaskans, have been snowmachining for as long as they can remember. The 24- and 26-year-old brothers from Healy grew up in a place with wide-open spaces and plenty of land to explore – and with a father who raced Iron Dog in 2002, giving the men loads of expertise at their disposal.
This year, the two brothers are Team 21, a pair of rookies with thousands of miles of riding under their belts and one of four teams of brothers racing.
“We got the funds together and decided to give it a shot,” said Zachary. “Being brothers, in our case I think it will be beneficial because we are pretty close and pretty good about speaking our minds like brothers do. I think it will be beneficial, because we work together and we get along. We don’t get offended if someone has something else to say.”
This is a common refrain among the sibling pairings in this year’s races. One of the most underappreciated aspects of racing Iron Dog is keeping one’s cool under pressure. Racing speeds are diabolical, sleep deprivation cruel and the wear-and-tear on sled and bodies unending. Add to the mix volatile personalities, and a race can quickly go awry.
“Jeremiah has been wanting to do Iron Dog for years, and it’s been on my mind, too,” said Jerad Vanderpool, 35, the other half of Team 27. The Vanderpool brothers from McGrath, like the Cizmowskis, grew up riding and felt like their sibling connection could give them some advantages where it relates to team cohesiveness.
“It will definitely help because we’ve known each other our whole lives, so we can even communicate without words,” Jerad said. “We have a good working relationship, and all the rapport has already been made.”
Furthermore, the Vanderpools said, their rural riding experience could be a plus.
“We’re used to the backcountry, wild and rutted trails and stuff,” Jerad said. “The only place that will be unusual is the ice.”
“After riding with him, I don’t know if there’s that much that intimidates Jerad,” Jeremiah said. “It’s going to be a wild ride.”
The family connection extends beyond the Vanderpools as well. Jeremiah said they have a sister in the Valley, a brother in Anchorage, and family in McGrath and beyond who are all spread out along the trail and willing to help.
“That moral support will help too,” he added.
A husband-wife duo is paring up to tackle Iron Dog. Longtime Pro racer Paul Sindorf is taking a reprieve this year to take on the Recreational Class ride with his wife, Mary, and two other riders, Pro Class veteran Stan James and rookie Gregory Strohmeyer.
Will their marriage survive more than 1,000 miles on a sled? Neither seem too concerned.
“I learned early on in my snowmachining career that the best way to get out of a bad situation is to stop,” she said. “So he knows how I operate, he will figure it out.”
“It’s going to be more relaxed, and we will be able to dawdle and enjoy more,” Paul said. “I’m excited to share that with Mary.”
Father-daughter duo Larry Levine and Danielle Levine are another family connection in this year’s Iron Dog. The pair made news last year as the first father-daughter team to compete together and complete the race. They were one of only 13 teams to make it across the finish line in a race that was littered with injuries, mechanicals and scratches.
“I think we were nervous about the whole getting-along thing last year,” Larry Levine said. “But it was a matter of switching hats. My goal is to finish the race and to be friends with the people I’m racing with when we’re done. There are so many people who are not talking to each other after the race, and I want to avoid that – especially because I’m riding with my daughter.”
Danielle said if anything, riding with her father made communication easier. After all, he knows her better than anyone, and as a rookie, she depended on his experience to help make decisions at critical times. This year, with the rookie experience behind her, she feels more confident that she will be a stronger partner for her father.
“I think you have to be fluid no matter what, in terms of your game plan,” she said. “It’s important to be able to roll with it if the weather changes or the trail changes. My dad and I learned a lot about communication last year, and we were able to communicate fairly well, and hopefully we will be even better at it this year.”
All in the Family
All in the Family Konrad and Luke Schruf: father-son
Robert and Forest Strick: father-son
Larry and Danielle Levine: father-daughter
Paul and Mary Sindorf: husband-wife
Kazimir and Zachary Cizmowski: brothers
Jeremiah and Jerad Vanderpool: brothers
Kruz and Kenneth Kleewein: brothers
Israel and Joseph Hale: brothers