(ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 6, 2023) — The new year brings Iron Dog racers and riders that much closer to the big day, and before long it will be time to line up for the start of Iron Dog 2023. While racers and riders are out training and working on their sleds, the small army of volunteers and staff it takes to pull off the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race is doing their part too.

We caught up with Iron Dog Executive Director Mike Vasser for an update on what’s been happening – as well as the big reveal on the Iron Dog 2023 race purse.

IRON DOG: How many racers and riders will we see in 2023? And how does this roster compare to year’s past?

MIKE VASSER: In the Pro Class we currently have 25 teams, with a strong mix of return champions! We are very excited that almost 25 percent of our racers are from rural Alaska. There is a solid amount of rookie teams in this year’s field, which we hope bodes well for the future of our race and the sport. This Pro Class number is down about 10 percent; we would like to field close to 35 teams each year. On the other hand, the Expedition Class continues to grow. This year, we will field close to 52 riders, which is up about 14 percent over last year. To my knowledge this will be the largest combined field of teams and riders on the course of all Iron Dog events. 

ID: You’ve had more volunteers stepping forward this year to help with race logistics and prep. Can you tell us more about that?

MV: We are getting a large amount of support this year from the military, for sure. We have anywhere from 25 to 150 Air Force personnel who prepared 5,000 stakes, the course lath, by wrapping them in reflective tape, and stamping them with the Iron Dog logo. Those are being bundled into packages of 50 and shipped out to the checkpoint communities to be set closer to the race. They also will be supporting all the field events the actual week of the race with setup and teardown support in Wasilla and Big Lake for the start and finish. We also are working with the Alaska Air National Guard who has committed 10 to 15 volunteers to do much of the same work.   

ID: What can you tell us about this year’s route? Any changes from last year? We hear that the recent winds blew down many trees.

MV: The route is identical to last year’s route except we go up around the Red Dog/Kotzebue Loop before the halfway banquet. And we also are starting and finishing in Big Lake. As for the course, the issue we got from the recent storms is that in the Shell Lake/Skwentna/Puntilla area, the amount of beetle kill trees that have deteriorated and fallen there is huge. Further along the trail, summer forest fires burned up a lot of that beetle kill, so it’s not as bad. And up on the coast, some of the locals along, there have said there is a lot of driftwood and debris that wasn’t there before the typhoon storm that hit the West Coast recently. I don’t know if that’s going to impede us or not. Until we get out and start staking the trail we won’t know.

ID: Iron Dog’s Helmet Safety Program has been providing free helmets to children living in communities all along the racecourse. The program is wildly popular. What can kids – and parents – expect to see this year?

MV: The helmet Safety Program has had enormous sponsor support this year, making it possible for us to deliver 450 helmets to youth across rural Alaska. That’s almost 200 more than last year. Along with providing helmets, our Ambassador Team will be hosting safety seminars and impromptu conversations along the trail. Mike Buck from Alaska Safe Riders is one of this year’s Ambassador riders and an expert in safety. The program continues to grow, and plans are being discussed to extend the program to more areas in Alaska outside of rural checkpoint locations.

ID: Iron Dog certainly couldn’t exist without the generous support of its sponsors. What more can you tell us about the way these businesses, organizations and individuals step up?

MV:  The enthusiasm for the Iron Dog Race is possibly the best I have ever seen it. We are fortunate to have the support we do from sponsors. Prior to taking the ED role I was involved as a sponsor for almost 15 years, so I really understand their side. We’re working hard to ensure they gain exposure by supporting us, that takes planning and communication something that myself, the board and racers have really embraced as roles this year and it is making our event better already! Sponsors are excited; the Iron Dog reach on social media, our website and other media avenues has absolutely gone through the roof.  In August we had a Facebook post that was shared over 2,000 times and had a reach of 1.1 million. In 2021, we had only one Facebook post that reached near 40,000, but in 2022 we had 10 posts that reached between 70,000 and 208,000. A couple of the sponsors to be recognized are Donlin Gold who is back on board as a large supporter; their commitment to traditions like our race is really fantastic! Lube-Tech is back this year providing all the oil for racers across the entire course. MTA, Red Dog / Teck, KLIM, SBS, HPAK, Alaska Airlines, Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska, Valley Imaging Center, The City of Nome, and Northern Air Cargo are all back as major supporters. And just to name a few new to the Iron Dog family are Lynden, Tote, Cruz Construction, Big Bubba’s Trailers and Anchorage Chrysler Dodge.

ID: The annual Iron Dog raffle gives all race supporters something fun in which to participate, and also support the race. How is this year’s raffle shaping up thus far?

MV:  The Iron Dog Raffle for 2023 is the largest ever for prizes.  And again, the support has been just amazing – literally when I called Anchorage Chrysler Dodge with a hope they might “someday” donate a truck they said YES, loudly THIS YEAR we don’t want to wait or miss out!  With over $100,000 in prizes - The grand prize is a Dodge Big Horn Pick up; we have an enclosed trailer, a Polaris snowmachine, $10,000 cash PLUS 4 round trip tickets with Alaska Airlines, KLIM gear, a Downhill Pro E-Bike, and a five-night stay at Alpine Creek Lodge. We recently shot footage for the raffle commercial to begin airing soon … keep a look out.

ID: And finally, the news everyone wants to hear: What is the 2023 race purse for the pro racers going to be? And what does all this mean for Iron Dog, Inc.?

MV:  We figure if we’re the longest toughest snowmobile race in the world should we have the Richest Purse?  The planned purse for 2023 is $200,000, which makes it the richest Snowmobile Race in the world currently!  That doesn’t consider our contingency prizes which as of today is $54,900 (excluding manufacturer first-place prize bonuses); that’s up over 24 grand from 2022 and not 100 percent final yet! For Iron Dog, this will be the largest purse to date for the Pro Class teams.

ID: Anything else you would like to add?

MV: Iron Dog is in a good place today, thanks to our supporters, volunteers, fans, and the talents demonstrated by our riders and racers. Iron Dog is an iconic event for the state of Alaska and shows where the future of winter recreation is heading. We are honored to help build that Alaskan tradition.