The 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race first day sign ups began at 9:30 am Alaska time at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters.  By the end of the first draw deadline (3:30 pm Alaska Time) sixty mushers had signed up.  Four time Iditarod Champions Jeff King and Martin Buser joined three time Iditarod Champion (2007,2008,2009) Lance Mackey along with a number of top ten Iditarod Finishers at today’s sign ups.  So far 19 rookies have signed up for the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

More than 500 volunteers and mushers gathered at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters. They were served a barbeque luncheon by the Millennium Alaska Hotel (The Official Hotel of the Iditarod trail Sled Dog Race). Jeff King (Denali Alaska) and Robert Nelson (Kotzebue Alaska) won their $4,000 entry fees back in a final drawing that marked the end of the 2009 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic.

The 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Volunteer Appreciation Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, June 27^th, at Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters (Mile 2.2 Knik Road, Wasilla).  Activities of interest are as follows:

• 9:30 am - Musher sign-ups for IDITARDO XXXVIII will begin.
• 10:00 am - General membership meeting will be conducted and election results for the ITC’s board of directors will be announced.
• 12:00 noon - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic sponsored by the Millennium Alaskan Hotel begins.

Parking for the Volunteer Picnic is available at the Smith Ball Fields adjacent to the Iditarod Headquarters.

On Wednesday, June 3^rd, 2009, 2009 Iditarod Insider documentary “Nature’s Fury” will air for the very first time on Public Television Channel 7 (KAKM) at 7pm Alaska Daylight Savings Time.  The documentary highlights some of the most awe inspiring footage ever taken on the Iditarod Trail.  Tune in at 7pm Wednesday, June 3^rd for “Nature’s Fury” on Public Television Channel 7 (KAKM).

WASILLA, ALASKA - (May 17, 2009) On May 19, 2009, (at 12 noon Alaska Time) the Millennium Alaskan Hotel (Official Hotel of “The Last Great Race”) will host the 17^th annual Sponsor Appreciation Luncheon.  2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion Lance Mackey will be the keynote speaker.

The sponsorship family of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an integral part of the success of “The Last Great Race on Earth.”  Many of the sponsors (and their employees) not only support the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race with monetary and in kind resources but they are also part of the more than 1800 volunteers who make the Iditarod a reality!

From The Iditarod Trail Committee Nomination Committee Chairman… Jim Palin:

Dear Valued Iditarod Trail Committee Members,

The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) Board of Directors has three seats up for election for 2010 .  The seats are;

Seat A: Representing Nome Alaska, currently filled by John Handeland

Seat B: Representing Anchorage/Mat-Su, currently filled by Mark Moderow

Seat C: Representing the “At Large” seat, currently filled by Rick Swenson

All three incumbent board members have committed to running for re-election.

Any ITC member can run for a board seat.  The ITC Board of Directors encourages interested members to please click here to contact the Nomination Committee Chair, Jim Palin,  before April 15, 2009.

Interested members are also asked to provide the Nomination Committee with a short bio of 300 words or less, along with a recent photo (jpg) for distribution to the voting membership no later than April 25, 2009. Please click here to submit.

The results of the membership election will be announced on June 27, 2009 at the annual membership meeting held at Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters (mile 2.2 Knik-Goosebay Road),  in Wasilla Alaska.

For more information about the Iditarod Trail Committee, please click here to review the ITC Bylaws.