Wasilla, Alaska - The 2008 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race contains a field of World Class competitors and a number of new faces. A record number 56 mushers were on hand at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters today to sign up for Iditarod XXXVI. They are joined by 15 other mushers who mailed in their applications before the official sign up today. (June 30, 2007) The sign ups were part of the 2007 Volunteer Picnic Celebration.
Volunteers and race fans from around the world participated in the Volunteer Picnic hosted each year by the Iditarod Trail Committee. Governor Sarah Palin was on hand to join in on the celebration. The Millennium Alaska Hotel was also there to feed hundreds of volunteers who attended. Joe Garnie (Teller Alaska) and Jim Lanier (Chugiak) Alaska were the winners in the Annual Iditarod Trail Committee Musher Lottery. Both mushers’ names were drawn and they received their entry fees back.
The following is a list of the 2008 field of Iditarod Sled Dog Race Mushers (as of June 30, 2007).
1. G.B. Jones - Wasilla, AK
2. Jake Berkowitz (rookie) - McMillan, MI
3. Wayne Curtis - Wasilla, AK
4. Jason Barron - Lincoln, MT
5. Joe Garnie - Teller, AK
6. Mike Williams - Aniak, AK
7. Jessica Hendricks - Two Rivers AK
8. Eric Rogers - Eagle River, AK
9. Hugh Neff - Skagway, AK
10. DeeDee Jonrowe - Willow, AK
11. Lance Mackey - Fairbanks, AK
12. Jerry Sousa - Talkeetna, AK
13. Jessie Royer - Fairbanks, AK
14. Michael Suprenant (rookie) - Chugiak, AK
15. Gerry Willomitzer - Whitehorse, YT CANADA
16. Deborah Bicknell (rookie) - Juneau, AK
17. Melanie Gould - Talkeetna, AK
18. Heather Siirtola - Talkeetna, AK
19. Becca Ross (rookie) - Trapper Creek, AK
20. Matt Calore - Trapper Creek, AK
21. Gary Paulsen - Willow, AK
22. Sue Allen - Houston, AK
23. Warren Palfrey - Yellow Knife, Canada
24. Joe Gans (rookie) -
25. Kirk Barnum (rookie) - Seeley Lake, MT
26. Matt Hayashida - Willow, AK
27. Silvia Willis - Deshka Landing, AK
28. Ray Redington, Jr. - Wasilla, AK
29. Ken Anderson - Fairbanks, AK
30. Laura Daugereau (rookie) - Port Gamble, WA
31. Karen Ramstead - Perryvale, AB CANADA
32. Mitch Seavey - Seward, AK
33. Kent Kaltenbacher (rookie) - Wasilla, AK
34. Bruce Linton - Kasilof, AK
35. Art Church, Jr. - Willow, AK
36. Aliy Zirkle - Two Rivers, AK
37. Clint Warnke - Two Rivers, AK
38. Rohn Buser (rookie) - Big Lake, AK
39. Martin Buser - Big Lake, AK
40. Lynda Plettner - Houston, AK
41. Rick Holt (rookie) - Willow, Ak
42. Sigrid Ekran - Fairbanks, AK
43. Cim Smyth - Big Lake, AK
44. Hans Gatt - Atlin, BC CANADA
45. Ed Iten - Kotzebue, AK
46. Ramey Smyth - Big Lake, AK
47. Kjetil Backen - NORWAY
48. Jim Lanier - Chugiak, AK
49. Kelley Griffin - Wasilla, AK
50. Aaron Burmeister - Nenana, AK
51. Rick Casillo - Willow, Ak
52. Scott Smith - Willow, AK
53. Jason Mackey - Kasilof, AK
54. Rob Loveman (rookie) - Seeley Lake, MT
55. Zack Steer - Sheep Mountain, AK
56. Jeff King - Denali Park, AK
57. Al Hardman - Ludington, MI
58. Gene Smith (rookie) - Omak, WA
59. Ryan Redington -Wasilla, AK
60. Jeff Deeter (rookie) - Wasilla, AK
61. Cliff Roberson - Corvallis, OR
62. Melissa Owens (rookie) - Nome, AK
63. Rudi Niggemeier (rookie) - Salzkotten, GERMANY
64. Tim Osmar -Ninilchik, AK
65. Bill Pinkham - Glenwood Springs, CO
66. Steve Madsen - Cougar, WA
67. Rachael Scdoris - Bend, OR
68. Lachlan Clarke - Buena Vista, CO
69. Jennifer Freking (rookie) - Finland, MN
70. Blake Freking - Finland, MN
71. Rick Swenson - Two Rivers, AK