Inside Alaska - Fairbanks, Denali, Interior and Arctic Alaska » Dog Mushing

Lance Mackey: Alaska Dog Mushing Legend

FCVB — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:29:55 +0000

When I saw this video and story posted on the KTUU.com today, I couldn’t help but watch. Even after monitoring the sport closely during every Mackey win in the Yukon Quest and Iditarod, I am still amazed. Apparently the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame is as well. Here is a terrific retrospective on the Fairbanks musher that has made – and continues to make – dog mushing history.

Tell us what you think about this story and make your 2010 Iditarod predictions in the comments section. Can Lance win his fourth in a row?

Vote Now: Final 2009 Fairbanks Photo Contest

FCVB — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:31:30 +0000

Just when we started lamenting our lack of Photo Contest entries in October we began to see a major influx of terrific shots. Surf through this gallery of potential winners – then select your three favorites and cast your vote using the form just below the images. Your votes will determine the winners!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

2009 GCI Open North American Championships

FCVB — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:28:56 +0000

Some of the best sprint-mushers in the world came racing down the Chena River just outside our offices this afternoon. I thought you might like to have a look, so I grabbed a camera and headed down the river bank just in time to catch a few of the teams. Here’s how things looked on day 1 of the race:

2009 Open North American, Fairbanks from insidealaska on Vimeo.

The GCI Open North American Championships begin in the heart of downtown Fairbanks and have been run since 1946. The field of 18 this year includes many former champions and is continuing throughout the weekend. Stop by the starting line this Saturday or Sunday on Second Avenue, and if you have a chance walk down the street to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center and say hello.

Fairbanks Musher Headed for His Third in a Row!

FCVB — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:09:21 +0000

At this very moment Lance Mackey has a substantial lead on the last leg of the 1,000 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Mackey is a Fairbanks resident and a four-time winner of the Yukon Quest, which also runs 1,000 miles from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, Yukon. Lance was the first ever musher to win those races back to back, and just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, did it two years in a row (2007 and 2008).

Lance’s closest competitor is the reigning Yukon Quest Champion Sebastian Schnuelle. His Quest victory this year was close, as currently 14th place Hugh Neff came into the Fairbanks finish just a matter of minutes behind. Other Interior mushers or Quest veterans in the Iditarod 2009 top 20 include Aaron Burmeister of Nenana (4th), Jessie Royer of Fairbanks (8th), Aliy Zirkle of Two Rivers (11th), Sonny Lindner of Two Rivers (15th), Ken Anderson of Fairbanks (16th), three-time Quest winner Hans Gatt (17th) and Jeff King of Denali (18th).

The Yukon Quest is gaining more and more prominance as the mushers and mushing fans begin to realize this “toughest sled dog race in the world” has become the crucible in which the elite teams are formed. So if you’re not tuned in, get to the Quest website and get an education. The sled dog racing champions of tomorrow and today are already there!

25 Toughest Athletes; Mackey #2

FCVB — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:01:59 +0000

Sports Illustrated has published a list of the 25 Toughest Athletes. Our very own Lance Mackey finished number two, although many on the SI comment boards thought he should be first. SI tells us what makes him tough:

Caginess and steadfast refusal to quit in the face of throat cancer (2001), hostile terrain and 40-below temperatures. He did the impossible in sled dog racing — win the 1,000- mile Yukon Quest and 1,100-mile Iditarod within a month – not once, but in two straight years, most recently this year on frostbitten feet that hadn’t fully healed after the Quest.

Check out our coverage of the Mackey toughness, then leave a comment and let us know why you think he should be #1.

2008 Open North American Pictures

FCVB — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:49:31 +0000

The GCI Open North American Championship has been blazing through the streets of downtown Fairbanks since 1946. A field of the best sprint-mushers in the world were on hand again this year. Here’s a few pictures from the event.

For more pictures and final standings visit the Sled Dog Central ONAC page. If you would like to plan your own dog mushing adventure in Fairbanks, enter the search term “dog mushing” in one of our interactive guides. You may also want to visit the Inside Alaska dog mushing tag.

More from the Trail

FCVB — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:59:51 +0000

In the process of writing the last post about Lance Mackey’s historic Iditarod win, I came across a fantastic radio package recorded last night on the trail in White Mountain. Fairbanks’ own KUAC reporter Libby Casey filed the piece for APRN. In contains some great quotes from both Lance and Jeff King as they battled for the top spot in the race. View the original APRN post or click play below to listen.

Another Phenomenal Win for Lance Mackey

FCVB — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:08:35 +0000

For two years in a row, Lance Mackey has crossed the finish line first in the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest, and the 1,049 mile Iditarod. The feat is unsurpassed in mushing history and has secured Mackey’s place among the greatest dog-drivers ever. Our Fairbanks, home-town favorite is making news worldwide with tales of on the trail trickery, overcoming obstacles and unparalleled competitive spirit. Congratulations Lance, you have shown the world our indomitable Fairbanks spirit!

Fairbanks Musher Pulls Ahead (for good?)

FCVB — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:03:37 +0000

If Lance Mackey wins the 2008 Iditarod, he will not only be the first musher ever to win the Yukon Quest and Iditarod back to back, he will have done it twice – in a row. One of the greatest stories in mushing history will have been formed in Alaska’s Interior by a musher who grew into this championship form on the toughest trail – not from Anchorage to Nome – but from Fairbanks to Whitehorse.

While the Last Great Race has built a following for being the most prestigious in mushing, the Yukon Quest has built its own on the basis of sheer difficulty. As a four time winner, Lance has seen his dogs harden into some of the best in the world. So…if you’re an Iditarod fan who hasn’t heard about the “toughest sled dog race in the world”, it’s time to get up to “speed”. Perhaps you should even begin making your plans to be in Fairbanks for the finish in 2009, as Lance tries for his fifth consecutive win.

Here’s the latest from the trail to Nome. By the way, three of the top five mushers are from Alaska’s Interior!

Mackey in the Hunt Again

FCVB — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:14:30 +0000

Fairbanks musher Lance Mackey is making another attempt at winning the Yukon Quest and Iditarod back to back. After his fourth Quest victory in a row just a few days ago, Lance is setting a competitive pace on the Iditarod trail. Keep up with Lance, and several other Interior Alaska favorites as they journey over 1,000 miles to Nome.

Fairbanks is home to some of the best dog mushers (and dog mushing) in the world. If you are planning a visit, be sure to check out the many dog mushing attractions and activities we offer. Start planning your Alaska adventure today by leafing through our interactive Fairbanks Winter Guide (for mushing), or Fairbanks Visitors Guide for other activities, events and attractions year-round.