Blind Faith

Last year’s media darling, Rachael Scordis is at it again, racing that is. In 2005 the then 19 year old musher created controversy when she entered the Iditarod as the first legally blind participant to do so. Many veteran mushers were concerned for her safety and the safety of her dogs, but they were also upset about the changes to the rules that were made so that she could enter. She was getting special permission to race, using methods that other mushers were not granted access to, specifically a two way radio with another musher who was acting as a visual interpreter.

Last year was Rachel’s year, she was allowed to race, she was attracting national media attention and she even had a famous visual interpreter… not someone famous from the mushing world, but from the world of professional wrestling. “Precious” Paul Ellering was going to act as Rachel’s eyes on the trail, communicating problems, obstacles and trail conditions over a walkie-talkie. Paul had only run the Iditarod once before, in the year 2000 when he came in 54th. Even though Rachael was psyched and ready to go, things didn’t work out the way she hoped as both her and Paul were forced to scratch in Eagle Island.

This year however, things are different for Rachael. The media spotlight isn’t quite as bright, she has a much more experienced teammate acting as her visual interpreter. Tim Osmar is one of Iditarod’s Golden boys, he grew up in the system. Son of Iditarod legend Dean Osmar, Tim won the jr. Iditarod three out of four times before moving onto the big race in 1985. In twenty years, Tim has only finished out of the top 20 once..and has a previous nine year streak placing in the top 10. It’s the addition of a veteran like this who knows the trail like the back of his hand who might be able to help Rachael through her first completion, and if all goes well she’ll be able to make it to Nome via dogsled this year.