In our final podcast of the 2009 Iditarod Season (we’ll continue blogging for another week or so) we talk about the top 20 Iditarod finishers, talk about “next year” and review the news.
Thanks to all the thousands of you who have downloaded the podcasts this season. You’ve blown us away – your support is appreciated.
Lance Mackey crossed the finish line at 11:38am (ADT) this morning, taking his place in Iditarod history alongside other three-time consecutive winners Doug Swingley and Susan Butcher.
Thanks for all those who tuned and listened to our live coverage this morning, it was pretty crazy to have nearly 1,000 listeners all listening at once around the time Lance crossed the finish line.
We’ll have audio posted soon of the hour long broadcast, many thanks to KICY for the “on the ground” reports, and BSSD SBD who were hosting a great webcam!
Lance Mackey left the last major checkpoint in the Iditarod Sled Dog race at an early 2:11am this morning, he is on his way to Nome, and onto making Iditarod history. Mackey is set to be the third Iditarod musher ever to win three consecutive championships, putting him in the same category as legendary athletes Susan Butcher & Doug Swingley – no one has yet to win four in a row.
Mackey led the Iditarod for more than he ever has before, having very little serious competition once arriving in ghost-town checkpoint of Iditarod, marking the race’s halfway mark. It wasn’t for the lack of a competitive field that Mackey found himself often alone at the front of the race, Lance’s rival last year Jeff King was seeking a record-tying 5th Iditarod win, as was Martin Buser. Sebastian Schnuelle took Lance Mackey’s Yukon Quest throne this year after the former reigning champion decided to bow out of this years race, Schnuelle saught to also take Mackey’s Iditarod throne – and currently is on track to place an impressive second place if he is not passed by John Baker out of White Mountian.
After going through Safety at 8:48am Wednesday morning, an arrival into Nome should be around Noon Alaska time.
We’ll be broadcasting pre-show coverage live online, stay tuned for updates as Mackey makes his way to Nome.
With Lance Mackey now on the trail having left White Mountain - we can start to guess as to what time the first musher will arrive. Usually it’s a 10 hour trip to Nome, which would put Lance at the finish line around Noon to 12:30pm ADT.
About an hour before the first musher crosses the finish line, you can get online and listen to “Iditablog live pre-race coverage”. Live special guests, your listener questions, and a ’09 trail recap will take us up to the live finish from Nome.
Until the live broadcast begins, you can listen to the “Best-of Iditablog Podcasts” which include archived Iditarod finishes going back to 2005, this year’s prior podcasts, and some other fun surprises. The “Best-of Segments” will stop airing a half hour before the live broadcast begins.
Listen by clicking “play” in the box below, or (click here) to open in a new window.
Today we speak with Damon from the Bering Straight School District, live! in Nome as he and the Student Broadcasting team prepare for a finish tomorrow sometime. We also recap the harsh weather conditions that mushers currently find themselves in, along with the strategies that come along with the new challenges.
March 20, 2009
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