Iditarod Course Safer This Year
The route bypasses a spot where sleds frequently crashed in previous years and injuries to dogs and mushers were common. The race begins March 3, with J.J. Keller & Associates Inc. again sponsoring a young contestant.
J.J. Keller & Associates' online coverage of this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race hasn't truly begun because the race won't start until March 3 in Anchorage. But the Neenah, Wis. safety training and compliance company's Iditarod website already features several videos of its sponsored racer, Dallas Seavey, and his dogs. At age 24, he finished fourth last year.
Videos of Seavey and other contestants also are featured at http://iditarod.com/, which is the official race website.
This year's route will be safer than in previous years because it bypasses the Happy River Steps, a section of steep switchbacks where sled crashes and injuries to dogs and mushers frequently occurred during the race, Kyle Hopkins of the Anchorage Daily News reported Feb. 3.
James J. Keller, president and CEO of J.J. Keller, plans to be in Nome to greet the mushers when they finish the race anywhere from nine to 13 days after they start. He said Dallas Seavey has a veteran team of dogs and should do well.