FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks officials say the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is unlikely to start in the borough this year.
Borough Mayor Karl Kassel said that unless the weather worsens in Southcentral Alaska, the 1,000-mile race will likely start in Willow as planned, according to The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
A shortage of snow led Iditarod officials to move the race restart to Fairbanks in 2003 and last year.
“If the weather holds or cools off and we get any more snow, I’m sure they’ll be able to start in Willow, which is I think everyone’s preference,” he said.
The ceremonial start of the race, in which mushers take a leisurely tour around Anchorage with a guest in the sled, is scheduled for March 5 and will not be moved.
The restart, marking the beginning of actual racing, traditionally starts a day later in Willow about 40 miles north of Anchorage.
The Iditarod board of directors will decide the location of the restart by Feb. 12.
Iditarod Chief Executive Officer Stan Hooley, race marshal Mark Nordman and chief operating officer Willie Karidis came to Fairbanks for the day Tuesday to study the site for a contingency restart, but Kassel said snow conditions in Willow have improved since when that trip was scheduled.
“I think the likelihood is they’ll be able to do their restart as they have before at Willow,” he said. “They still have a couple issues, there are some challenging spots that need some work, I think they’re up to the task.”
Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com
