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Iditarod
Race Coverage
"Iditarod
for Dummies"
Kids
& Teachers
What
is Ultimate Iditarod?
Ultimate
Iditarod Archives
Support
Ultimate Iditarod
Contact
Us
Links |
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What Is Ultimate
Iditarod?
 Ultimate
Iditarod was founded in 2001 by Iditarod Mushers Jim Gallea and Tyrell
Seavey. [Click here for more on the people behind the
scenes.] The concept behind Ultimate Iditarod was simple: create
a website that provides comprehensive information about sled dog racing
and the people and dogs of the Last Great Race on EarthTM--the
1,150-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
A few minutes spent browsing this website will give you an idea of the
immense amount of information that Ultimate Iditarod has put
together.
Ultimate Iditarod
offers something for everyone. For those in search of basic
information or answers to questions on homework assignments, the "Iditarod
for Dummies" section contains tons of great information in
an easily accessible format. For teachers and school children,
Ultimate Iditarod offers the "Kids
& Teachers" section that contains a few easy-to-read
selections and links to other useful information. For the "hard
core" mushing enthusiast, the "Ultimate
Iditarod Archives" are full of stories, reflections, and
insights from years of training and racing.
In addition,
Ultimate Iditarod strives to provide unique insight, commentary, and
updates during the Iditarod. During most years, an Ultimate
Iditarod reporting crew travels the entire 1,150-mile Iditarod trail by
snowmobile. The reporting crew sends stories and the occasional
photo back to the Web via portable satellite uplinks to the Internet.
Why Ultimate
Iditarod? Well, nearly every dog musher gets asked lots of
questions about their dogs, racing, and how best to go to the bathroom in
the cold. An incredible amount of public interest regarding sled
dogs and racing exists. As Iditarod Mushers, we want to provide a
complete source of accurate information to promote public interest in this
historic sport. Unfortunately it takes a great deal of money and
time to put together a website like this and send reporters chasing across
Alaska in hot pursuit of the Iditarod racers. But in our view the
benefits to the world at large are worth the cost.
Enjoy! And
feel free to contact us
with questions or comments. We love to hear from you, and we will
try to respond in a timely manner.
--Jim Gallea,
March 1, 2005
| The
People Behind Ultimate Iditarod |
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Jim Gallea
Jim Gallea was born in Minnesota, but grew up in
Seeley Lake in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, where his family has maintained Snowcrest
Racing Sled Dogs. Jim grew up training and racing sled dogs and helping
both of his parents run the Iditarod. At the age of 18, Jim competed in
his first Iditarod in 1999. Since then, Jim has completed a
total of three Iditarod races, placing as high as 30th
place. In addition, Jim has competed in races in Montana,
Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, Minnesota, and Canada. Currently,
Jim is a medical student at the University of Washington School of
Medicine, and he is currently doing clinical work in Wasilla, Alaska. Medical school doesn't leave much time for racing,
but Jim still does most of the web mastering and business
management for Ultimate Iditarod. He also volunteers on the trail during the Iditarod. In
2007, Jim will be
stationed at the Nikolai checkpoint, in the
middle of the Alaskan Interior.
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Tyrell Seavey
Tyrell Seavey is a native Alaskan who has grown up around the sport of dog
mushing. His family has been involved with the Iditarod since the race
began in 1973. Tyrell grew up training and racing sled dogs. He has helped three generations of his family--his
grandfather, father, and older brother--prepare for the Iditarod. At age
18, Tyrell completed his first Iditarod in 2003. In 2005, Tyrell competed
in his second Iditarod and finished a very impressive 16th place. Tyrell has an impressive racing record. He won the 2001 Junior Iditarod
and has placed well in the Klondike 300 and Copper Basin 300 races as
well. In addition, Tyrell has snowmobiled the Iditarod twice as a reporter
for Ultimate Iditarod. In the summer, he is Manager of Sled Dog Operations
at IdidaRide
Sled Dog Tours in Seward, AK. The Seavey
family uses this business to support their racing team. Tyrell will be
Ultimate Iditarod's analyst and correspondent for the 2007 race.
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The Last Great Race on
Earth is a registered trademark of the Iditarod Trail Committee, Inc.,
Wasilla, Alaska |
