Yup’ik Musher Peter Kaiser Wins Iditarod XLVII
KaiserRacing.com
NOME, AK—Veteran Iditarod musher Peter Kaiser (bib #9), of Bethel, Alaska, crossed under the burled arch in Nome at 3:39 a.m. today, claiming his first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race championship. Kaiser had eight dogs in harness when he crossed the finish line to win the Iditarod XLVII title.
Kaiser is the first musher of Yup’ik descent to win an Iditarod championship. His roots in Bethel, located in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region in Southwest Alaska, span three generations, starting with his great-grandparents. He has run every Iditarod since 2010, placing as high as fifth place three times with five total top ten finishes. He is also a four-time, consecutive Kuskokwim 300 champion.
Kaiser’s team traversed the nearly 1,000-mile trail from Willow to Nome in nine days, 12 hours, 39 minutes and six seconds.
Front Street in Nome was lined with fans from all over Alaska and the world to watch as Kaiser drove his race team to the finish line.
Mushers currently on the Iditarod trail will continue to make their way to Nome to cheering fans, friends and family. The race finishes when the last musher crosses under the arch, claiming the “red lantern,” a long-standing Iditarod tradition and symbol of perseverance.
The Iditarod awards banquet will be held in Nome on Sunday, March 17, at 4 p.m. at the Nome Recreation Center. Here, Kaiser will again be recognized as champion and awarded his prize money as well as a new 2019 Ram truck.
Current Issue
December 2024
Pete is an employee of Knik Construction, part of the Lynden family of companies, and counts Lynden among his team sponsors. In a close race heading out of the White Mountain checkpoint, Pete skillfully guided his team the final 77 miles to the finish line in Nome. He finished with a time of 9 days, 12 hours and 39 minutes. This is the tenth time Pete has competed in the Iditarod.
“We are all very excited for Pete and enjoyed tracking his race this past week. Pete’s grit and determination show the world what it means to be a proud Alaskan,” says Jim Jansen, Lynden Chairman.
“Pete is not only a great employee for our company, but his passion and dedication to his work shows in his mushing as well. We are excited for his accomplishments and look forward to more races in the future,” says Dan Hall, President of Knik Construction.
In addition to the Iditarod, Pete regularly competes in the Kuskokwim 300 dogsled race. He holds the record for most consecutive victories in the Kuskokwim 300, winning four times between 2015 and 2018. He placed second earlier this year in the 2019 race.
Industry Sponsor
Become an Industry Sponsor
Two Minimum Wage Increases Set for 2025
Minimum wage earners get two raises in 2025. An inflation adjustment to $11.91 takes effect in January before a voter-approved hike to $13 per hour in July.
Mat-Su College Opens New Suite to Train Veterinary Technicians
Mat-Su College opens a new veterinary technician education suite to train students for an in-demand job they can carry anywhere.
WestJet Bringing Seasonal Anchorage–Calgary Flights in Summer 2025
Calgary-based WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, will begin twice-weekly flights between Anchorage and Calgary in 2025.
