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A Kid's Thoughts

Greed fuels the Iditarod

How much money does Iditarod get from sponsorships?

Iditarod sells schools access to its "Iditarod Insider" Web site

Why did Lance Mackey and Doug Swingley race?

Anchorage Daily News profits from its pro-race stand

Winning Iditarod mushers hired as TV commentators

Mushers hired to do TV commercials

Mushers profit from big corporate donations

Mushers charge for mushing instruction and excursions, dog rental, food, housing

Money motivates mushers, race organizers and the city of Anchorage

Mushers profit from giving sled dog tours and rides to tourists

Mushers profit from selling and leasing dogs

Mushers get royalities from books they've written about Iditarod

Mushers advertise to be speakers

Companies profit from selling trips to see Iditarod

More mushers to receive more prize money than ever before

Speed pays

Prize money payout totals for some mushers

Profits from selling Iditarod artwork and trinkets

Money motivates the city of Wasilla

Iditarod boosts Nome's economy

Rachael Scdoris markets herself

How well can Rachael Scdoris see?

Martin Buser markets himself

Lance Mackey markets himself

Did Disney pay Butcher and Monson for advice?

Mushers profit from being ad models

BLOATED: Iditarod executive's salaries and phone charges

Profit from Iditaread program

Mushers profit from giving sled dog shows

DeeDee Jonrowe markets herself

Jon Van Zyle, official Iditarod artist, advertises his Iditarod items

Mushers profit from selling merchandise

Iditarod profits from its auctions

Iditarod hired Gere Donovan advertising agency

Iditarod markets race DVDs to tourists

Veterinarians profit from doing research on Iditarod dogs


How much money does Iditarod get from sponsorships?

2006 Iditarod sponsorship levels:

Presenting sponsor: $250,000

These fees were paid by Anchorage Chrysler Dodge, Cabela's, GCI and Wells Fargo.


Major sponsor: $50,000

These fees were paid by Alaska Airlines, GIT Satellite Communications,
The Anchorage Daily News, Millennium Hotel Anchorage, Chevron, PenAir and Fred Meyer.


Supporting sponsor: $25,000

These fees were paid by Aeromed International, FIRSTRAX, Alaskan Brewing Company, Horizon Lines, Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall, Municipality of Anchorage, City of Nome, Northern Air Cargo, Coca-Cola Alaska and Providence Alaska Medical Center.


Sponsor: $7,500

These fees were paid by Alaska Industrial Hardware, ExxonMobil, Alaska Mining & Diving Supply, Nome Kennel Club, Alaska Serigraphics, North Mail, Alcan Signs, Office Tech, City of Wasilla, Ribelin Lowell Alaska USA, COMTEC Business Systems, Spenard Builders Supply, Craig Taylor Equipment Co., University of Alaska College Savings Plan and Crowley Marine Services.

- "IDITAROD SPONSORSHIP LEVELS AND ENTITLEMENTS," February, 2006


Iditarod sells schools access to its "Iditarod Insider" Web site

"So on top of juggling all the myriad details of Iditarod 2007, the ITC is busy packaging the Iditarod Insider Web site for sale to individuals and schools, in particular. Classrooms can purchase a year on the Web site for $39.95, and entire schools for $99.95, Hooley said."

- Stan Hooley is the Iditarod's executive director
- Margaret Bauman, Alaska Journal of Commerce, November 26, 2006


Why did Lance Mackey and Doug Swingley race?

Lance Mackey races to avoid getting a "real job":

Mackey said before the race started that the prize money is important so he doesn't have "to get a real job."

- Rachel D'Oro, Associated Press, March 12, 2008


Doug Swingley races to win new pick up truck:

"When asked why at age 50 he is back competing in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race -- willing to hang onto the back of a sled for more than 1,000 bumpy and sometimes hair-raising miles from Anchorage to Nome -- his answer is quick and to the point.

"I need a new pickup truck. I am tired of these old pickups falling apart," Swingley said from his home in Lincoln, Mont., where a month before the start he was busy making gourmet shrimp and garlic dishes to eat along the trail."

- Associated Press, "Names in the game," February 20, 2004


Anchorage Daily News profits from its pro-race stand

The Anchorage Daily News sells businesses advertising space in its special Iditarod section with links to the ads on the newspaper's main Iditarod webpage. Businesses can also buy links to their homepages on the newspaper's many Iditarod webpages.

The newspaper sells pro-Iditarod books in its online Anchorage Daily News store. There are book picture links to the store are on all of its Iditarod webpages.

- Sled Dog Action Coalition
- Anchorage Daily News website, 2004


The newspaper sells reprints of Iditarod photos on its website:

One 4x6 costs $9.00
One 5x7 costs $14.00
One 8x12 costs $24.00
One 11x14 costs $44.00

Anchorage Daily News website, 2007


Anchorage Daily News advertises photos using "Ads by Google":

Google places these advertisements on websites that participate in its "AdSense" program.

"Google uses search-based technologies to match advertisements to the content and context of web pages - so the ads you see are related to the information you are viewing."

- Google website and AdSense participating websites, 2005


Anchorage Daily News sells ad space in Iditarod section:

The Anchorage Daily News publishes an Iditarod section. In 2006, it was 10 inches by 11 3/4 inches and was 42 pages long. The articles were written by the Alaska Associated Press or by Anchorage Daily News staff, and all of them hyped the race.

These companies purchased full-page ads in the Iditarod section:

Cabela's - Iditarod musher Jeff King is pictured in the ad
Alaska Airlines
GCI
Burlington Coat Factory
Nana Management Services- owns Courtyard by Marriott (Anchorage), Springhill Suites (Fairbanks), Residence Inn (Anchorage) and Red Roof Inn (Anchorage)

These companies purchased half-page ads:

Wells Fargo
MTA - Iditarod musher Martin Buser is picture in the ad
Continental Auto
Spenard Builders
Aeromed University of Alaska College Savings Plan
AlaskaUSA

Many other companies purchased quarter page ads or one-eight of a page ads.

- Iditarod 34, Anchorage Daily News, February 26, 2006


Winning Iditarod mushers hired as TV commentators

Doug Swingley:

"The Montana musher [Doug Swingley] is working as a commentator for KIMO-13 of Anchorage, the official TV station of the Iditarod. Instead of hitching up dogs at Monday’s re-start, Swingley was scribbling notes in a reporter’s notebook."

- Kristan Kelly, Nome Nugget, March 6, 2003


Joe Runyan:


"...Joe Runyan, a former Iditarod musher, will host the coverage...."

- OLN press release, Feb. 21, 2005

[Joe Runyan recommended using cattle prods on the dogs.]


Mushers hired to do TV commercials


Martin Buser does commercials for Ford dealer:

"Buser was having the logo painted onto his new truck, the vehicle furnished courtesy of Nye Frontier Ford, for which he does television commercials."

- Peter S. Goodman, Anchorage Daily News, February 22, 1995


Jeff King does commercials for Alaska Open Imaging Center:

"Patients are targeted through advertising, including TV commercials with three-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, whom Alaska Open Imaging sponsors."

- Stefan Milkowski, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, January 15, 2006


Jeff King does commercials for Alaska Airlines:

I'd just won my first Iditarod in 1993 when I got a call from Alaska Airlines, a major sponsor and long-time supporter of the race. They asked if I wanted to star in one of their TV commercials."

- King, Jeff. Cold Hands Warm Heart, Husky Homestead Press, 2008


Mushers profit from big corporate donations

Companies give mushers tens of thousands of dollars:

"...the dog-food company Iams, the outdoor gear supplier Cabela's, or the clothing company Eddie Bauer, all of which pump tens of thousands of dollars into the kennels of front-running mushers."

- Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, March 2, 2002


Musher got more money than his Air Force pension:

"I had a sponsor offer I couldn't refuse -- Second Wind Energy Snacks, an energy biscuit company out of Kansas City, Mo.,'' Adkins said. "It was more money than Air Force retirement, and here I am."

- Kevin Klott and Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, March 10, 2006
(Second Wind Engergy Snacks are made by S&M NuTec, LLC, the same company that makes GREENIES)


Mushers charge for mushing instruction and excursions, dog rental, food, housing

Daytona Dayton is paying $150,000 to Vern Halter:

"Among the rookies signing up were Daytona Dayton, a talk-show host from Eagle, Idaho, who said she is paying Iditarod veteran Vern Halter of Willow $150,000 to help her train and run the Iditarod."

- Daytona Dayton is host of the "Daytona & Friends National Radio Show"
- Associated Press, June 26, 2005


Linda Plettner Kennels provides training for Iditarod:

"For $50,000, give or take a few thousand, [Lynda] Plettner provides the team, sled, gear, food, instruction and other essentials for covering the 1,100 miles from Anchorage to Nome."

- Paula Dobbyn, Anchorage Daily News, March 1, 2002


Linda Plettner Kennels offers food and lodging for trainees:

"Besides the tours, the rides and her musher boarding school, Plettner offers summer residencies for people who want to learn about caring for and running sled dogs. The cost is $200 a day per person, food and housing included. For two people sharing a double bed, the price is $250 or $350 a day, depending on whether one or both are participating. Someone who wants to spend five days with Plettner pays $750. The price for a month is $2,000."

- Paula Dobbyn, Anchorage Daily News, September 8, 2005


Linda Plettner raises her fees:

"We have one room with a double bed. This room for double occupancy is reduced by 8% per day for double occupancy, if the second person is participating.* If the second person is a non-participant the reduction is 38%. One Person, 1 Day $200 per day Double occupancy, one double bed, 2 participants $350 per day Double occupancy second person non-participant $250 per day One Person, 5 Day $1500 One Person, 1 Month $4000."

- Linda Plettner Kennels website, December, 2007


Vern Halter and Susan Whiton launch "Dream A Dream Dog Farm" tourist business:

"They include wilderness-mushing excursions, loon-watching from pontoon boats on Nancy Lake, guided hikes and mushing trips around Hatcher Pass, kennel tours, and all-women eco-adventures."

"Besides quick tours, it will involve longer-term visits and hands-on instruction.

'This is where the dude ranch people will stay,' Halter said, showing a visitor a suite of apartments on the top floor of a newly built garage and theater-auditorium on the couple's 12-acre property.

"'It'll be like a school,' Halter said of his plans to teach tourists and beginning mushers about breeding, racing and caring for sled dogs."

- Paula Dobbyn, Anchorage Daily News, October 3, 2005


Money motivates mushers, race organizers and the city of Anchorage

"The Iditarod alone means about $3.1 million for Anchorage."

- Rebecca Palsha, KTUU-TV, March 12, 2008, website article


"The study done for the visitors bureau in the winter of 1999-2000 by the Juneau-based McDowell Group concluded that the Iditarod accounted for one of every 10 Outside tourists who came to Anchorage in the winter."

- Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, March 4, 2005


"This sick marathon is operated by masquerading mercenaries who romanticize the race as some sort of noble man vs. nature test of endurance. It's really shameful marketing carried out on the backs of defenseless animals."

- Jon Saraceno, USA Today, March 5, 2001


"Commerce has so come to dominate the race that you can tell who has a chance to win by the number of sponsor insignias he or she wears. Even the handlers of last year's winner, wore matching jackets sporting a sponsor's logo. Lots of people are anxious to turn myth into money."

- Mike Dugan, Anchorage Daily News, March 5,2000


"The show start in Anchorage is done for television, and to give Anchorage publicity."

- Gary Paulsen discussing the ceremonial start of the race
- Paulsen, Gary. Woodsong, New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1990

"Mostly it's all marketing for the Iditarod and the city of Anchorage." "We're trying to get as much exposure as possible...."

- Iditarod race start coordinator Rick Calcote
- Doug O,Harra, Anchorage Daily News, March 5, 2000


"Anchorage gains about five and a half million dollars from visitors and locals during the Iditarod....."

- Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Radio Network, website, March 10, 2006

"Economics are a big reason why the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will remain anchored in Anchorage come drizzle, chinook or -- God forbid -- another Hawaiian express.

Not only is the world-famous sled-dog race good for Anchorage's slow winter economy, but race officials say Anchorage is good for the race's bottom line.

The Iditarod sales outlet at the Regal Alaskan Hotel usually moves about $60,000 in merchandise during the three weeks Iditarod activities are centered there, Iditarod president Rick Koch said."

- Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, February 12, 2003

(Due to warm weather, the restart of the 2003 Iditarod was changed from Wasilla to Fairbanks, but the 11 mile ceremonial start was kept in Anchorage.)


"Baker knows, like every Iditarod musher, that each move up or down in rank means thousands of dollars in prize money. If he holds his current standing of sixth, Baker wins $32,476. If he moves up a place, he earns $35,619. Down one, the prize money drops to $29,857."

- Elizabeth Manning, Anchorage Daily News, March 13, 2001



Back to the top


Mushers profit from giving sled-dog tours and rides to tourists

Martin Buser:

"Big Lake, Alaska - Four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser is far from retirement. In fact, he’d like to add two more trophies to his collection in the next few years.

But, in the meantime, he’s thinking about his financial future. Summertime tours at his Happy Trails Kennels are part of that future."

"Aside from Iditarod wins, Buser’s yearly income comes from several sources, including major sponsors that pay an income and others that provide goods and services. He says the summer tours are part of an overall plan to diversify.

'After 22 Iditarods, we gotta look at broadening our income base,' Buser says. 'What if I am deciding not to, or if my body doesn't hold up to running Iditarod anymore? How are we going to sustain our lifestyle, how do we pay the bills and how do we have fun and what can we do?'"

"Tours cost $35. It’s $15 for those 12 and under. Right now, the Busers are working with four of Alaska’s tour planners, companies that plan Alaska vacations for tourists."

- KTUU-TV website, June 20, 2005


Jeff King:

"Step back from the crowds and join an intimate group for a personal tour of the homestead and kennel of three-time Iditarod champion Jeff King and his wife, well known wildlife artist Donna Gates King.

Meet champion sled dogs
Visit with puppies and see summer training in action
1 ½ hour narrated kennel tour"

"$49.00/adult
$25.00/children under 12 years"

- Husky Homestead Tours, Goose Lake Kennel, website, 2007


Bill Hall made arrangement with Princess Lodges to advertise tour:

"Discover everything you've always wanted to know about the Iditarod - Alaska's great dog sled race. When the elements allow, the south face of Mt. McKinley graces your route to the Danly-Hall dog kennel. Meet Iditarod musher Bill Hall for an in-depth look at the pursuit of dog mushing. Learn typical feeding routines used along the Iditarod race trail and how to harness and hitch up a dog. See a demonstration of how the dogs are taught voice commands using a summer training cart. Find out about training, racing and breeding sled dogs and receive autographed musher cards and dog booties as a souvenir of your delightful visit.

Price $50 per person"

- Princess Lodges website, 2005


Ryan Redington:

"He [Ryan Redington] works with dad Raymie giving tourists sled-dog rides at Iditarod headquarters."

-Lew Freedman, Anchorage Daily News, February 9, 2001


Linda Joy:

"...Linda Joy, a 42-year-old grandmother who runs dog tours at a bed and breakfast just down the road from me."

- Bowers, Don. Back of the Pack, Anchorage: Publication Consultants, 2000


Many mushers:

"Many mushers earn additional income by offering (sled dog) rides to tourists."

- Hood, Mary. A Fan's Guide to the Iditarod, Loveland: Alpine Publishers, 1996

Joe Redington:

"Since 1993, Joe Redington [race co-founder] has guided a group of tourists along the length of the Iditarod Trail behind the race competitors." "The price per person for this outing is $15,000."

- Hood, Mary. A Fan's Guide to the Iditarod, Loveland: Alpine Publishers, 1996


Seavey family:

IdidaRide Sled Dog Tours in Seward, Alaska

"Located a few miles from the seaside town of Seward on Alaska's stunning Kenai Peninsula, IdidaRide offers summer dog sled rides and tours that are guaranteed to be a highlight of your Alaskan vacation."

- Seavey's Iditarod Racing Team, website, 2005


Linda Plettner:

"Individual traveler/small groups - $20.00 per adult admission fee - $10.00 per child admission fee (Free for children under 6 years old) Rides are an extra charge of $20.00 per person."

"Plettner Kennel Sled Dog Rides - pricing: Winter rides and kennel tours start at $100"

- Linda Plettner Kennel website, December, 2007


Mushers profit from selling and leasing dogs

"Two weeks off the Iditarod Trail, Mackey already has a list of request from mushers anxious to dip into his kennel's bloodlines.

Among them is former Yukon Question champion Aliy Zirkel of Two Rivers, who has two females in Mackey's dog lot. Mitch Seavey of Sterling, the 2004 champion, bought a female from Mackey last year and brought it back to breed with another dog this year."

- Lance Mackey won the 2007 Iditarod
- Kevin Klott, Anchorage Daily News, March 28, 2007


"I went down the line pulling dogs and snapping them on the drop chain. The next dog was Eyes, an eight-year-old I was leasing from Dean Osmar for this race."

- Rachael Scdoris talking about a dog she leased for the 2006 Iditarod
- Scdoris, Rachael and Steber, Rick. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007


"Good dogs for a competitive Iditarod team might cost upwards of $2,000 and a fine leader may be worth $7,000-$10,000 or more."

- Rennick, Penny, ed. The Iditarod, Anchorage: Alaska Geographic, 2001


"Many dogs in the kennel are worth $2,000 or more, and this figure increases to more than $8,000 for a fully trained lead dog."

- Mattson, Sue. Iditarod Fact Book, Kenmore: Epicenter Press, 2001


"...Leaders can cost thousands of dollars."

- Freedman, Lew and Jonrowe, DeeDee. Iditarod Dreams, Seattle: Ecpicenter Press, 1995


"I've got to win. That would be the turning point in a guy's career, to win the Iditarod. Everything would go well after that. Being able to sell dogs, to get sponsors...."

- Musher Tim Osmar
- Freedman, Lew. Iditarod Classics, Seattle: Epicenter Press, 1992


"Winning gives you credentials...." "It's good for business, definitely good for dog sales."

- Musher Joe Runyan
- Freedman, Lew. Iditarod Classics, Seattle: Epicenter Press, 1992


"The dog is leased from Dean Osmar."

- Jon Little, Cabela's website, March 8, 2005
Little formerly reported for the Anchorage Daily News
He is discussing a dog DeeDee Jonrowe leased for the 2005 Iditarod.

"[Frank] Winkler, whose team is leased from Raymie Redington...."

"He [Guy Blankenship] has borrowed and leased dogs to fill out the team...."

- Lew Freedman, Anchorage Daily News, March 2, 1989


"It was Plettner's Big Lake kennel that supplied the dogs for [Domenico, "Dodo"] Perri, the one-time winner of the Italian mushing championships, when he ran the Iditarod in 2005."

- Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, July 18, 2006


Mushers get royalities from books they've written about Iditarod

An example of those who have written books:

Mushers who have written books about the Iditarod include Gary Paulsen, Libby Riddles, Brian Patrick O'Donoghue, Joe Runyan, DeeDee Jonrowe, Jeff King, Rachael Scdoris,
J.B. Jones, Lisa Frederic, Don Bowers, James Warren and Dick Mackey.


Daytona Dayton plans to write a book:

"Daytona plans to broadcast her radio show from each checkpoint, writing a book and spending the next nine months training for the race in Alaska."

- Daytona Dayton is host of the "Daytona & Friends National Radio Show"
- Boise Weekly, June 22, 2005


Mushers advertise to be speakers

Rachael Scdoris:

"Rachael [Scdoris] is available to deliver inspirational speeches at special events and corporate meetings across the U.S. For more information about booking Rachael to speak at an upcoming event, please contact Sports Unlimited Management & Promotions, Inc."

- The Official Rachael Scdoris website, 2004


Susan Butcher:

Here are just some of the speakers bureaus Susan Butcher is registered with, and the 2004 fees for having her speak (fees are normally for the US, and do not include travel and accommodation expenses):

Bill Borden:

"Bill [Borden] will be accepting speaking engagements (prices will vary) to talk about his adventure beginning in May 2002."

- Bill Borden's website Cooldreams.net, 2002


Karen Land advertises to speak at schools and libraries:

"Dear teachers and Librarians: I am once again planning a trip back to Indiana to do Iditarod Dog Mushing Talks. I will be in Indiana in May. I will also be available to do talks in other states."

"The cost for the talks this year will be $350 per talk. If you can organize other talks in your area for the same day, I will do them for $300 a piece."

- Iditarod musher Karen Land
- Cabela's website, Cabela's Teacher Talk Forum, March 5, 2006


Laura Daugereau:

"More money will come from speaking engagements — she [Laura Daugereau] has 20 lined up through the middle of June, with some as far away as Michigan and New York."

- Sue Edwards, The Kitsap Sun, May 1, 2008


Companies profit from selling trips to see Iditarod

"12 day/12 night Iditarod Expedition Trek Price: $8,900.00 per person beginning and ending in Anchorage.

Included: Price is based on two people beginning and ending in Anchorage. You will be accompanied by a pilot/guide. All meals, air travel within the state, lodging, and activities listed in this written itinerary are included. Single travelers are accepted. Please inquire for details.

Not Included: Airfare between your home and Alaska. Staff gratuities for Sky Trekking Alaska and lodges, and additional guides where appropriate."

- Sky Trekking Alaska, website, 2005


Cabela's Iditarod Adventures:
Rates: $2,395 per person double, $2,795 single
Dates: Feb 27-March 4, 2008
Not Included: Airlfare

Cabela's Ultimate Iditarod Adventure:
Rates: $8,900.00 per person. Based on double occupancy
Dates: TBA 2008
Not Included: Airfare

Cabela's Iditarod Winner's Trek:
Rate: $3,200 per person based upon double occupancy
Dates: TBA, 2008
Not Included: Airfare

- Cabela's website, December, 2007 [Cabela is a major Iditarod sponsor.]

More mushers to receive more prize money than ever before

"A $795,000 purse awaits this year's top 30 finishers. Another $40,000 will be divvied up among the remaining arrivals to Nome. The winner will earn $69,000 and receive a new pickup valued at almost $45,000."

- Jeannette J. Lee, Associated Press, March 6, 2006

"The restart, where the mushers get serious about getting a piece of this year's about $795,000 purse, begins Sunday in Willow."

- Mary Pemberton, Associated Press, March 2, 2007

"The real competition begins Sunday in Willow, about 50 miles to the north. That is when mushers start chasing after this year’s $875,000 purse...."

- Rachael D'Oro, Associated Press, February 29, 2008


Speed pays

Mushers get rewards for being the fastest:

First to Nome: $69,000 and a 2007 Dodge Ram Laramie "HEMI" 4x4 quad cab pick up valued at $40,980

First to McGrath checkpoint: "Spirit Mask" and $500 credit on PenAir

First to Iditarod checkpoint: Trophy and $3,000 in gold nuggets

First to Anvik checkpoint: Seven course dinner and $3,500

First to Unalakleet checkpoint: Trophy and $2,500 in gold nuggets

Fastest time from Safety checkpoint to Nome: $500

Fastest rookie to Nome: Trophy and check for $1,500

- Iditarod website


Mushers profit from improved race times:

This person is awarded a satellite phone to use for a year, a 500 minutes prepaid card and an engraved trophy.

- Iditarod website


A drop in position is costly:

"For each position a musher drops in the top five, there is a loss of about $7,000 in prize money. For each drop in position in the next five, there is a loss of $3,000 to $4,000."

- Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, March 15, 2005

Mushers win thousands of dollars:

"King collected $69,000 and a new truck for the win."

"But Swingley's move just as surely secured second place and a $64,000 chunk of the 2006 Iditarod purse...."

"Gebhardt got third and $59,800."

"Jonrowe won $55,600."

"Baker won $51,700"

- Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, March 16, 2006


"Where they finsih has a big bearing on how much they win. Third place pays $57,000; sixth pays $40,000."

- Anchorage Daily News, March 14, 2007


Prize money payout totals for some mushers


(The totals are from the Anchorage Daily News website, March, 1, 2008, and do not include winnings from the 2008 Iditarod.)

Rick Swenson......$558,376
DeeDee Jonrowe..$420,648
Jeff King.............$680,920
Martin Buser........$650,320
John Baker..........$353,833
Ramy Brooks........$306,638
Ed Iten...............$232,684
Ramy Smyth........$280,684
Paul Gebhardt......$318,021
Lance Mackey.....$149,093
Mitch Seavey......$333,654


Profits from selling Iditarod artwork and trinkets

"I wanted to paint it [the Iditarod]. I did twenty paintings about the race and had a show at The Gallery in Anchorage."

"It just went on from there. The twenty-eighth poster will be out for the 2004 race."

- Iditarod musher Jon Van Zyle
- Freedman, Lew. More Iditarod Classics, Kenmore: Epicenter Press, 2004


"Her images depict...dog mushing. Since a kennel of over 50 sled dogs fills her back yard, Donna's knowledge of mushing is firsthand."

- Donna Gates King's art gallery website
- Donna Gates King is married to Iditarod musher Jeff King


Iditarod administration sells Iditarod posters and trinkets.

- Iditarod website


Money motivates the city of Wasilla

"Metiva said no one has formally studied how much money the Iditarod restart brings to Wasilla, but she estimates the city makes roughly $500,000 from the event."

- Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News, March 16, 2005
- Cheryl Metiva is executive director of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce


Iditarod boosts Nome's economy

"Iditarod dog teams mushing under the finish line arch in Nome in the third week of March will be a welcome sight for race fans - and a $1.1 million shot in the arm for local merchants."

"And after a very slow winter, this is a big shot in the arm. 'This will be a good one, because there are so many mushers involved, and everyone has their favorite,"[Mitch] Erickson said.'"

- Mitch Erickson is the executive director of the Nome Chamber of Commerce
- Margaret Bauman, Alaska Journal of Commerce, March 20, 2005

The population of Nome:

"Nome's population in 2000 was 9,196."

- US Census Bureau website, 2005


Rachael Scdoris markets herself

"The marketing hook in all of this is her blindness. She has been sold as the little blind girl who could. This is why at the age of 20 she has a biography in print, her own marketing agent, and a budding career as a motivational speaker.

On the trail, Scdoris maneuvers around quite well, despite her limited vision. More than once, I found myself wondering what the media take on the "blind musher" would be if she were a middle-aged white guy. It would be easy to portray the whole Scdoris affair as something of a scam.

The gap between 'blindness' and 'legal blindness' is obviously large. Rachael is one of some 1.3 million Americans, including 13 out of every 100 people older than 65, in the latter category.

This distinction often is overlooked in stories about Rachael, although www.Cabelasiditarod.com reporter Jon Little, an accomplished musher himself, has steadfastly pointed out that 'her peripheral vision is excellent. She has 20-200 vision, is near- and far-sighted and color blind.'

She is also generally perceived as 'blind,' a perception the Scdoris camp has never really tried to counter.

I understand the marketing. Running the Iditarod is costly, and you have to raise money however you can. The Scdorises sold Rachael's vision problems to gain exposure."

- Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, March 27, 2005


How well can Rachael Scdoris see?

Rachael Scdoris says she's legally blind. But how well can she see?

Some legally blind people can barely see anything, but others can see a lot.


Rachael Scdoris has congenital achromatopsia:

"'Without a doubt Rachael has a rare disease called congenital achromatopsia."

- Richard Weleber, M.D. giving his diagnosis
- Scdoris, Rachael and Steber, Rick. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007

- - What's congenital achromatopsia?

"The eyes of achromats, lacking normal cone vision and having only rod vision, are not able to adapt normally to higher levels of illumination. Rods do not provide color vision or good detail vision. Therefore, persons with achromatopsia are either totally colorblind or almost totally colorblind, and they have poor visual acuity. There are many variations in the severity of these manifestations among individual achromats." "Congenital achromatopsia is not progressive, and it does not lead to blindness. Some doctors refer to it as "stationary cone dystrophy."

- The Achromatopsia Network, website article, 2008

"There are many degrees of severity of symptoms among achromats."

- MedicineNet.com article, 2008


Rachael Scdoris runs 26 miles to high school:

Rachael Scdoris attended Richmond High School. It's located at 17272 NE 104th St., Redmond, WA in a densely populated area. The school is surrounded by many intersections and major roads.

"I arrived at school as the bell rang for last period. My friends crowded around and wanted to know, 'Where have you been?'

'Missed the bus,' I told them.

'How did you get to school?'

'Ran'

'From your mom's place?'

'No from Dad's'

'How far is that?'

'Twenty-six miles. Something like that.'"

- Scdoris, Rachael and Steber, Rick. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007


Rachael Scdoris explores Anchorage airport:

"Dan MacEachen was supposed to meet me, but I got in a little early and had the opportunity to explore the airport. I found the baggage claim area and located my bag."

- Scdoris, Rachael and Steber, Rick. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007


Rachael Scdoris catches loose dog, walks around Cessna 185 without bumping it:


"In his latest story he [Craig Medred] would point out that I had enough visual ability to catch my dog after it got loose, leash it, and walk around a Cessna 185 without bumping into the propeller or the strut beneath the wing."

- Craig Medred is the outdoor editor of the Anchorage Daily News.
- Scdoris, Rachael and Steber, Rick. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007


Without help Rachael Scdoris guides team across treacherous terrain:

- - Tim Osmar served as her visual guide or interpreter in the 2006 Iditarod:

"Musher Tim Osmar of Ninilchik will serve as Rachael Scdoris' "visual interpreter" for next year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race."

"Osmar is a 20-time Iditarod veteran. He will travel ahead of Scdoris on a separate dog sled with a two-way radio to warn her about trail dangers ahead."

- Associated Press, Anchorage Daily News, June 25, 2005


- - Scdoris arrived at checkpoint 15 minutes BEFORE her visual guide:

The 2006 Iditarod website and Cabela's Iditarod Coverage website said Scdoris arrived at the Koyuk checkpoint 16 minutes BEFORE Osmar, her visual guide:

Rachael Scdoris: arrived at Koyuk checkpoint on March 16, 2006 at 04:54:00
Tim Osmar: arrived at Koyuk checkpoint on March 16, 2006 at 05:10:00


- - Rachael Scdoris veers off trail; goes to Koyuk without Osmar:

"He'd noticed her headlamp was pointing down at her feet for minutes at a time, a sure sign a musher has fallen asleep standing up.

With four miles to go, Osmar stopped his team to let her catch up a little closer. But suddenly she was no longer in sight. Forty minutes later, Dan Seavey rolled up and said he hadn't seen her.

'My only choice was to haul to Koyuk, and go find some snowmachines,' he said. He had no idea where her team was, but obviously they'd trotted off the marked trail - not good when you're crossing a crust of frozen salt water with open leads and open water to the west. 'It wasn't a real peaceful, easy feeling,' Osmar said.

'By the time we got there, she was already there, bedded down and everything,' he said."

- Jon Little, Cabela's Iditarod coverage, Cabela's website, March 21, 2006
- Jon Little formerly wrote for the Anchorage Daily News.

A lead is "A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice." - dictionary.com

- - Scdoris guides team over jumbled ice and open leads into Koyuk:

"Scdoris said she had fallen asleep on the sled, as many mushers do, and veered off the trail.

'It was so flat and so early in the morning, it was hard not to doze,' Scdoris said. 'I woke up in jumbled ice and no other dog tracks.'

As it turned out, Scdoris was close enough to Koyuk to make out the lights of the village and guide her dog team there."

- Jeannette J. Lee, Associated Press, March 19, 2006

Rachael Scdoris said that when she woke up there were no tracks from other dog teams. Consequently, her dogs had no scent from other dogs to follow into Koyuk.


Rachael Scdoris snaps dogs onto drop chain:

"I went down the line pulling dogs and snapping them on the drop chain."

- Rachael Scdoris is describing what she did before the ceremonial start of the 2006 Iditarod.
- Scdoris, Rachael and Steber, Rick. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007


Rachael Scdoris notices her hands trembling:

"When I glanced at my hands I noticed they were trembling slightly."

Scdoris, Rachael and Steber, Rick. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007


Martin Buser markets himself

"No longer can Buser think only about his dogs and preparing for races. He has an image to manage. He is the poster boy for his sport, mushing's de facto ambassador.

Besides doing television commercials for his sponsors, he makes appearances to promote mushing. He attends Rotary Club meetings in Wasilla. This year, Buser has started going on-line, answering questions sent to him by computer from people across the country."

"An hour before the restart of the Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog Race last month -- a critical pre-Iditarod tuneup -- mushers were tramping around the frozen surface of Lake Louise, sorting through their gear, cooking food, checking feet.

Buser was talking faxes.

'Did the Alaska magazine people ever get back to us?' he asked Kathy [Buser], as he loaded his gear into his royal blue sled bag. He'd been planning to run an ad in the magazine's Iditarod issue to thank his sponsors.

'That's the only unfinished business at this point,' she told him, promising to contact the magazine again when she got home."

- Peter S. Goodman, Anchorage Daily News, February 22, 1995


Lance Mackey markets himself

"For all inquiries regarding Lance's speaking engagements, appearances, licensing and sponsorship opportunities please contact: Kevin Kastner at Popchair Creative, LLC"

- Lance Mackey's website


Did Disney pay Butcher and Monson for advice?

Disney's movie Eight Below names Iditarod mushers Susan Butcher and Dave Monson as advisors in the credits shown at the end. Were they paid for their advice?


Mushers profit from being ad models

The Anchorage Daily News publishes an Iditarod section. In the 2006 section, Jeff King was featured in Cabela's one-page ad. Martin Buser was featured in MTA's half-page ad.

- Iditarod 34, Anchorage Daily News, February 26, 2006


BLOATED: Iditarod executive's salaries and phone charges

IRS filing for 2004 shows top execs making almost a quarter-million dollars:

"The Daily News reported that the Iditarod is losing so much money that it needs to borrow about a half-million dollars to make ends meet ("Iditarod scrambles to recoup its losses," Nov. 29). I draw your attention to the organization's 990 filing with the IRS for tax year 2004 -- a public document showing income, expenses and salaries of employees compensated more than $50,000.

The Iditarod's top two executives made almost a quarter-million dollars in compensation combined. The development director, Greg Bill ($117,837), and executive director, Stan Hooley ($118,422), each earned more than double the salary of Joanne Potts ($56,275), the race director. Similarly sized nonprofit organizations do not have such a pay disparity between program staff and executives. Program staff are the people on the ground doing the legwork of the organization -- running the race.

Bringing the two high salaries down to a more reasonable level, say, $80,000, would have saved the organization $76,259, more than enough to cover losses in unsold raffle tickets. I have a hard time sympathizing with Mr. Hooley's organization when he is paid so lavishly.

Next time you report on the woes of a nonprofit organization, I encourage you to look into executive pay. May I also mention that the Iditarod spent a bloated $197,437 on "telephone."

- Britt Constantine, letter to the editor, Anchorage Daily News, December 7, 2006
- Ms. Constantine lives in Anchorage.


Profit from Iditaread program

Musher Kevin Morelock charges $385:

"This exclusive Team Michigan Iditaread program offers:
- One to one correspondence with Kevin Morlock....
- Personal access to training updates, qualifying races....
- After the race a school assembly lead by Kevin Morlock and his team as they come to your school and present the complete Iditarod experience to the students.
- Cross Curriculum ideas and resources for the and school...."

"Please send the registration from below along with a check for $385 to...."

- Kevin Morlock's website, December 19, 2006


Mushers profit from giving sled dog shows

Mitch Seavey and sons run Wildride Sled Dog Show:

"The Seaveys, one of Alaska's dog racing families, have created a live show in downtown Anchorage next to the railroad tracks to entertain and educate tourists about sled dog racing.

The show -- which is still evolving -- was envisioned by Mitch Seavey, the 2004 winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. His sons are in charge of running the show, which is packed with goofy incidents, mock races around a small track and lively tales about the origins of the race."

"Their Wildride Sled Dog Show started up May 26. Every day since, it has changed a little bit -- sometimes by accident. "We're hoping by the end of the summer to have a killer show," said Danny Seavey, 25, who runs the business operation."

- Elizabeth Blumink, Anchorage Daily News, June 2, 2007

Wildride Sled Dog Show prices:

Adult: $24.00
Child: $12.00

- Seavey's Ididaride.com website, June, 2007


DeeDee Jonrowe markets herself

"FOR ALL INQUIRIES REGARDING DEEDEE'S SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, APPEARANCES, AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES - PLEASE CONTACT: Michael Barnes - BSG (636) 933-0041 office (636) 933-0048 fax 10516 Glen Oaks Drive Festus, MO 63028"

- DeeDee Jonrowe's website


Jon Van Zyle, official Iditarod artist, advertises his Iditarod items

Jon Van Zyle advertises his prints, posters and book:

"Get your 2008 Iditarod prints and posters—available here first—coming in December 2007. A souvenir of Jon's many, many years of Iditarod art can be found in the book, IDITAROD MEMORIES on our bookshelf page."


Jon Van Zyle advertises his Iditarod kit for teachers:

"Iditarod classroom kits for grades 3-4-5: Classroom Kit #1 Price $99; Classroom Kit #2 Price $149"

- Jon Van Zyle's website, 2007


Mushers profit from selling merchandise

Examples of the items mushers sell:

Jeff King--

Adult T-Shirt - $15.00
Hooded Sweatshirt - $40.00
Long Sleeve Adult T-Shirt - $25

- Jeff King's website, January, 2008


Martin Buser--

Adult short sleeve tee - $20
Adult long sleeve tee - $25
Record Run Sweatshirt: $25

- Martin Buser's website, January 2008


Lance Mackey--

Lance Mackey print - $58
Long Sleeve Dark T-Shirt - $31.19
Mackey 3.5 Button "Dreams do come true" (100 pack) - $181.99
Mackey Throw Pillow -$20.79
Mackey Messenger Bag - $24.69

- Link on Lance Mackey's website, January, 2008

Video: Appetite and Attitude, a Conversation with Lance Mackey, $20.00 plus shipping and handling

- Lance Mackey's website, March 17, 2008


DeeDee Jonrowe--

Autographed print of Jonrowe - $9.95

- Jonrowe's website, January, 2008


Ramy Brooks--

T-Shirt "Top 10 Things NOT to do on the trail to Nome" $18 ($20 for XXL)

- Ramy Brooks' website, January, 2008

Karen Ramstead--

Got Gas? Classic Thong - $9.99
You want me to pull what? Boxer Shorts - $19.49
Winter Chick Snowflakes Woman's Hoodie - $43.19

- Link on Karen Ramstead's website, January, 2008


Iditarod profits from its auctions

2008 IditaRider Musher Auction:

"The IditaRider Musher Auction will open on November 1st, 2007 and continues until Friday January 18th, 2008. The auction begins closing at noon on the 18th."

"Bids start at $500."


2008 Race Bib Auction:

"The Race Bib Auction opens on March 1st, 2008 and remains open until March 31st, 2008 at noon. The Official Race Bibs are the bibs worn by the Iditarod mushers from the start line in downtown Anchorage. Bids start at $100."

Each bib has an "Instant Purchase" price of $1,500. "The Instant Purchase option allows any bidder to buy an item immediately at the designated fixed price."

- Iditarod website


Iditarod hired Gere Donovan advertising agency

"Gere Donovan Creative hired Lauren Agni as account executive. Agni was formerly marketing director at Carr Gottstein Properties. She will be handling accounts including the Iditarod Trail Committee, Katmai Government Services and Cook Inlet Housing Authority."

- Anchorage Daily News, March 6, 2008


Iditarod markets race DVDs to tourists

"What they did is it make the DVDs available for the tourist season in Alaska during the summer instead of not being available until September. Traditionally, they'd always missed the tourist season and this is a big advantage to them so they saw an increase in sales because they produce the stuff quicker."

- Dan Montgomery, President Image Products, interview video, Inside Indiana Business, website, March 2, 2008
- The Iditarod used the company's software to help reduce editing time


Veterinarians profit from doing research on Iditarod dogs

He [Dr. Michael Davis] is pursuing the research for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which gave him a $1.4 million grant in 2003 to study the physiology of fatigue resistance of sled dogs.

Dr. Davis, who is teaming with researchers at Texas A&M in a $300,000 Darpa grant, awarded last fall, has been traveling to Alaska for years to learn why the sled dogs are “fatigue-proof.”

- Douglas Robson, New York Times, May 6, 2008

[Dogs DO get tired racing in the Iditarod. They are NOT "fatigue-proof."]



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Articles about the Iditarod

Dog deaths

Poor veterinary care

Mushers mistreat their dogs during race

Dog injuries, sicknesses and extreme stress

Problems with Iditarod rules

Abuse in kennels

Cruel dog training

Iditarod history

 

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