Third Times the Charm for David Wagner & Iron Dog Team 11!

Arnold, CA…We had the chance to speak with local snowmobile racer David Wagner.  On February 19th David and Eric Wellman the other half of Team 11 will cross the starting line in Wasilla, Alaska to take on the Iron Dog the Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race in the world.  This will be Dave’s third crack at this race.  The first year they literally crashed and burned losing a sled to fire which ended Team 11’s run.  Last year a high speed encounter with an ice shelf took off the front of one of their snowmobile’s front end.  This year David and his new partner and Iron Dog racer will take all they have learned from past campaigns give it another go.  Our interview and a bit more about the Iron Dog is below. He is already up in Alaska and completed a 265 mile training ride today. A few photos from his training ride today are below as well…


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      The World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race is slated to leave Wasilla, Alaska in February 2022. Expedition Class starting on February 17, 2022 followed by a Pro Class on February 19, 2022.  The first Iron Dog event started in 1984 and followed the Northern Route of the Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome. Since then it has had multiple incarnations ranging from 1,049 miles in 1984 to over 2,600 miles in 2021.

      2021 Iron Dog Roster (Website) : 2021 Pro Class Roster
      First Name Last Name Hometown State Make of Sled Status
      Team Number
      Jacob Dahle Morristown MN Ski-Doo Rookie 2
      Dustin Dohrn Elgin MN Ski-Doo Rookie 2
      Shane Barber Willow AK Polaris Veteran 3
      Evan Barber Willow AK Polaris Rookie 3
      Brett Lapham Willow AK Polaris Veteran 5
      Zack Weisz Wasilla AK Polaris Veteran 5
      Robert Schachle Big Lake AK Ski-Doo Veteran 6
      Brad George Wasilla AK Ski-Doo Veteran 6
      Tyler Aklestad Palmer AK Ski-Doo Veteran 7
      Nick Olstad Wasilla AK Ski-Doo Veteran 7
      Cody Moen Cle Elum WA Ski-Doo Rookie 8
      Chad Gueco Wasilla AK Ski-Doo Veteran 8
      Chris Olds Eagle River AK Polaris Veteran 10
      Mike Morgan Nome AK Polaris Veteran 10
      David Wagner Arnold CA Polaris Rookie 11
      Eric Wellman Wasilla AK Polaris Rookie 11
      Kenneth Kleewein Willow AK Polaris Veteran 12
      Kruz Kleewein Willow AK Polaris Veteran 12
      Casey Boylan Palmer AK Polaris Veteran 14
      Brian Leslie Wasilla AK Polaris Veteran 14
      Bob Gilman Wasilla AK Ski-Doo Veteran 17
      Todd Palin Wasilla AK Ski-Doo Veteran 17
      Travis Temple Soldotna AK Polaris Rookie 19
      Jimmy Gattenby Soldotna AK Polaris Rookie 19
      Stan James Palmer AK Ski-Doo Veteran 20
      Gregory Strohmeyer Palmer AK Ski-Doo Rookie 20
      Israel Hale Palmer AK Ski-Doo Rookie 21
      Joseph Hale Palmer AK Ski-Doo Rookie 21
      Jarvis Miller Nome AK Ski-Doo Veteran 23
      Jordan Miller Nome AK Ski-Doo Rookie 23
      Blake Elder Big Lake AK Polaris Veteran 30
      Kyle Conner Palmer AK Polaris Veteran 30
      George Mountain Fairbanks AK Polaris Veteran 32
      Kelly Sommer Fairbanks AK Polaris Veteran 32
      Mark Fosty Beausejour Manitoba Polaris Veteran 37
      Ben Hildebrand Stead Manitoba Polaris Veteran 37
      Troy Conlon Fairbanks AK Polaris Veteran 39
      Cody Barber Willow AK Polaris Veteran 39
      Barney Anselment Fairbanks AK Ski-Doo Veteran 42
      Amos Cruise McGraph AK Ski-Doo Veteran 42
      Daniel Thomas Salt Lake City UT Ski-Doo Rookie 40
      Mark Nelson Kaysville UT Ski-Doo Rookie 40
      Andrew Gumley Wasilla AK Polaris Veteran 49
      Klinton VanWingerden Wasilla AK Polaris Veteran

       

      Today’s Iron Dog course distance is more than 2,600 miles, starting in Big Lake, with a halfway stop in Nome, then around the Kotzebue Loop, before returning to Big Lake. Participants cover some of Alaska’s most remote and rugged terrain, passing through 22+ communities, while confronting some of the harshest winter conditions. Survival skills are essential, all Pro Class teams comprise two racers on two snowmobiles for safety.

      The Iron Dog offers a non-competitive Expedition class giving adventure seekers an opportunity to travel 1,049 miles on the Northern Route of Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome. These teams of two or more travel on a portion of the same trail as the Pro Class Teams.

      
      
      Iron Dog Routes over the years
      Year Route Mileage
      2021 Big Lake – Nome – Kotzebue – Big Lake 2,645
      2020 Fairbanks – Kotzebue – Nome – Big Lake 2,409
      2019 Deshka Landing – Nome – Fairbanks 1,950*
      2018 Big Lake – Nome – Fairbanks 1,971
      2015 – 2017 Anchorage – Big Lake – Nome – North Pole – Fairbanks 2,050*
      2011 – 2014 Big Lake – Nome – North Pole – Fairbanks 2,031
      2006 – 2010 Big Lake – Nome – Fairbanks 1,971
      2005 Wasilla – Nome – Wasilla 2,000
      1998 – 2004 Wasilla – Nome – Fairbanks 1,971
      1993 – 1997 Wasilla – Nome – Wasilla 2,000
      1984 – 1992 Wasilla – Nome 1,049
      *19 miles of caution flag riding, 2,031 racing miles.

      Race participation typically averages (30) thirty Pro Class teams with around (30) thirty or more Expedition Class riders for a total number of from 90-100 participants on the trail each year. Iron Dog is a proud leader in the snowmobile community, promoting snowmobile safety and outdoor education through trade shows, seminars, and community events.