Lost Ozzie Lad Winds up in Alaska

[NorthernFocus]

Went down to watch the ceremonial start of the Iditarod today and took a few photos. Believe it or not there is an Australian team running this year. Here's a link to the lad's bio. The local mushers wear mittens made out of beaver fur. Rumor has it those pictured here are platypus. I'll be interested to see how much Ozzie spirit he has behind him!







The lead dog doesn't look like there's much heeler nor border collie blood in him.

[deetheturk]

Nice images Dan,are the dog sock's normal for these events?

Cheers David

[NorthernFocus]

Nice images Dan,are the dog sock's normal for these events?

Cheers David

The rules require booties for the dogs.

[John 2]

Interesting set Dan. I had no idea that "booties" are de rigueur for the dogs. It's a hell of a hard race and I've often wondered what makes people want to go to those lengths but I guess you could say that about a few things.

[dje]

Nice shots Dan.

An Aussie in a race like that reminds me of that old movie "Cool Runnings" !

Dave

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[IzzieK]

That is interesting, Dan...it reminds of that Cuba Gooding, Jr. in Snow Dogs -- one of his buffooned movies. Your shots as usual are all great and you seem to have a love for Aussies, mate! It is showing...

[Mike Buckley]

Nice series, Dan!

Considering that Jamaica always races in the winter Olypmics bobsled event, it's okay for an Aussie to race in the Iditarod. The local teams are going to have hell to pay if he wins.

[rpcrowe]

Wonderful shots! Everything seems to come together... Beautiful weather, bright clothing and of course those wonderful dogs...

However, all would be for naught without your photo skills.

I like them all but, being a dog lover, that last shot is fantastic and should, IMO, grace the cover of a magazine!

[GeorgeM]

Nice shots Dan.

An Aussie in a race like that reminds me of that old movie "Cool Runnings" !

Dave

Jamaican Bobsled Team!!!!

[bnnrcn]

Very nice shots,my best is the last one

[Manfred M]

I'm with Binnur on this; great shots, and you saved the best for last. The boots for the dogs make a lot of sense, they could get some fairly serious cuts on their paws from the ice.

I guess spring is not coming your way yet...

[Polar01]

I read somewhere lately that each sled teams will go through several thousand booties by the time they reach the end of the race for those who make it to the end.

Cheers: Allan

[FootLoose]

Nice photos, Dan. I like the 3rd for the framing and the 4th for the subject. Who doesn't love a dog?

It is said, that if anyone anywhere in the world invents a sport or a competition or a race of any kind, an Aussie will turn up and have a go at it.

[NorthernFocus]

Glad everyone enjoyed the post. Believe it or not there is also a Jamaican team in the race. I'll post a photo of them in another thread with more shots from the morning.

Regarding the booties, there were one or two teams without them for the ceremonial start which isn't really part of the race proper. They follow an eleven mile course through Anchorage at a leisurely pace. People "tailgate" along the way and you frequently see the mushers eating hotdogs, burgers, etc that people along the course have handed them. In the first couple of shots here you'll note there is a second sled tagged on with a handler to help deal with the dogs during stops etc. Also there is a person sitting in the sled in front of the musher. People pay handsomely for the opportunity to ride in the sleds. Not sure if they auction those spots off for charity or exactly how it works.

They carry dozens of spare booties on the race and change them out periodically or stop to replace them is they come off. During the ceremonial start tour the mushers will toss used booties to the crowd as they go by kind of like the traditional beads at Mardi Gras etc. One of them handed one to my wife as they went by yesterday.

[IzzieK]

Very interesting story/commentary from a local like you, Dan.

Manfred -- unless you Canadians give us a break here in the States, we will never see Spring. Nor will folks like Dan whose place seems to be in permanent "cold"...