Yes, declining participation, economic woes following a global pandemic, climate changes, and rising inflation, are among the massive challenges for the iconic “Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.”
One beginning with a ceremonial start Saturday, March 04, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska, and followed by the competitive start Sunday about 70 miles north in Willow.
But some may ask . . . what the heck is the “Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race”? And to such hopefully of serious interest inquiry would be the following most brief, general, and grossly incomplete answer:
The “Iditarod”—the most prestigious sled dog race in the world—is a race where the “competitors” are “Mushers (Sled Drivers) and their respective Dog Teams.” Not just any dogs, but truly awesome "canine athletes" of between 12 and 14 in number—of which at least 5 must be on the towline at the finish. And Mushers not made up of just any human being, but of persons of typically unthinkable stamina, skill, talent, and determination.
Because, “the Iditarod” is a truly extraordinary challenge that takes the competitors about 10 days to traverse nearly 1000 miles through two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and treacherous Bering Sea ice, often in blizzards or sub-zero temperatures, before ending in the old Gold Rush town of Nome, Alaska.
Yes, often through blizzards causing whiteout conditions, sub-zero temperatures, and gale-force winds which can cause the wind chill to reach some -100 degrees F (-73 degrees C).
A race first undertaken in 1973, and created "to save the sled dog culture and Alaskan huskies, which were being phased out of existence due to the introduction of snowmobiles in Alaska; and to preserve the historical Iditarod Trail between Seward and Nome."
A race that this year (2023) will likely include only Thirty-three teams; the smallest number in Iditarod history; down from a 2008 high of 96; and behind the 34 who participated in the inaugural 1973 race.
A grossly under-publicized and media/public-slighted event—where the cost of competing (“running the Iditarod”) can now entail Mushers spending some $250,000 at a shot at winning a $50,000 (before taxes) championship. Hence a reason many Mushers supplement their income by offering uniquely Alaska experiences to cruise ship passengers, etc.
Yes, an Iditarod race where each competitor (Musher & Dog Team) is called upon to display an indescribable level and nature of personal strength, stamina, and conviction—under the most unthinkable and unforgivable nature of often truly life-threatening conditions.
All while—as through innocent/willful ignorance and/or media-design—much of America continues to remain oblivious thereof.
AND THEN, THERE’S THE “NFL,” “NBA,” AND “MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL; ETC. - - - Where the often millionaire (or otherwise exceptionally wealthy) competitors are paid big bucks to “play games.” Such as NFL games that have 60 minutes of game clock time, but can take 3 hours to complete, while only delivering some 11 minutes of actual play.
And NBA games requiring only 48 minutes of play, but often entailing some 2.5 hours to complete. And then there’s Major League Baseball games entailing 9 Innings that can typically stretch a lot of waiting mixed with a bit of activity into more or less 3 hours of time.
Yes, and in the starkest contrast to the Iditarod . . . “games” played in far from life-threatening environmental conditions, with the best of medical attention close at hand, using the latest of high-tech protective gear, and fueled by an abundance of money as well as an extreme level of emotional/irrational attention often at times reaching that of hero worship.
All while everything related to the "game" (past/present/future) is sliced, diced, and otherwise analyzed—through the commentary of an array pre/post/real-time talking heads and other media functions, to the point of what is to some among us, painful nausea at best.
—William James Moore
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