2023 Iditarod Champion Ryan Redington
Contributed by Lew Freedman
In his newest book by local publishing company Northern Light Media, "Adventures on the Iditarod Trail: Fast Dogs, Freezing Mushers and the Alaska Wild," award-winning author Lew Freedman features engaging interviews with mushers from several decades of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, including the current champ, Knik musher Ryan Redington. Ryan shared his history growing up as the grandson of Iditarod founder Joe Redington Sr., and tells stories from his early mushing years, then details his championship run earlier this year.
“To hear those church bells ring for the first musher into White Mountain, that’s something,” Redington said. “It’s something I’ve always watched in DVDs of the Iditarod.”
Redington was in a comfort zone, somewhat relaxed, too, not thinking so much about winning. He was well positioned when he reached Safety, 22 miles from Front Street, but he still held his thoughts back, waiting, waiting. When Nome was just over the final hills, he let loose somewhat.
“A couple of miles from Nome that’s when I started to let the emotions come,” Redington said. “I was going to win the Iditarod. I couldn’t stop crying and smiling. I was so excited. My dream was happening. I knew my mom and dad were in Nome. There were so many people. It was the biggest welcome. It was like my dream.”
Redington’s winning time was 8 days, 21 hours, 12 minutes, 58 seconds. Kaiser finished second, about an hour and 24 minutes behind. Diehl was third, an hour and four minutes behind Kaiser.
The first thing Redington did at the finish was hug the race checker. He couldn’t even speak at first. Then his mother hugged him. His father’s congratulations followed. “My mom said, ‘You just won the Iditarod.’ And I said, ‘We just won the Iditarod.’”
Ryan Redington dreamed of and imagined his Iditarod day for years and when it all became real and Kaiser and Diehl, also of Native heritage, were part of the high finish, he felt it was a testament to Native Alaska support and belief, as well as a culmination of support for all the Redington’s who had come down the trail.
“To have all three top finishers this year be Native Alaskans that is the icing on the cake,” Redington said. “It was just all so special for me, hearing stories of my grandpa and my dad, it was all so neat. Listening to everybody say, “Go get a win for Alaska!”
"Adventures on the Iditarod Trail: Fast Dogs, Freezing Mushers and the Alaska Wild," by Lew Freedman. Published in December 2023 by Northern Light Media. 290 pages, 6ʹ x 9ʺ b/w format, includes photos, map, bibliography, indexed. $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping from the Northern Light Media website at http//:northernlightmedia.wordpress.com or from any bookstore.