2013 Iditarod Champion- Mitch Seavey

Wow it was a crazy Iditarod finish this year.  Mitch Seavey came in first but close behind him was Aliy Zirkle.  I love a new feature that Iditarod.com offered this year was an insider subscription for the GPS tracker for $19.95.  I love it and could watch real time on the progress of how mushers were doing.  Unfortunately I did not witness Mitch or Aliy's finish.  I think I should have ditched my date with my husband and walked down to front street ;-).

Mitch Seavey became the oldest winner, a two-time Iditarod champion, when he drove his dog team under the burled arch in Nome on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. Race marshal Mark Nordman is at right. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

Mitch Seavey beneath the Burled Arch in Nome with his lead dogs, Tanner and Taurus. AP Photo/Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth

Mitch Seavey congratulates second place finisher Aliy Zirkle after she arrived in Nome. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

Aliy Zirkle finished second in the Iditarod for the second consecutive year when her dog team crossed under the burled arch in Nome on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2013. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

I was bummed about missing the finish because I wanted to take my own awesome photos of the finish. Plus my daughter, Addison really wanted to see them.  She woke up the next morning crying that she had missed them because she had fallen asleep.

On thursday I took the kids out to lunch at a local restaurant called Milanos where they have Italian, American, and Asian/Korean cusine and soft served ice cream! 

Reese, Aiden, and Jeremy

I'm a Zombie!

Mmm ice cream

 But that's not all.  Mitch Seavey was in the house!!!  One of the workers there recognized him and he was sitting in the booth right behind Addison.  She was so excited to see him.  She kept popping her head over the booth.  This photo is much better than anything I could have taken at the finish line with large crowds.  Congratulations Mitch!  By the way I think he ordered a milk shake.

Addison with Mitch Seavey 2013 Iditarod Champion photo by Kim Knudsen

My favorite musher is Nome grown Aaron Burmeister who came in 11th this year... I missed this one too (slept through it).  I failed as one of his biggest fans.  For more info on Aaron see the blog post below.http://nomemade-nomealaska.blogspot.com/2013/03/aaron-burmeister-future-iditarod-first.html

Here are some other photos I took of Iditarod finishers...

Jessica Hendricks bib #54 coming off the ice and into Nome photo by Kim Knudsen

Jessica Hendricks lead dog photo by Kim Knudsen

Jessica Hendricks photo by Kim Knudsen

Travis Beals bib #22 coming into Nome from off the ice in 37th place.  Short afterwards under the finish line he proposed to his girlfriend.  She said "yes".  Photo taken by Kim Knudsen

Justin Savidis bib #34 coming off the ice and into Nome in 38th place.  Photo taken by Kim Knudsen

Matt Giblin bib #64 coming off the ice and into Nome 39th place.  Photo taken by Kim Knudsen

Aaron Burmeister- Future Iditarod First Place Champion

photo from www.iditarod.com

I remember as a teenager in high school hearing about a freshman, Aaron Burmeister running and completing the Junior Iditarod.  It was a big deal in our school, and even in our town, for someone from Nome to run the Junior Iditarod.

I remember thinking... someday that kid is going to win the Iditarod. 

When that day comes it will be a marvelous event and I will be there at the finish line welcoming him home.

When Aaron was a young boy his father ran the Iditarod.  He and his sibings would cross the finish line in his fathers sled.  This must of have influenced him to continue the family line of Iditarod racers.

1982 Richard Burmeister coming into Nome for his Iditarod finish with his kids.  Kirsten in the front, Rachel sitting right behind her, Noah toward the back, and Aaron in the back standing.  Photo courtesy of the Burmeister family.

Since then Aaron married beautiful Mandy Michels, also a Nomite, and they have a son, Hunter, and daughter, Kiana, (future Iditarod mushers).  Aaron and his dogs have been in multiple Iditarod races and last year, 2012, he took 4th place.  This town cheered for him with excitement as he and his team crossed the finish line.  For many years Aaron has been the only musher from Nome to race in the Iditarod.

Photo courtesy of GraceWorks PhotoArt by Melody Lee Gleichman.

Flash forward to 2013. Aaron is racing with bib #24.  Come home to Nome first Aaron!  We are rooting for you.

Photo courtesy of GraceWorks PhotoArt by Melody Lee Gleichman.  Photo at Ceremonial start in Anchorage, Alaska 2013

2013 Iditarod route - Via http://iditarod.com/about/the-iditarod-trail/

UPDATE!  March 10, 2013 at 7:00am AST.

Aaron is in first place on his way to Unalakleet!

UPDATE!  March 13, 2013 at 5:19am AST.

Aaron arrives in Nome in 11th place!

I'm not exactly sure what happened between Unalakleet and Nome but his team definitely slowed down.  I think the dogs were tired and lost momentum.  Still glad that Aaron finish though.  He may not have gotten first place this year but he will some day.  

 Aaron coming down front street in front of post office.

Photo snap shot through Iditarod live streaming by Jane Hunter.

 Aaron coming into the chute under the burled arch.

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 Aaron being greeted by his wife Mandy

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 The family under the arch. 

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 

 

 

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 Photo of Aaron, his dad Richard, and son Hunter.  Possibly 3 generations of mushers ;-)

2013 KTUU interview on Aaron Burmeister:
http://www.ktuu.com/videogallery/74603475/Sports/2013-Iditarod-Preview--Aaron-Burmeister#pl-74603330  
For more information on the Iditarod and current race standings go to: http://iditarod.com