If you have always wanted to experience the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from a musher's perspective, the Iditarider auction is the perfect thing for you, but you better act fast - the bidding ends in two weeks.
The auction, sponsored by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, allows people to bid on the right to ride in a musher's sled at the race's ceremonial start in Anchorage, which is on March 2, 2024. The 2024 Iditarod is extra special, because it's the 50th anniversary of the first running of The Last Great Race. The auction is a major fundraiser, and those bidding are helping support the race. The money raised helps stage the race each year, and now more than ever, fundraising is important to the future of the race. The auction is live and open through January 5.
Winning bidders meet their mushers in Anchorage the morning of the race's ceremonial start. They get to be in the bag on the musher's sled as the teams of huskies depart the starting line on their run through downtown Anchorage, with thousands of fans lining the streets and cheering for them. The race "officially" begins the following day at 2 p.m. in Willow, with mushers departing in 2-minute increments from Willow Lake.
Bidding is easy, but the deadline is fast approaching. Interested bidders can register at https://www.iditarodauction.com/ and from there, pick and choose which mushers to bid on and get ready for a wild ride in the Last Great Race.