Ryan Redington wins Beargrease, going for Iditarod next
The Alaskan Ryan Redington has his mind all ready set on the worlds longest dog sled race, after winning Beargrease for the second time. The lead dogs Henry and Ghost got most of the credits.
Whearing a neon green snowsuit and neon green booties, the Redington-team was easy to recognice in the trails of Minnesota. He finished with 7 out of 12 dogs, including the leaders:
“They’re really in tune with me. And very smart on the commands. And they love passing teams, they’re very competitive. And they love being out front”, Redington said after crossing the finish line.
Redington of Skagway, Alaska, left the last checkpoint, Mineral Center, first last year too, but his dogs slowed and Blake Freking passed him to win the race. Redington ended in 2019 up finish in sixth.
This time he is clear about the importance of the mind set.
“Just keep positive, keep loving on the dogs. And everything turned out really well”, Redington said.
He is now starting the preparations for the 1.000 mile long Iditarod in March.
The Beargrease is the best-known mid-distance race in the Lower 48. It’s an Iditarod qualifying race that follows the north shore of Lake Superior for nearly 300 miles and offers some 35,000 feet of elevation gains and losses.
It’s the first race in the new Arctic World Series of mushing, which also includes Norway’s Femundlopet, which starts Feb. 1, and Russia’s Volga Quest, which starts Feb. 8, before culminating in March with the Iditarod.
Keith Aili finished second, fiftheen minutes behind the winner, while Ryan Anderson finished third.
For the Redington-kennel, it was a big day. Also Aili was running a team of Redington dogs.
“He’s a friend, and it’s helping him get ready for Iditarod because out of these two teams, then he’ll take his 14 for Iditarod,” Aili said.
Redington also won the Beargrease in 2018. Aili won it in 2006.
Ryan Redington
Keith Aili
Ryan Anderson
Martin Massicotte
Colleen Wallin
Nathan Schroeder
Blake Freking
