At an event celebrating the imminent start of the Iditarod XLII, the starting order of the race’s 69 mushers this year was randomly drawn in Downtown Anchorage Thursday night. According to the start order (PDF) unveiled after the Dena’ina Center gathering, Curt Perano of New Zealand will be the first musher to begin The Last Great Race, following an honorary musher in this year’s ceremonial start of the 42nd annual 1,000-mile trip to Nome. The race’s father-and-son recent winners -- 2012 champion Dallas Seavey and his father, 2013 victor Mitch Seavey -- remain near the top of the pack, in 14th and sixth place respectively. Aliy Zirkle, the race’s runner-up for the last two years, will start in 10th place. Entertainer Hobo Jim provided music for the Thursday gala, with Big Lake rookie Elliot Anderson -- starting 55th -- winning a 2014 Ski-Doo snowmachine donated by Donlin Gold. The race’s ceremonial start will take place in Downtown Anchorage at 10 a.m. Saturday. Its official start will occur the next day in Willow.
Race officials also announced details for shuttle bus travel from Anchorage, Wasilla, Houston and Talkeetna to the Sunday restart, as follows:
Anchorage Millennium Hotel: Volunteer tickets $10 roundtrip, Spectator tickets $20 roundtrip, both can be purchased at Volunteer Registration Desk in the Millennium Hotel Buses Depart Millennium Hotel: 8:00 AM – volunteer bus only 9:30 AM – volunteers and spectators 11:00 AM – spectators Buses Depart Willow for Millennium Hotel: 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Wasilla: Adults $2.00 roundtrip and children under 12 free. Buses Depart Wasilla High School: 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:15 PM, 12:30 PM, 12:45 PM, and 1:00 PM Buses Depart Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center: 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, and 12:00 PM Volunteers can catch a bus leaving the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center at 8:45 AM
Houston: Adults $2.00 roundtrip and children under 12 free. Buses Depart Houston High School: 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM Buses Depart from Willow to Houston - Curtis D. Menard Sports Center - Wasilla High School: 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 6:00 PM ALL return shuttles will make stops at Houston – Curtis D. Menard Sports Center – Wasilla High School
Talkeetna: Adults $2.00 roundtrip and children under 12 free. Buses Depart Talkeetna Sunshine Restaurant: 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM Buses Depart from Willow for Talkeetna Sunshine Restaurant: 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM