Iron Dog Dad

Dad sat down with Kevin Scholla to talk about the Iron Dog race, and I thought you’d like to hear it:

The Iron Dog is the longest, toughest snowmachine race in the world. It is truly a test of endurance, not only for the equipment but for the participants. Two men with past success in the event have teamed together this year to try to capture the title together. All eyes are on Team 11: Todd Palin and Tyler Huntington.

Palin has won the Iron Dog four times and Huntington has come out on top twice. Now, they are hoping their amalgamation will translate into another championship. This week Team 11 appeared on Iron Dog Insider, a special program on SarahNET Radio.

 

Todd Palin knows the over 2000-mile race is like no other. It’s a grueling endeavor. So, he’s hoping a new race partner will shake things up just right. “Tyler has a proven record,” Palin said. “A solid proven racer who knows the Yukon like the back of his hand.”

 

Huntington also has that fighting Alaskan spirit. He’s returning from a major injury following a horrific crash last year. During a training run Huntington collided with some driftwood and shattered his pelvis. You couldn’t blame him if he hung up his Iron Dog helmet for good after that. Instead the father of three little boys is back and more determined than ever.

 

Quitting just wasn’t an option. “It would have been like letting Iron Dog get the best of me,” said Huntington. “Even when I was laying there hurt I was thinking of ways to get back on the machine and get back to racing. It’s just what we all love doing up here. It’s a lot of fun.”

 

Huntington admits he’s still not quite 100%. Clearly he makes up for that with his heart.

 

One of the toughest things about the Iron Dog is that you almost have to have a flawless performance to have a chance. “You kind of have to compare it to college football because you have to have a perfect record to get to that championship podium,” Palin said. “At the end of the day you could have a perfect run and everything, and then Mother Nature could throw you a curve ball anywhere along that 2000 mile course.”

 

Read more on the Patheos Faith and Family Channel, fan me on Facebook and follow this blog on Twitter!