Meet the 2026 Ambassador Class
Experience, safety, and storytelling along the Iron Dog trail
The Iron Dog Snowmachine Race has always demanded more than speed. It asks for judgment, preparation, respect for the trail, and an understanding that Alaska sets the terms, not the riders. That philosophy is at the heart of the Iron Dog Ambassador Class, a program designed to represent the race, its sponsors, and the communities along the route while promoting snowmachine safety, education, and reliability.
In 2026, eight riders make up the Ambassador Team. These ambassadors bring decades of combined riding, racing, engineering, and industry experience to the trail, including two Polaris employees who add a behind-the-scenes perspective on snowmachine design and durability.
While they won’t be chasing the Pro Class podium, these riders will be doing something equally important: showing what it means to ride prepared, ride smart, and ride with purpose.
The Three Old Guys
By now, most Iron Dog fans know the story - “The Three Old Guys”.
In 2023, Rob Hallstrom, Rex Hibbert, and Paul Dick pointed their Arctic Cats north and didn’t stop until they reached Fairbanks, traveling more than 5,000 miles over 38 days from Minnesota to Alaska. What began as a “what if” turned into a full-scale winter expedition stitched together by forgotten trails, frozen rivers, historic trapping routes, and long days with no guarantees.
Two of the three, Hibbert and Dick, are no strangers to the Iron Dog competition, having raced in the 1994 Gold Rush Classic and finished third overall. Nearly three decades later, they returned not to race a clock, but to reconnect with the communities and landscapes that define the event.
“The Iron Dog was obviously a competitive run,” Dick said in a previous interview, “but this last trip was all off-trail, deep snow, slush, ice jams, a heck of a lot of work.”
What truly set the journey apart was the response. A simple Facebook page created to keep family informed grew into a community of nearly 40,000 followers, offering real-time encouragement and trail insight as the trio worked their way north.
“People were opening doors, sharing meals, offering places to work on sleds,” Hallstrom recalled. “It reminded us how much the people make the journey.”
As Ambassadors in 2026, the Three Old Guys bring something no checklist can replicate: lived proof that endurance, preparation, and respect matter more than age and that the Iron Dog spirit doesn’t end at the finish line.
Rex Hibbert is a veteran, a true cowboy, and a deep-snow rider at heart. Shaped by decades of Rocky Mountain cross-country racing alongside his brother, he brings the grit and calm decision-making that long miles require.
Rob Hallstrom is an endurance rider and lifelong adventurer who has been snowmobiling for more than 50 years. With a deep passion for remote travel, he has logged thousands of miles on rugged winter routes and backcountry terrain.
Paul Dick is a veteran and lifelong long-distance rider with more than 50 years of experience. He is one of North America’s most seasoned long-distance cross-country racers, known for the steady mindset and endurance the trail demands over many days.
Rounding out this year’s Ambassador Team are five more riders, each bringing their own experience and purpose to the trail.
Brad Helwig, a lifelong Alaskan, raced Iron Dog in 2009 and 2010, finishing fourth and third, respectively. Though no longer competing in the Pro Class, Helwig has remained connected to the race through years of behind-the-scenes support and community involvement.
Tom Rowland, a lifelong snowmobiler from central Minnesota. An Arctic Cat dealer since 1988 through Thomas Sno Sports, Rowland is also the founder of ArcticInsider.com, an enthusiast platform dedicated to preserving Arctic Cat history and culture. Known for collecting and restoring sleds from every era, Rowland brings a historian’s eye to the Ambassador role. His longest ride to date, a 1,700-mile journey around Lake Superior, speaks to his appreciation for long-distance riding and the stories that unfold along the way. For Rowland, the Ambassador Class is about the connection between brand, rider, and the communities that make Iron Dog possible.
Tim Olin grew up snowmobiling in western New York, riding on the front of his father’s sled before he could walk. That early connection carried him through engineering school at SUNY Alfred and into his career in Snow Engineering at Polaris in Roseau, Minnesota.
As an Ambassador, Olin brings gratitude for the support of his fiancée, Taylor, and his family, and a deep respect for what Iron Dog represents as a proving ground for machines and riders alike.
Trevor Helwig was born and raised in Anchorage and grew up in a powersports family, riding everything from snowmachines to jet skis at a young age. The son of fellow Ambassador Brad Helwig, he continues the family’s strong connection to Iron Dog. Trevor works as a heavy equipment mechanic with Operating Engineers Local 302 and spends his free time outdoors. He competed the Trail Class in 2019 and entered Pro Class in 2022 and 2025.
Devon Hetteen comes from a family with generations of snowmobiling experience and has spent the past four years working at Polaris as a Powertrain Engineer. For Hetteen, the Ambassador role bridges professional insight with personal passion.
“Being in the Ambassador class means I get to experience the Iron Dog in a way that balances the challenge of the course with the responsibility of representing the values of the sport and the companies behind it,” Hetteen said. “It’s about showcasing the durability and real-world capability of Polaris machines while promoting safe riding and sportsmanship.”
Hetteen plans to engage directly with fans, volunteers, and communities along the route, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into engineering machines capable of handling Alaska’s harshest conditions.
“My favorite thing about Iron Dog is how it brings everything together, the challenge, the adventure, the camaraderie, and the connection to the environment,” he said. “There’s nothing else like it.”
More Than a Class
The Ambassador Team exists outside the race clock, but firmly within the heart of Iron Dog. These riders represent the idea that success isn’t measured only by finish times; it’s measured by preparation, safety, community respect, and the ability to make it run when conditions are far from ideal.
These eight Ambassadors will be doing what Iron Dog has always asked of its participants: honoring the trail, supporting the people along it, and showing the next generation what responsible, capable snowmachining looks like in Alaska.