EVENING UPDATE: Top four teams hold up in Puntilla for Saturday finale on Big Lake

Teams rest up in Rainy Pass Lodge, as they prepare for Iron Dog 38’s finale on Big Lake on Saturday. Photo: Casey Boylan

(PUNTILLA LAKE, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.) – When Team 14 Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie, were prepping to leave McGrath Friday morning, they agreed: No rash moves. 

 “Really we are just trying to stay steady and do what we know how to do,” said Boylan from McGrath, before the two headed out. “We haven’t been riding too hard, and we agreed that whatever pace we ride is the place we are going to get.” 

 Their current place isn’t too shabby – standing in first, Team 14 will be the first racers back on the trail on Saturday morning, leaving at 9.a.m. They checked into Puntilla Lake at 4:51:27 p.m., followed a half hour later by Team 6, Robby Schachle and Brad George. Saturday’s departure time from Puntilla is orchestrated as such to time the race finish for about noon Saturday on Big Lake. 

 “The top four teams will be held in Puntilla and will be released per the rules on course time for the Top 3, with Team 49 following Team 10 by 45 minutes,” said Jake Goodell, Iron Dog’s timing and GPS official. “The remaining teams will hold in Skwentna until the fourth-place team passes through Skwentna.”

 Team 14’s race, so far, is aligning with their plan – “We wanted to stay close to the leaders on the way north, and when we headed south, we wanted to press,” Boylan said.

 Their race hasn’t been without mishaps, though. On the way into Galena, Team 5’s Zack Weisz and Leslie collided during an attempted pass, and Leslie crashed. 

 “Bryan hit an ice edge and landed hard on his shoulder,” Boylan said. “They got him some Advil, we took a little break, and we were good to go.”

 The trail from Poorman to Ophir was rough, too, he said, so they kept their speeds at reasonable paces to give Leslie’s shoulder a break. The McGrath rest was a welcome respite. 

 At Puntilla, Boylan said he was amazed that Leslie was able to go as fast as he did today. 

 “Today, we had the (Farewell) burn and Ptarmigan Pass to go through,” Boylan said. “From Nikolai to Puntilla is huge. I’m shocked he can ride, but he did fine.” 

 Now, Boylan said, he and Leslie are entering more familiar ground.

 “We practice up here so we are starting to get more comfortable with the terrain here,” he added. “But we’ve put a lot of miles on our sleds and parts break.”  

 Goodell said this year’s racers are showing incredible strength. Yesterday’s ride from Kotzebue to McGrath for some of the front-runners is probably the longest stretch of racing he’s seen happen in one day ever during an Iron Dog. Racers covered about 700 miles, but with extreme cold predicted for Galena they opted to outrun the arctic air. 

 “They are cruising,” Goodell said. “It’s been stressful and sleepless but they’re doing it and we’re doing it, and I think it’s going great.” 

 Goodell said the top four teams that will stay in Puntilla are Team 14, Team 6, Team 10, Chris Olds and Mike Morgan; and Team 49, Klinton VanWingerden and Andrew Gumley. 

 “Team 12 and Team 5 are about an hour and 20, to an hour and 30 minutes behind them, so that’s where the break will be,” he said.  

 On Saturday, after the top four have gone past Skwentna, the remaining teams will be released in 10-minute intervals. 

 “Hopefully that will get everyone into Big Lake in a four-hour window,” Goodell added. 

 While Team 14 has maintained their lead, Boylan said he knows that one misstep and that could change. 

 “Like I said, those guys (Team 6) can ride really fast, I know what we are capable of too,” he said. “It’s all about being smooth and finding a rhythm.” 

 That said, Goodell is impressed with Team 14’s performance. 

 “They’re not showy, they just get the work done,” he said. “At this point, the guys are riding fast but they are riding smart; they are professionals.” 

 Media Contact: Mike Vasser, Interim  Executive Director, Iron Dog Inc., (907) 563-4414  •  director@irondog.org