Mastering the Iditarod Trail with Rick Swenson

With an amazing dream, and the will to see it through, Rick Swenson moved to Alaska, and won his first Iditarod race at the age of 26. He set the record as the youngest person ever to win the greatest race on earth. That was only the beginning. Swenson's love of dog sled racing turned into a legendary hall of fame. He would easily become the most famous dog sled musher in the history of the Iditarod.

Swenson's accomplishments would include being listed in the top 5 contestants of 17 Iditarod races. They would also spotlight the closest finish in an Iditarod race. Swenson came in second place by only 1 second in 1978. He was inducted into the Iditarod Hall of Fame in 1997, having more top 10 finishes than any of his competitors. There were 24 of these, and they don't even compare to his greatest victories.

It seems Rick Swenson was born to win the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. He was the first person ever who could claim three 1^st place victories. These were received in 1977, 1979, and 1981 respectively. The following year, in 1982, Swenson became the first person to win the Iditarod 4 times; then in 1991, he took the title for the fifth time, a feat he alone can claim.

It takes a certain character to win the Iditarod once. Swenson set the bar high for any and all who would follow in his footsteps. His sheer determination was enough to drive him head long into a snowstorm with white out conditions in 1991. There he was, at White Mountain. He was so close to the finish line in Nome. He'd travelled more than 1,000 miles to get to White Mountain, and now, a blizzard with white out conditions threatened to keep him from achieving his next victory.

A few veteran Iditarod mushers hunkered down to wait out the storm. Many turned back to stay at the nearest shelter. Some tried to warn him of the dangers he was up against. Swenson wanted only one thing, to be the first person to win 5 Iditarod races. He braved the storm, even though it was impossible to speak with anyone at race headquarters. The storm was that severe, and through it all, Rick Swenson exercised a spirit of bravery few could muster.

Swenson is a legend at the age of 59. He was born in Minnesota in 1950. Within 25 years, he set out to fulfill his dreams, and win the Iditarod Dog Sled Race. He succeeded five times, while taking home several other honors along the way.

Swenson has received many Iditarod awards in his dog sled racing athletic career. He was the recipient of the Fastest Time from Safety to Nome Award in 1977, 1979, and 1980. He was honored with the Sportsmanship award in 1983, and 2002. Swenson enjoyed a 7 course meal and night in a hotel in 1989, when he won the First to Yukon award. A few years later in 1992, and again in 2004, Swenson received the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award. In 1996, he won the Most Inspirational Award. The Golden Harness Award was given to his dog in 1991 for being the most outstanding lead dog that year.

Rick Swenson's Iditarod career has lasted over 30 years. He has been active on the Iditarod Trail Committee's Board of Directors, and has been an inspiration to fellow racers. With experience and dedication, Swenson has achieved phenomenal success. With unheard of skill and determination, he has mastered the trail.