Thirteen mushers will race in the 2020 Akiak Dash. Two-time champion Greg Larson will seek his third title in the approximately 65-mile race that begins on Saturday, Jan. 18. Last year’s fourth-place finisher, Nicholas Ayapan, is the top 2019 finisher to race this year. Eleven mushers are veterans, and the race’s only rookie is Abby Klager. Racers signed up on the night of Jan. 17 in Bethel.
The race begins with a mass start in Bethel, then runs upriver to the halfway checkpoint of Akiak before turning back downriver towards Bethel. Mushers are competing for $30,000 in prize money and the title of the fastest sprint team on the Kuskokwim. Teams can expect a hard and fast trail when the race starts at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18 in Bethel.
2020 Akiak Dash Competitors
Greg Larson, Napaskiak
Kurtis George, Akiak
Herman Phillip, Kwethluk
Nicholas Ayaprun, Kwethluk
Solomon Olick, Bethel
Mike Williams Jr., Akiak
Victoria Hardwick, Bethel
Abby Klager, Bethel
GilbertPhillip, Akiak
Tory Fitzpatrick, Akiachak
Issac Underwood, Aniak
Joe Demantle Jr., Tuluksak
Jackie Larson, Napaskiak
Updated January 18 at 8:40 p.m.: This story originally only included 12 mushers.