March 17, 2011 Awesome! John Baker Shatters Iditarod Race Record
Photo by Nadja Roessek SUN DOGS— John Baker guides his dog team off the Bering Sea ice and up the ramp into Front Street as the sun climbs over the eastern horizon Tuesday morning. C VOLUME CXI NO. 11 March 17, 2011 Awesome! John Baker shatters Iditarod race record By Diana Haecker place and my good friend Ramy Hundreds and hundreds of people Brooks coming in second, that was a lined Nome’s Front Street to see special year to me. But now, break- Kotzebue musher John Baker be the ing the record is icing on the cake,” first musher in this year’s Iditarod Baker said. Trail sled dog race to cross the finish After Baker was checked in and line in Nome. The rising sun cast signed off on having finished the golden light into the finish chute as race, sponsor dignitaries handed him Baker and his ten dogs made their his $50,400 winner’s check and the way under the burled arch. Along key to a brand new Dodge Ram with Baker’s family, race officials truck. With this year’s win, Baker and selected media, drummers and ended Lance Mackey’s four-year singers with the band Pamyua were string of victories and Lance’s wife on hand to provide the soundtrack to Tonya made it through the crowd, an emotional finish that had Baker’s into the finish chute to congratulate family in tears. Cheers, drumming Baker on his achievement. and the unique walrus whoop made Sitting on the winner’s pedestal, by Eskimo fans filled the cold air.
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