The Iron Dog, the 2,000-mile snowmachine race from Big Lake to Nome to Fairbanks, begins for real Sunday at Big Lake. But things rev up with two days of action Friday and Saturday in downtown Anchorage. Check http://www.irondog.org/event-info for schedule updates.
Friday, February 17th
7:00PM — 3rd Avenue between C and E streets — Flying Iron Freestyle Show, starring 14-time X Games medalist Joe Parsons of Yakima, Washington; 10-time X Games medalist Heath Frisby of Middleton, Idaho; six-time X Games medalist Cory Davis of Soldotna and Alaska State Sno-X Lions co-founder Tim Beckner of Anchorage.
Saturday, February 18th
All events on 4th Avenue near E Street, except Flying Iron Freestyle Show, 3rd Avenue between C and E.
930AM — Showing of Vintage Snowmobiles
10AM — Meet and Greet with Pro Class racers
1030AM — Vintage Snowmobile Parade
1230PM – Ceremonial Race Start. Teams will depart in 90-second intervals and will turn north on E Street. They wind their way through the Ship Creek area traverse JBER and finish in Eagle River. The full route is not being publicized, Iron Dog executive director Kevin Kastner said, in part because once racers reach the railroad and port areas, access is limited.
130PM – Iron Pup Kids Parade
200PM — Flying Iron Freestyle Show, starring Parsons, Frisby and Beckner (Davis will not appear Saturday because he is a competitor in the race) Sunday
Sunday, February 19th
11AM — Big Lake for the Official Start of the 2017 Iron Dog!