Photos: Alaska: Snow Machine Iron Dog Race Starts [PHOTOS]
By Umberto Bacchi | Feb 19, 2013 05:13 AM EDT
The Iron Dog, the longest snow machine race in the world, has started in Alaska.
Thousands of snow machine enthusiasts gathered at Big Lake, southern Alaska, to see off the 38 four-man teams taking part in the race, a 2,000 ordeal across Alaska's harsh terrain which ends in Fairbanks.
Teams are expected to cross the finishing line on 23 February.
Since the race traverses some of Alaska's most remote and wild regions, with temperatures well below freezing, teams are made up of two sleds carrying two drivers each.
The event, which started in 1984, was renamed the Iron Dog Gold Rush Classic in 1990 and has grown in popularity year by year, helped by the main sponsorship of the Alaska National Guard.
The first team is awarded a $50,000 (£32,000) prize. Runners-up take home $35,000.
The race traverses some of Alaska’s most remote and wild regions
Source: Instagram Date:02/19/2013
Iron Dog is the longest snow machine race in the world
Source: Instagram Date:02/19/2013
The winning team is awarded $50,000
Source: Instagram Date:02/19/2013
Competitors start off in Big Lake, south Alaska
Source: Instagram Date:02/19/2013
The race was originally named Iron Dog Iditarod after the northern route of the historic Iditarod trail
Source: Instagram Date:02/19/2013
Thirty-eight four-man teams are taking part to the 2013 race
Source: Instagram Date:02/19/2013 Iron Dog, Alaska
Source: Date:02/19/2013
