INVITATION:
Being a part of the Last Great Race is a dream shared by tens of
thousands of race fans, volunteers, mushers, and sponsors. I first
heard of Iditarod during the late 1970’s and immediately became
a fan. During the mid 1980 I joined the Iditarod Trail Committee.
In 1992 we moved to Alaska and I became a volunteer, and now in
2005 I can finally take the next step and become an Iditarod Rookie.
So I’ve made the trip from fan to member to volunteer to musher,
but I remember my roots. I remember wanting to be part of Iditarod
so bad that it hurt, but I didn’t know how. And I know that
I’m not alone. So I would like to extend an invitation to
all interested people to join me in this journey by becoming members
of the official support group for R Northbound Dogs, Rogers Rangers.
Membership in Rogers Rangers associates you directly with the classic
Alaskan challenge of man and dog to build a team that can travel
1,100 miles through the northern wilderness to achieve their goal.
It espouses the virtues of patience, persistence, faith, maintaining
a positive outlook in the face of difficulties, and plain old fashioned
hard work. It gives you a personal stake in the Iditarod, allowing
you to focus on how “Your Team” is doing. As a part
of that team you can rightly share the pride of our accomplishments
as we overcome the challenges necessary to earn a place in Iditarod
history.
I have dreamt about doing Iditarod since 1995. I invite you to share
in that dream and join us in the journey as the dogs and I prepare
for our rookie run in the 2006 Iditarod.
GOAL:
To build a team capable of finishing in the top 20 in the 2008 Iditarod.
RACE PLAN:
2004-2005: Qualify for Iditarod
2006. DONE!
2006: Learning year #1. The goal
is to finish with a strong happy dog team and driver and learn
what it takes to run 100 miles a day, day in and day out. To do
that I plan to run a very conservative 14 day race modeled after
Dallas Seavey’s 2005 rookie year. I believe most rookies
start too fast and dig themselves and their dogs into a hole early
in the race. They must then try to battle out of that hole for
the rest of the race. My goal is to start slow, get lots of rest
early, ease into the race, and by pacing myself and the team,
have a strong happy dog team when we get to the coast.
Consistent with this philosophy
I plan to start the race with 14 dogs, including up to 4 yearlings.
I will thus be running my own yearling team and building the team
I’ll need for the 2008 race.
2007: Learning year #2. The goal
is to continue to learn and build on the 2006 race. Again I plan
to start slowly, getting lot’s of extra rest in the early
days of the race, but if the team looks strong cutting to an equal
run / rest schedule on the coast. For 2007 I would like to finish
in 12 to 13 days.
For 2007 I will run a 16 dog team,
but again may well have several (1-4) yearlings, building the
2008 dog team.
2008: Racing year #1. Building
on the 2006 and 2007 races and now having a veteran driver and
dogs I hope to cut 48 hours of rest from the schedule and finish
in 10 ½ days. In 2005 a 10 day 12 hour finish would have
put me in 18th place. My racing philosophy is built on starting
slow, being patient, easing into the race, constantly building
strength and maintaining speed and attitude in the dogs and finally
passing less patient teams on the coast. There is a saying among
Iditarod drivers that if you have a 15th place dog team and drive
them like a 10th place team you’ll probably finish 20th.
But if you drive them like a 20th place team you’ll likely
finish 10th. That is where I want to be. For
2008 I don’t plan to add any dogs to the kennel, but to
train and race the proven dog team (including spares) from 2007.
MEMBERSHIP PLAN for 2005/2006
Season:
Regular
Membership in Rogers Rangers: $30 – Be part of
the team and get a signed certificate of membership in Rogers
Rangers, this years musher card, and an authentic dog bootie.
Junior Membership
in Rogers Ranger: $20 – For those under 18, either individuals
or groups such as classrooms or scout troups, church youth groups,
etc. - Be part of the team and get a signed certificate of membership
in Rogers Jr Rangers, this years musher card, and an authentic
dog bootie.
Business or Team
Sponsor -
CONTACT:
Eric O. Rogers
R Northbound Dogs
13914 Savage Dr.
Eagle River, AK 99577
Have
you ever wanted to be part of the Iditarod adventure
but didn't
know how? Help support Eric Rogers Iditarod team
by joining the
2006-2007 season Rogers Rangers. Just $30 buys you
a bootie worn by the
team, a 2005-2006 Rookie season musher card, and
a signed certificate of
membership. All funds go to support Eric's 2007
Iditarod. For your
convenience we now take credit cards through PayPal.
All donations
gratefully accepted.
