The Tustumena 200, a qualifying race for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race, will not be held in 2020 and but hopes to be back in 2021, possibly with a new format.
Tami Murray, the race director for the last 12 years, said the majority of the race’s nine board members are ready to step down and the race needs time to rebuild.
“We wanted to get the word out early while mushers are planning their season,” Murray said.
A 200-mile race through the Kenai Peninsula’s Caribou Hills, the Tustumena 200 began in 1983. It has attracted star-studded fields over the years and boasts mushing greats like Lance Mackey, Jeff King, Mitch Seavey and DeeDee Jonrowe among its past champions.
Murray is optimistic that after a one-year hiatus, the race will find new board members and be able to return, perhaps with a different format.
“Maybe a shorter race, maybe a sprint race,” she said.
Murray said fundraising has become more difficult in recent years. In addition, Freddie’s Roadhouse in Ninilchik, where the race starts and finishes, has shut down, but Murray said the owner said he would considered reopening for the weekend of the race.
The Tustumena 200 has been canceled on four occasions, including three straight years from 2014-2016 due to poor trail conditions caused by unseasonably warm weather.
Past champions
1984 — Tim Osmar
1985 — Tim Osmar
1986 — Dave Scheer
1987 — Mac McLeod
1988 — Dave Scheer
1989 — Tim Moerlein
1990 — Tim Osmar
1991 — Dusty VanMeter
1992 — Tim Osmar
1993 — Tim Osmar
1994 — Steve Mullen
1995 — Tim Osmar
1996 — Paul Gebhardt
1997 — Paul Gebhardt
1998 — Ramey Smyth
1999 — Ramey Smyth
2000 — Jeff King
2001 — Jeff King
2002 — Ramey Smyth
2003 — Race Canceled
2004 — Cim Smyth
2005 — Jessica Hendricks
2006 — Jessica Hendricks
2007 — Ken Anderson
2008 — Lance Mackey
2009 — Cim Smyth
2010 — Jeff King
2011 — DeeDee Jonrowe
2012 — Cim Smyth
2013 — Mitch Seavey
2014 — Race Canceled
2015 — Race Canceled
2016 — Race Canceled
2017 — Cim Smyth
2018 — Nic Petit
2019 — Dave Turner