Eddie Burke Jr's 2023 Iditarod Race

Hi, my name is Eddie Burke, a dog musher based in Nenana, Alaska.

About Me

There are things in life that find you, even though you were never expecting them. That is how I feel about dog mushing. This sport and lifestyle is not for everyone, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. As a born and raised Alaskan, I remember attending the start of the Iditarod as a kid and thinking that this sport was "cool." It wasn't until I attended my first Iditarod banquet that I saw the real excitement. This started the chain reaction of attending a few more banquets, meeting mushers, and being invited to help as a dog handler. I even started a blog giving race updates! You could say I was hooked and wanted to see if I had what it took. During this process, I began running dogs and just trying to be a sponge. I wanted to learn everything I possibly could. Fast forward a few years, in 2020 I was invited to Aaron Burmeister's and Tony Browning's kennel for an opportunity to see if I was the right fit to help handle, train, and raise a young group of dogs to become my future race team. I passed their test and moved to Nenana to live for the race season. I had a lot on the line and would need to make many sacrifices to achieve my dream of racing the Iditarod. I didn't grow up in a kennel or the dog-mushing world. However, my background in athletics and being able to be dedicated and overcome challenges is what is teaching me to be a skilled musher.

My Race Experience

In 2021 after 6 months of difficult training and preparation, I took my young team to their very first dog race, as it was my first race as well. The team and I entered the Willow 300 for our first Iditarod Qualifier and placed 13th out of 41 teams. Shortly after that race, the dogs and I were onto Fairbanks for the Yukon Quest 300. The race was tough, and we faced challenges, but the team and I came in with a solid 6th-place finish. After completing two 300-mile races, my team and I figured it was time to "race" the dogs! This would be the last race of the season and my final Qualifier, The Ididn'trod 200 Invitational. Just like our previous qualifiers, this race had no shortage of talented teams and dog drivers. The team and I finished in 1st place! I was beyond proud of my young dog team and what we had accomplished that season. With three qualifiers done, I knew that the Iditarod looked like a possibility. In the fall of 2021, I was back at it! I was signed up for three more races. We started the 2022 season with the Knik 200. Just like every race, it had its own set of unique challenges. I used this race as a training run for myself and the dogs. We came in 4th place amongst several top Iditarod teams. Up next was the Kusko 300! this race is considered one of the most competitive and richest races around. The dogs and I flew to Bethel to see what we were made of. Leading up to this race, i made the goal of running a 40-hour race, and that's just what we did. A 40-hour race usually means a top-five finish, but with a stacked field of top mushers, we came in 12th place, and I couldn't have been happier. For our final race of the season, we headed to Kotzebue for the Kobuk 440. "The toughest race above the arctic circle" and if not one of the toughest races in the world. The team and I left the starting line for the biggest challenge of our mushing career. After 440 miles of tough terrain, we crossed the finish line in 3rd place! This was an amazing way to end our second season of racing. After a two-years of building my team and gaining knowledge and experience, I was ready to raise the bar and enter the sport's most significant race. The Iditarod!

The Cost

Iditarod is a significant investment of time and money, and we are looking for sponsors! Your donations not only support me, but they support my amazing team of dogs.

Our fundraising target: $20,000

Here are the base costs of running the Iditarod, and these estimates don't cover pre-season training and supplies.

- Iditarod Entry fee: $4,000

- Pre-race Vet Checks: $350

- Dog Booties: $2,000

- Dog Food: $5,000

- Equipment and gear: $8,000

- Handler expenses: $1,000

- Travel expenses: $3,500

- Musher's food: $500

- Misc pre and post-race expenses: $1,500

Grand Total: $25,850

Join the Team

Dog mushing has taught me that it takes a team to get to the finish line. I appreciate you taking the time to read my story and your interest in helping me achieve my goal of competing in the 2023 Iditarod. Without the support of my mentors Aaron Burmeister and Tony Browning, my family, friends, and generous sponsors, none of this would be possible.

I hope you continue to follow my team and me this season as I prepare for the Last Great Race.

Follow me this season for updates on myself and the dogs as we approach race day!

Facebook @eddieburkejrwildstyleracing