|
What is the Iditarod?
The Iditarod is
an Alaskan dog race that begins on the first Saturday in March.
According to James Kari, Assistant Professor, University of Alaska
Native Language Center in 1979: "The name Iditarod came from an
Ingalik and Holikachuk word hidedhod for the Iditarod River. This name
means distant or distant place. This word is still known by elders in
the villages of Shageluk, Anvik, Grayling and Holy Cross."
source: http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Media?id=lr004765&st=Iditarod
(By subscription only)
The Iditarod has 26 checkpoints and has 87 different musher
teams. The Iditarod has different routes each year: one for- even years
and another one for odd years. In order to win the race, at least 8
dogs and their musher must make to the finish line. At the very least,
everyone gets a $1,049.00 prize.The reason why the prize is $1,049.00
is because there are at least 1,000 miles in the race and Alaska is
the 49th state in the U.S.A.
Joe Redington, Sr. is the father of the Iditarod. He is
known by that name because he is the creator of the Iditarod. He ran
every race from 1974 to 1992. Joe Redington, Sr. died of cancer in 1999.
On February 1st 2003 a memorial on his honor was unveiled. The memorial
is located in Wasilla, Alaska. The friends of Joe Redington, Sr. raised
$35, 000 in 9 months to make the statue. The grandson and the son of
Joe Redington competed in the 2004 Iditarod race. His grandson is Ray
and his son is Ryan. Ray finished in 28th and Ryan finished in 44th
in the race.
The table below lists the prize amount for each place.
| Place |
Amount |
Place |
Amount |
| 1st |
$69,000 |
16th |
$16,000 |
| 2nd |
$63,000 |
17th |
$15,000 |
| 3rd |
$57,000 |
18th |
$14,000 |
| 4th |
$50,000 |
19th |
$13,000 |
| 5th |
$44,000 |
20th |
$12,000 |
| 6th |
$40,000 |
21th |
$11,000 |
| 7th |
$37,000 |
22th |
$ 9,000 |
| 8th |
$34,000 |
23th |
$ 8,000 |
| 9th |
$31,000 |
24th |
$5,300 |
| 10th |
$28,000 |
25th |
$4,500 |
| 11th |
$25,000 |
26th |
$3,300 |
| 12th |
$22,000 |
27th |
$2,700 |
| 13th |
$20,000 |
28th |
$2,300 |
| 14th |
$18,000 |
29th |
$2,100 |
| 15th |
$17,000 |
30th |
$1,800 |
Robert
Sorlie won last year . Who knows who will win this year???
And the race begins today, March
6, 2004!
source: http://www.travelbooksandmaps.com/images/postcards/iditarod.gif
Our Cesar Chavez class with Ms Calvo
(seated), our wonderful teacher! Here are our guests in the district
computer lab: Mr. Eugene Kerr (Assistant Superintendent of Instruction),
Ms. Margie Rodriguez (Principal of Winter Gardens Elementary School),
and Mrs. Grace Walker (Director of Educational Technology).
|
