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Iditapod: Iditarod pre-season and a chat with the Yukon Quest champ

Nic Petit arrived in Bethel less than two minutes behind Matthew Failor. (Photo credit Katie Basile / KYUK)
Nic Petit arrived in Bethel less than two minutes behind Matthew Failor. (Photo credit Katie Basile / KYUK)

We take a quick look back at competitive mid-distance sled dog races that many Iditarod mushers use as qualifier or tune-up races. And though he's not in Iditarod this year, we talk to Yukon Quest champion Brent Sass about that race, his plans to return to Iditarod next year and who he thinks could win this year. We also take a visit to Alpine Creek Lodge off the Denali Highway, a remote yet comfortable training ground for established and up-and-coming dog teams alike.

Casey Grove is host of Alaska News Nightly, a general assignment reporter and an editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cgrove@alaskapublic.org.