Out-of-state racers celebrate their finish — and free entry to Iron Dog 2026
Iron Dog finishers living in the Lower 48 who finished this year’s race have earned free entry into the 2026 race. Tracy Try photo
Before this year’s Iron Dog Race, all Trent Johnson wanted to accomplish was achieving veteran’s status. The Hayward, Wis., snowmachine racer had to scratch in 2024, at the Tatina checkpoint, and this year he wanted a do-over.
On Feb. 22, he got that wish and more. Team 22’s Johnson and Tad Covault of Soldotna crossed the finish line at just before 6 p.m., with a cumulative time of 96 hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds. They were 15th out of an original field of 30 teams that had winnowed to 16 by the end of the race. But their placement didn’t matter: The accomplishment did.
“The thought crossed my mind that maybe this race is over,” said Johnson, of the second half of the race, when he crashed so badly, he unknowingly broke three ribs. “I just wanted to stop in Tatina and do an hour layover and look at them (the ribs), see how bad it was.”
This year, all Lower 48 racers who completed the Iron Dog – whether they have competed before or not – earned free entry into the 2026 race. A new incentive, it is meant to help defray the additional cost of shuttling machines and racers from their homes in the Lower 48 to Alaska.
“This perk was offered to enhance and entice more racers to the Iron Dog from the Lower 48,” said Iron Dog Executive Director Mike Vasser. “Iron Dog Race would like to expand the field of Pro Class teams from the Lower 48. There are some great cross-country riders down there, but most times, costs prohibit them from entering the Iron Dog Race. This is one way to reduce their cost of entry, and hopefully we will get more interest from that class of Pro Riders in the Lower 48 states.”
Two teams – 15 and 45 – earned free entry for 2026, Vasser noted. Veteran racer and Nevada resident Kris Kaltenbacher of Team 18 also qualified, as well as Johnson, from Team 22.
Last week, Johnson was still recuperating from his Iron Dog Race. The broken ribs led to complications, including a partially collapsed lung, and Influenza A. The crash happened on the return through the snowless Farewell Burn, which wreaked havoc on sleds and banged up many a racer.
“It’s all part of the Iron Dog,” said Johnson, pointing out that at the time he did not realize quite how bad the rib injury was when he chose to continue racing. “My ski kind of got caught into 1-foot to 1-and-a--half foot tussocks. I was only going about 5-10 mph, but it threw me to the right, I corrected with my weight, then it flung me out like a sling shot.”
Johnson said as he launched from the sled, he reached out with his arms to brace his fall, and his ribs took the brunt into the raggedy tussocks.
“Obviously, after that it was hard,” he said. “Breathing and even starting the machine.”
Still, Johnson went on, cinching his tech vest and motoring on. They had to travel more slowly, but he was so close and wanted to finish.
After crossing the finish and letting the adrenaline settle, Johnson said the pain became more acute. Covault’s sister, a nurse, urged him to go to the emergency room where he was eventually diagnosed. He had a temperature of 105.
Kim Bergeron, left, and JP Bernier, right, celebrate at the Iron Dog 2025 finish line on Big Lake Feb. 22, 2025. Photo Kristen Bernier
He is slowly recuperating in Alaska before heading back to Wisconsin.
Red Lantern winners Team 15 Kim Bergeron and JP Bernier of New Hampshire also made it across the finish line after last year having to scratch just 206 miles from the finish.
Bergeron, reached at home, said he was over the moon at the accomplishment.
“We were very, very thankful for all of the volunteers, the organization as a whole, all of the villagers,” said Bergeron, a longtime fan of the race and six-time veteran of the Expedition Class. “Now that I’ve done this, I’m going to pay it back.”
In December of 2024, Bergeron’s teenage son was in s serious accident and suffered life-threatening injuries. At the time, Bergeron could only focus on helping his son heal and thought he may need to withdraw before the race even began. But by late-January, with his son’s prognosis looking better, he decided to go forward. Having a family trauma such as his son’s made him strengthen his resolve to finish what he had started.
“My son’s being discharged from inpatient rehab tomorrow,” Bergeron said on March. 6. “It’s an absolute miracle he is moving, and he has all of his mental faculties. He fell 53 feet onto frozen ground; he should not be alive.”
Eric Christensen of Team 45, left, Alex Hetteen of Team 45, middle, and Kris Kaltenbacher of Team 18, right, all earned free entry to the 2026 Iron Dog Race. Tyler Bryan photo Below, Hetteen’s sled does battle with the kindling-dry Farewell Burn. Hetteen Heritage Racing photo
Team 45’s Alex Hetteen from Roseau, Minn., completed his first Iron Dog a little banged up but thankful for the experience. He said the race was blessedly uncomplicated for he and Iron Dog veteran Eric Christensen of Centuria, Wis.
“I knew it would be a lot of long riding, but it wasn’t too terrible, and I enjoyed a lot of it,” Hetteen said. “Obviously, the Burn was really rough this year, and I ended up crashing there. I don’t even know what I hit. I landed on my back, and cracked a rib underneath my left shoulder blade, and it was on my first day. So, I had to deal with that the rest of the race.”
As an engineer for Polaris, Hetteen said he was also thankful to get to experience first-hand the conditions that Polaris considers when designing a race sled for the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race.
“We’ve obviously worked closely with Iron Dog racers for a while, so we are pretty aware of the things that need improving, but it was nice to be able to experience the new things on our own sleds,” he said. “Fortunately for us, we didn’t have to fix anything on our snowmobiles, other than what we crashed and had to fix.”
All three racers say they hope to take advantage of that free entry, but timing and life commitments will play the ultimate role in that decision. Vasser said the free entry is only good for the 2026 Pro Class race, and Iron Dog would welcome these competitors back.
“I think I’ll be back at this point, but I’m not for sure,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot to discuss and other parties besides myself involved. I would personally want to go, though.”
Hetteen, too, has to balance his own racing circuit in Minnesota, his job and family, and thinks if he comes back he may aim higher, for a Top 5 finish.
“I definitely want to return,” he said.
Kaltenbacher, who finished Iron Dog last year to earn veteran status and completed his second race this year, said he is most definitely coming back.
Kris Kaltenbacher of Sparks, Nev., brings energy and enthusiasm to the Iron Dog Race. He plans to be back in 2025. Tyler Bryan photo
“Damn right I’m coming back!” Kaltenbacher said. “Until I get my Top-10 finish, and Austin Carroll keeps going with me.”
Bergeron, too, is more resolute. Nothing will keep him away, he said. Iron Dog has wriggled its way into his heart, and he can’t imagine his winters without it. Not only does he plan to enter Iron Dog again, but he also wants to give back.
“My big goal is to take one of the checkpoints and volunteer,” he said. “I want to support Covenant Youth Alaska out of Unalakleet. I want to keep the Make it Run program going and the Helmet program going. I want to help.
“This Iron Dog, these people, these racers – I have so much respect and admiration for them. The mental fortitude I have gained. It’s all because of them.”