Ryan Redington wins Kobuk 440 as only musher to complete entire course April 7th 2:08 am | Emily Hofstaedter and Carey Restino
Extreme weather causes mid-race changes, multiple search-and-rescue missions By Emily Hofstaedter and Carey Restino Arctic Sounder In what mushers and race organizers both say was an unimaginably tough race this year as mushers battled storm after storm, high winds and "zero visibility," along the course through Northwest Alaska, one musher prevailed as not only the winner, but also the only musher and team to make it around the entire 440-mile course from Kotzebue to Kobuk and back. Ryan Redington prevailed through the entire course, which caused early leaders Jeff King and Nic Petit, to press their help buttons between Kobuk and Ambler, causing them to be withdrawn from the race. The 38-year-old musher from Knik is the grandson of Iditarod founder Joe Redington, Sr., finished in 48 hours, 48 minutes. Ryan Redington also won the Kobuk 440 in 2019, and said he encouraged other mushers to try the race in the future during a live-streamed award ceremony held Tuesday night in Kotzebue.