Team Kaiser wins ninth K300 title

by Greg Lincoln

Pete Kaiser of Bethel won the 2025 Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race for his 9th win. He crossed the finish line in 36 hours and 41 minutes early Sunday morning on the river in front of Bethel. He now shares the most race wins record with Jeff King of Denali. His lead dogs are Delmer (at left) and Mooki. Congratulations! photo by Greg Lincoln

Pete Kaiser and his mom Janet Kaiser at the start of the 2025 K300 Sled Dog Race last week on Friday, February 7th. photo by Greg Lincoln

Pete Kaiser of Bethel won the 2025 Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race for his 9^th win. He crossed the finish line in 36 hours and 41 minutes with 9 dogs in harness early Sunday morning on the river in front of Bethel at 1:57am. He now shares the most race wins record with Jeff King of Denali. His lead dogs are Delmer and Mooki. Congratulations!

Team Kaiser won the race in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Kaiser, age 37, has 35 dogs in his Bethel kennel.

“These dogs are so talented, it is really all credit to them,” said Kaiser at the finish line. “I tried to stay somewhere near the front on that first run and I was really good position in Kalskag … this year I was right with the front pack so I just kind of used that loop as an opportunity to hold my position and sure the team was really strong for the push from Kalskag down to here.”

The trail conditions made it a good race from Bethel.

“Overall one of the best trails I’ve ever been on in the Kusko,” Kaiser said. “And weatherwise – a little bit warm here at the end but not too terrible… northern lights, clear skies, stars out – one of the most beautiful trails we ever mushed on.”

The Kuskokwim 300 sled dog race began on Friday, February 7^th, 2025 in Bethel. Seventeen mushers packed with Iditarod and mid-distance race experience raced in the event including past Kusko 300 champions Matthew Failor of Willow, AK (2019) and Jeff King of Denali, AK (1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2013).

Coming in second was 33 year old Riley Dyche of Big Lake, AK, he’s originally from Iowa. He finished at 2:15am, about 18 minutes behind Kaiser. He also finished with 9 dogs. He has 35 dogs in his Dark Horse Racing Kennel.

In third place was 47 year old Cody Strathe of Cantwell, AK. He shares a 39-dog kennel Squid Acres with past K300 racer Paige Drobny. He finished at 2:29am.

The top 4^th racer to finish was Akiak’s 39 year old Mike Williams Jr. He crossed the finish line at 2:41am with 7 dogs. He has 50 dogs in his Williams Racing Kennel.

Hunter Keefe, age 25 of Okemos, MI mushing a team from Redington’s Mush Alaska kennel, finished in 5^th place. He had a leg injury on his way to the Aniak but stayed in the race to round out the top 5 finishers.

Joining the race from Nenana, AK was 17-year old Emily Robinson of Nenana. She was the youngest musher and the only girl racer this year. She has 40 dogs in her Robinson Racing Kennel. She placed 6^th overall in her rookie run of the K300 finishing with 8 dogs.

Winning the Red Lantern Award is Ebbe Winstrup Pedereson of Alta, Norway and living in Takotna, AK. He mushed his Turning Heads Kennel team to a K300 finish in 17^th position crossing the windy finish line at 4:34pm on Sunday with 11 dogs in harness. A moose was crossing the river as he was finishing.

Keeping everyone updated with the race was KYUK Media with their hourly trail reports and online videos and interviews of the mushers. K300 race staff kept things moving smoothly for a successful race, all mushers finished with no scratches.

The mushers will be receiving their awards at the Mushers Banquet and Awards ceremony on Monday, February 10^th, 2025.

Kuskokwim 300 Race Results

February 7-9, 2025

1 Pete Kaiser, 1d 12h 59m

2 Riley Dyche, 1d 13h 18m

3 Cody Strathe , 1d 13h 29m

4 Mike Williams Jr., 1d 13h 41m

5 Hunter Keefe, 1d 14h 17m

6 Emily Robinson, 1d 14h 30m

7 Lev Shvarts, 1d 14h 34m

8 Matthew Failor, 1d 15h 01m

9 Bailey Vitello, 1d 15h 07m