2008 Iditarod Musher Profile

Lance Mackey, 36, was born and raised in Alaska. The 2007 Iditarod champion and three time Yukon Quest champion (and current record holder) says he began mushing "at birth." "I grew up around racing and the Iditarod. I was at the finish line in 1978 to see my father, Dick Mackey, win by one second. In 1983, my older brother, Rick, won. Both my father and brother won wearing bib #13 in their sixth Iditarod." Last year was Lance's sixth Iditarod and he won wearing bib #13, just as he had planned. He says, "I like old stuff, my wife calls junk." He and Tonya are the parents of Amanda, 19, Brittney, 17, Alanah, 16 and Cain, 15.