Ed Iten

Born in Alaska and raised in Minnesota, Ed Iten's childhood dream was to return to Alaska. After graduating from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, Ed lived on the upper Kobuk River with Inupiaq Joseph Harvey. It was a sparse but rewarding time learning the ways of survival in the arctic.

It was during a trip to Kotzebue for work that a friend talked Ed into running his team in the Kobuk 220 sled dog race. In 1986 Ed's rookie team finished minutes behind the "Shishmaref Cannonball" and Iditarod champion Herbie Nayukpuk. From then on the two racers shared a special relationship and "I was hooked," Ed says.

Since his first race in 1986, Ed has gone on to win the Kobuk 440 seven times and the Kuskokwim 300 in 2004. Over the years, Ed and his wife Ruth established their own kennel and now operate one of the most seasoned and successful bush kennels in Alaska. And when we say bush, we mean it.

No roads lead to their kennel, they travel winter trails by dog team and cross the lake in the summer by boat. From their home, they work on breeding and training a team that has what it takes to become Iditarod Champions.

The entire Iten family works together to keep the kennel healthy and ready for race season. To support this lifestyle, Ed spends his summers working as a carpenter in Kotzebue and the villages in the region. His winters are spent breaking trails and training the dogs in the Squirrel River Valley near the family homestead.

Visit his website at: www.editen.com