The 2011 Iditarod has a new leader: Sebastian Schnuelle was the first musher to arrive at the Grayling, reaching the small town (pop. 194) on the Yukon River mid-Friday morning local time with 14 dogs. Hans Gatt is the only other team who has joined him so far, with Hugh Neff and John Baker on their way from Anvik.
Iditarod 2011: Sebastian Schnuelle Passes Napping Martin Buser, Takes Lead
Martin Buser, the leader entering Friday, currently sits in seventh place, a victim of ... naps.
Buser said he kept nodding off during the 25-mile run from Shageluk to Anvik.
“He looked like a bobblehead,” Mackey told Kyle. Mackey said he shouted to Buser as he passed him, yelling at him to wake up.
The naps proved costly. While most made the run from Shageluk to Anvik in 2.5 to 3.5 hours, Buser needed four.
Mackey added, in typical Mackey fashion, that Buser’s shot at victory is “done.” Even though Mackey is down to just nine dogs, the four-time champ is forever play head games.
Schnuelle and Gatt appear to be taking their eight-hour layover in Grayling before continuing up the Yukon River to Eagle Island.
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