Gerhardt Thiart is making history as the first South African to qualify and compete in the famous Iditarod dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome, in Alaska, US. The long-distance sled dog race is known to be tremendously challenging.
The ceremonial start to the race took place on 5 March in Anchorage. The race officially began on 6 March in Willow and finishes at Nome. It usually takes just over a week to be completed, and the first few participants are expected to finish in the early morning of 15 March.
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The race has been on the bucket list of Gerhardt and his wife, AJ, for more than 20 years, ever since they watched a DVD of the Iditarod. The snow is thick and the race is known to be one of the most difficult in the world.
Gerhardt and AJ have shared this dream with their friends, Natalie and Andre van der Merwe, since they met 22 years ago in South Africa.
Natalie told SA people news: ‘We were their mentors and got them started in this sport in South Africa, on dirt farm roads running on wheeled scooters and carts. We all had the same dream and emigrated to the USA within six months of each other. We settled in different states doing the identical job (working at a sled dog kennel) and became USA Permanent Residents within three months of each other. So our journey has been the same from the start. There can only be one musher, one team on the Iditarod trail but the musher and his team can only undertake this awesome adventure with the support of his wife, many sponsors, friends and family.’
CTC Dog Gear USA is a small company founded by the Van der Merwes. It is a corporate sponsor along with individual sponsorships that Natalie says ‘support [their] best friend in achieving his dream’.
In true South African style, Gerhardt snacked on some biltong before the start of the race. He wants the race to be a positive experience for the yearlings he has in his team as it is their first 1000-mile race. The distance that is travelled each day depends on the musher knowing his teams capabilities, as keeping the dogs healthy and safe should be the number one priority of any musher.
Gerhard and his 13 dogs were placed in position 37 as of 14 March, recorded at the Kaltag checkpoint.
According to Natalie, Gerhard has made sure that his South African heritage is shown by flying the country’s flag on his gold and yellow sled. He was a lieutenant in the South African Defence Force and has dedicated his race to US veterans to honour them and raise awareness of their needs.
‘Proud does not begin to explain how we feel watching our friend travel the Iditarod trail, making history as the first South African to ever do so,’ Natalie added.
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Picture: Screenshot from video
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