Kotzebue Musher John Baker Wins 2011 Iditarod

Even though the 48-year-old Kotzebue musher has 11 top-ten finishes, this is Baker’s first Iditarod win.

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By Colleen Kelly

Story Created: Mar 16, 2011 at 8:55 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 16, 2011 at 8:55 AM AKDT


John Baker has raced in every Iditarod for the past 15 years and on Tuesday he raced into Nome with a record-breaking time of eight days, 18 hours, 46 minutes and 39 seconds; the beating of drums and song welcomed Baker under the burled arch.


Baker is the first western Alaska resident to ever win the Last Great Race and only the second Alaska native musher to win the ditarod.


The musher’s record-breaking time ousted Martin Buser as the speediest musher to complete the race, in 2002, by three hours.


Ramey Smyth of Willow clocked in about an hour shy of Baker. Smyth crossed the finish line with his team at 10:50 a.m. while Nome musher Hans Gatt took third arriving in his hometown at 3:24 Tuesday afternoon.


Even though the 48-year-old Kotzebue musher has 11 top-ten finishes, this is Baker’s first Iditarod win.


Baker will receive over $50,000 in first place prize money and a brand new truck.


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