Jan's Historic Achievement

Jan Francke's successful journey to Nome on skis ended today after 25 days and 38 minutes. As only the second person to ever achieve this feat on skis in the ITI, the significance of Jan's achievement cannot be overstated. In the race's two-plus decades, countless athletes have faced the harsh and unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, but none had succeeded on skis until this year.

Jan's final push to the finish line, through a complete white-out blizzard, exemplifies the extreme conditions under which his remarkable feat was accomplished. No journey to Nome on the Iditarod Trail is easy, but this year was especially tough as relentless weather hammered away at every athlete.

Jan's triumph on skis is a profound testament to his skill, preparation, and willpower. The daunting final miles, conquered under such challenging conditions, underscore the enormity of his achievement in the context of the race's storied history.