Native Alaskan Kaiser captures Iditarod title

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

A young Pete Kaiser had the drive to learn about racing sled dogs and the family and community to support his passion. Years later, he won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

On Wednesday, the 31-year-old native Alaskan captured the crowning glory in the sport, the Iditarod, a grueling test against the wildest terrain Alaska has to offer. Kaiser crossed the finish line in the Gold Rush town of Nome after beating back a challenge from the defending champion, Joar Ulsom of Norway.

Ulsom finished the race just 12 minutes after Kaiser, who took 9 days, 12 hours, 39 minutes and 6 seconds to complete the 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) journey over two mountain ranges, along the frozen Yukon River and across the treacherous, wind-swept Bering Sea coast.