A Champion Wins Alaska’s Toughest Dog Sled Race By Communing with Nature and His Furry Companions

Racing across 1,000 miles of Alaska wilderness in a dogsled requires Brent Sass to train his dogs and his mind to be relentlessly determined

Sass and his team at the 2022 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Courtesy of Brent Sass

Attitude is everything for Brent Sass, winner of the 2022 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Always a challenging event, it was particularly harrowing this year.

Sass said he went through what he describes as “mental warfare” to bring his team across the finish line first in 2022, triumphing despite being blown off-course by a mammoth blizzard on the last leg. He credits his passion for the sport, a close relationship with his dogs, leadership skills, and an unwavering positive attitude—but most of all, he credits his dogs with keeping him honest.