WILLOW, Alaska — Matthew Failor seriously considered not racing in the 2025 Idiatrod Sled Dog Race across Alaska. In fact, the 42-year-old Mansfield St. Peter’s graduate didn’t make it official until the last minute, officially entering the “The Last Great Race” on Dec. 2, the final day for admissions. That means Failor will launch his […]
Iditarod
Posted inNews
He’s back! Mansfield native Matthew Failor to launch 14th Iditarod in Alaska
WILLOW, ALASKA — Matthew Failor is headed back across Alaska in 2025. The Mansfield native will launch his 14th Iditarod effort when what’s been dubbed “The Last Great American Race” begins its 53rd campaign with a ceremonial start in Anchorage on March 1. The 42-year-old Failor made it official on Monday when he entered the […]
Posted inOutdoor
Matthew Failor honored as best sportsman from 2024 Iditarod race across Alaska
NOME, Alaska — Matthew Failor was in perfect position for another Top 10 finish in the famed Iditarod sled dog race across Alaska. But the 42-year-old Mansfield native was also in perfect position to help a disconsolate young musher, who saw one of his dogs die about 650 miles into the nearly 1,000-mile race from […]
Posted inOutdoor
Mansfield native off and mushing in 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska
ON THE IDITAROD TRAIL, Alaska — Mansfield native Matthew Failor is off and mushing in the 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. After the traditional ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday, the 38 mushers in the field of “The Last Great Race” left from nearby Willow on Sunday afternoon, launching a journey of nearly 1,000 miles […]
Posted inOutdoor
Ready, set mush: Mansfield native has big hopes for 2024 Iditarod race
WILLOW, ALASKA — Matthew Failor has a lot more responsibilities these days than when he mushed in his first Iditarod Sled Dog Race more than a decade ago. — Husband to Liz, whom he married in 2020. — Father to Theo, born just eight months ago. — Business owner of Alaskan Husky Adventures, which provides […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Racing to the past: Iditarod sled dog success allows Mansfield native to salute Alaskan culture
WILLOW, Alaska — Matthew Failor fell in love with native Alaskan culture during a summer internship at the Mendenhall Glacier nearly two decades ago. That love affair has continued to grow — now shared by his wife of almost three years, their soon-to-be-born first child … and 50 Alaskan Huskies. The Mansfield native recently completed his 12th Iditarod Sled Dog Race, […]