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Nome, Alaska

Aaron Burmeister, born in Nome, Alaska in 1975, has been mushing dogs since he was old enough to walk. His dream of racing the Iditarod began in 1979 when he was four, as he rode under the arch in his father's sled. He began his racing career in the one dog class in the Junior Nome Kennel Club races.

He grew, and so did the size of his team. Aaron raced the Jr. Iditarod four times. In 1994, he became the first high school student to complete the Iditarod. He ran the Iditarod again in 1996, while attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In the spring of 1998, Aaron graduated from UAF with a degree in Elementary Education.

During his years of college he stayed active in racing and spent time training with Bill Cotter, Ramy Brooks, Curtis and Shannon Erhart. During this time he was building his kennel with the goal to race the Iditarod competitively upon graduating from the University. Aaron says he races the Iditarod because he believes it is the greatest challenge in the world for a musher and his dogs. He enjoys the camaraderie of the other mushers along the trail and the time spent with his dogs in Alaska's wilderness.

His life has revolved around this world class event for the past 23 years thanks to the many volunteers that make it possible year after year. He presently works in seasonal construction and says he enjoys training dogs, hunting, fishing, camping and hiking. A member of the Nome Kennel Club, Aaron is single.

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