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Iditarod Champion Pete Ripmaster
Written By: Jason Kimenker | Issue: 2019/07 - July
Friends of Panthertown is hosting Iditarod Trail Invitational Champion Pete Ripmaster on Saturday, July 20, at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.
Pete Ripmaster is a high-adventure competitive long-distance ultra-runner, adventurer, and inspirational speaker with great stories to tell. He is the winner of the 2018 Iditarod Trail Invitational – 1,000 miles by foot. Pete has also completed 50 marathons in 50 states.
“You’ve probably heard of the Iditarod before, and you might think it’s bizarre to be pulled by a bunch of dogs in sub-zero temperatures in the Alaskan wilderness,” says The MountainMeister Podcast. “But that’s not the Iditarod that Pete won. He did the same course – 1,000 miles and 50 degrees below zero – in the form of an ultra-marathon. With no dogs to help him along the way, Pete’s feet carried him an average of 38 miles a day over 26 days.”
Henry David Thoreau wrote, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”
Pete Ripmaster would be quick to tell you that for the music he hears, “far away” would be an understatement. He was an athlete from day one, but didn’t find his true passion until later in life when he was first invited to run one of the toughest endurance races on the planet, the Iditarod Trail Invitational. This human-powered race – without dogs – is a 1,000 mile ultra marathon on the Iditarod Trail in Alaska.
Pete has a colorful and inspiring story to share. He speaks from the heart, encouraging others to chase their passions through determination and grit. He will talk about setting and achieving audacious goals.
When you hear Pete Ripmaster speak, you will leave inspired to hear your own drummer. Take a walk on the wild side: make plans to hear Pete speak this month in Sapphire.
Proceeds from this event will benefit conservation work in Panthertown Valley.
Tickets cost $10 in advance. $15 at the door. For more info, visit panthertown.org/tickets/ or contact [email protected] or stop by the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce.
