Sydnie Bahl, 36, completed her rookie run of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 2026. Born and raised in Minot, ND, Sydnie now lives in Wasilla with her husband, Nick Bahl, where they care for and train a kennel of 30 sled dogs.

After moving to Alaska, Sydnie became fascinated with the sport of dog mushing through connections within the Iditarod community. What began as handling dogs quickly turned into a passion for the lifestyle, the canine athletes, and eventually the dream of completing the Iditarod herself. Along the way, she competed in key qualifying races including the Goose Bay 150, Copper Basin 300, and Yukon Quest Alaska 300.

Sydnie credits mentors including Vern Halter, Dr. Susan Whiton, and Cindy Abbott for helping guide her mushing journey. She loves the sport for the deep bond it creates with the dogs, the challenge of traveling across Alaska’s remote wilderness, and the camaraderie shared among fellow mushers.

When not training or racing dogs, Sydnie enjoys skiing, hiking, mountain biking, traveling, and spending time at the lake with family and friends.