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NAME: MARTIN BUSER
AGE: 50
HOMETOWN: Big Lake, Alaska
WIFE: Kathy
CHILDREN: Nikolai, 19, and Rohn, 18; both named after Iditarod checkpoints
OCCUPATION: Family owns and manages Happy Trails Kennel
Born in Winterhur, Switzerland, Martin Buser became fascinated with sled dogs while still a teen. He came to Alaska in 1979 to enhance his knowledge of the care and training of sled dogs. He began working and training with long-time Alaskan mushers Earl and Natalie Norris and ran his first Iditarod in 1980. Buser spends a large percentage of his personal time speaking with youth on the humanitarian care of animals and the spirit of the Iditarod.
For his 25th Iditarod, Buser chooses to run the race with his son, Rohn. He revels in the chance to display his intimate knowledge of the course, share his vast experience and give real-time advice to his new race partner.
Buser says, "I run the Iditarod to prove that my dogs, bred, trained and raced by Happy Trails Kennels, are the best amongst the world's long-distance athletes." Buser's 2002 team currently holds the record for the fastest Iditarod, by completing the race in 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds. As tribute to his treatment of his racers, Buser was awarded the coveted Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award in 1988, 1993, 1995 and 1997 for taking the best care of his dogs on the trail.
Following Buser's 2002 Iditarod victory, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen under the burled monument. Four days before the 2005 Iditarod, Buser was involved in a woodworking accident that resulted in the amputation of a part of his finger. However, he still chose to participate and upon completion of that race, his fellow mushers awarded him both the Sportsmanship and Most Inspirational awards. Buser is a member of the Rotary and Explorer's clubs. His hobbies include carpentry and woodturning. In the summer, Buser and his family give tours of their working kennel.
All the mushers from the series:
