This year we traveled to Nome.  We had the opportunity to see most of the sleds under the burled arch at the finish of the race.  In past years, we went to great effort to examine the sleds we built after the race. It was exciting and important for us as ‘equipment junkies’ to examine our equipment, as we are always looking to make improvements.   We couldn't have picked a better time to make this trip, because this years trail was absolutely brutal on equipment. While in Nome, we meticulously looked over the sleds, searching for components and hardware that might show signs of fatigue or failure. We saw the sleds that we built for this year’s race (all Nitro2’s) , along with many sleds that had been built in previous years for the Iditarod (some Nitro2’s, Nitro’s  and Easy Riders) , some of which have been on that trail three and four times.  There were also a few surprises, such as sleds that were never sold as Iditarod sleds, but ended up on that trail as a result of being resold or on loan. We were pleased to find the sleds we built to be in remarkably good condition. The sleds and their components are exceeding the “Iditarod” test. Hearing the racers’ accounts of the Iditarod, this year compared to years passed, was an exciting experience.  The mushers that drove Prairie Bilt Sleds offered positive and beneficial feedback.  They expressed how extremely appreciative they were to have such well-performing and reliable equipment. It was truly rewarding and fun to see that our hard work and effort paid off.