Last year, Jan Francke successfully completed the epic race in Alaska, finishing in 2nd place. For the first time in the event’s history, multiple skiers managed to finish the course within the time limit. Let’s talk to last year’s silver medalist about this extreme race.

Jan Francke, nicknamed “Venca,” took on the grueling Iditarod Trail Invitational, skiing through the brutally beautiful Alaskan winter from southeast to northwest, covering 1.000 miles (about 1.600 km)—assuming you don’t get lost and have to backtrack. Temperatures drop to -40°C or lower, and skis aren’t exactly the fastest way to tackle the terrain. The race follows the legendary Iditarod sled dog race route, which has been held since 1973. Instead of sled dogs, competitors choose between fat bikes, foot racing, or cross-country skiing.

In the nearly 25-year history of the 1.000-mile race, last year marked the first time five skiers completed it within the 30-day limit. Venca finished just a day behind the winning Dane, Asbjørn Bruun, who covered the distance in 24 days. Why was last year a breakthrough? Venca couldn’t quite explain it, especially since he felt the conditions were much harsher than three years ago when he first attempted the route and failed. After that unsuccessful attempt, he promised his wife he’d never return to the Iditarod—but thanks to the power of selective memory, he found himself at the start line again just two years later.

How did you prepare for the race? Did you train a lot on skis?

“Fitness is obviously a big plus, but in races like this, especially in Alaska, it’s not the most important factor. The key is mental toughness. We spent our youth on skis, but there were competitors who had barely skied before. Twice, national-level U.S. cross-country skiers entered, and they both dropped out early. In reality, a stubborn amateur with incredible determination is more likely to finish. You have to take care of yourself completely—no one else is there to help you. Physical fitness is an advantage, but having a strong mind is essential.”

What were the conditions like in Alaska?

“At the start, it was freezing—nearly two weeks of -40°C or lower. The snow was brutally dry and frozen, making it incredibly slow. In some areas, I realized I was actually faster walking than skiing.”

So, were skis actually a disadvantage?

“Walking the course is mentally exhausting because every step is an effort. On skis, you can glide a little, and mild downhill slopes are manageable. But steep climbs and descents are tough. I crashed multiple times on downhills because, in the whiteout, you can’t see more than two meters ahead—you never know when a turn is coming. I ended up in deep snow several times and once broke a pole and the tip of a spare ski I had strapped to my sled.”

I was surprised that fat-bike cyclists were so much faster. The winning cyclist finished in 16 days—eight days ahead of the fastest skier…

“If there isn’t heavy snowfall and cyclists don’t have to push their bikes too much, they can maintain a much higher speed. Unlike skiers or runners, they don’t have to pull sleds—just carry saddlebags.”

“In the first half, where the big hills and extreme cold were, I moved slower, covering about 65–80 km per day—basically skiing 16 to 18 hours at 5–6 km/h. Sometimes I pushed until 3 a.m. if I knew I could reach a cabin and avoid pitching a tent. In the second half, the weather was warmer, and the snow was faster, so my pace improved. But the closer I got to the finish, the tougher the conditions became—especially crossing the frozen sea.”

Choosing the right skis must be crucial for such an extreme race. What did you use?

“For most of the race, especially on the frozen powder, I used backcountry skis with skins and steel edges—stiff enough for tough descents and uneven terrain, so they were durable. I also brought skate skis, hoping to use them on the frozen Yukon River, which runs for about 200km. Classic skiing there is monotonous and tedious, so I looked forward to skating. But, of course, when you plan for something, the opposite happens. The Yukon was snowed over, and the skate skis were useless, sinking into the snow.”

So you carried the skate skis for nothing and then broke them?

“Not entirely. Any opportunity for faster movement was tempting, so I used them when conditions allowed. But I constantly had to reassess the terrain—walking up steep climbs, switching to backcountry skis on moderate sections, then back to skate skis on flats. Sometimes, I had to change skis ten times in an hour, which was exhausting. In hindsight, it might have been faster to stick with classic skis and avoid switching, but you can’t help yourself.”

“Luckily, when I broke my skate skis, the damage was in the upper section, and the base remained intact. I found a stick, straightened the tip, wrapped it with silver duct tape, and could still use them. I didn’t have to tape the base, which was lucky—otherwise, the friction would have been terrible. I used the skate skis mainly on the frozen sea, where they glided well in some spots, and occasionally on the refrozen snow for classic skiing. I’d bring them again next time, just for the variation in movement.”

Did you modify your skis in any special way?

“My backcountry skis had a custom glide base with fine structure for cold conditions and 100% mohair skins. I originally considered using standard skis for their lighter weight, but I was glad I went with the steel-edged ones. They were crucial on ice and withstood all the rough terrain and falls. My skate skis were shorter race models, so they worked reasonably well even in the narrow snowmobile track.”

You skied nearly 1.600 km. Did you use glide wax, or was that impractical?

“On frozen powder, the ski base takes a beating, but waxing only made sense in warm conditions. If I stayed in villages or school gymnasiums, I could wax my skis. But half the time, I slept in cabins, where firewood wasn’t always available. And in a tent? Forget it.”

“Later in the race, when it warmed up and even rained at times, snow stuck to my skins despite using mohair spray. Even my skate skis collected snow, so I ended up skiing classic technique on them.”

You spent eight years on the national off-road triathlon team, racing mainly in summer on shorter distances. Why switch to extreme winter challenges?

“Winter races appeal to me most because of our seasonal work. We run a campground, bistro, and café at Mácháč, so we can’t leave in the summer. And I just prefer winter—I’d rather be in a polar landscape than a desert.”

“Honestly, maybe 70% of this race was a miserable experience. You suffer out there. But when you push through a tough moment, you get this euphoria and satisfaction from overcoming pain and exhaustion. You have to focus only on the present moment—not what still lies ahead. Physically and mentally, you hit rock bottom.”

“At the finish line, no one is waiting for you. Completing the race earns you only a finisher’s T-shirt, which Jan calls the most expensive and valuable one he’s ever owned.”

Follow this year’s race here.

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