Mush, Mush, You Virtual Huskies!

02-29-2008

 

 

Second Life Avatars Will Sled Dog Race During Iditarod

 

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Feb. 27, 2008 – North to Second Life Alaska! This Saturday, coinciding with the start of the 36^th Annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race®, virtual-world avatars will feel neither bitter cold nor flakes of snow as they race their dog teams down Anchorage’s Fourth Avenue on the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s  (ACVB) Second Life Anchorage Island during Virturod beginning at 10 a.m., March 1, 2008.

“Virturod is just a mind-boggling way to bring Alaska’s state sport to the global online community,” says Nance Larsen, vice president of ACVB Communications & Marketing Programs. “When visitors come to Anchorage in real life, they can experience the thrill of dog sled rides on glaciers and on tours with Iditarod-winning mushers. Now, Second Life let’s them be the musher! This technology provides ACVB with a unique opportunity to let the growing community of virtual tourist experience the power of Alaska’s beauty and the exhilaration of the toughest sled dog race on the planet.”

Created in 1999 by Phillip Rosedale, the shared experience known as Second Life has grown to a community of almost 13 million international “residents.” Working with social media entrepreneurs, Virtual World Builders, ACVB constructed a Second Life island that consists of the Chugach Mountains, Ship Creek, 4^th Avenue and ACVB’s corporate headquarters and Log Cabin Visitor Information Center. 

“As far as we know, this is the first sled-dog racing event in virtual history,” says Larsen. “By visiting the Anchorage Island in Second Life, virtual visitors will be able to get a small taste of the larger-than-life experiences Anchorage, Alaska, has to offer.”

How Virturod Works

Virturod will allow Second Life avatars to purchase and race a team of sled dogs through the Anchorage Island and win Big Wild Life™ real world and virtual world prize packages from ACVB.

The sled dog race will start at 10 a.m. AST – the exact time of the real-world Ceremonial Start of the 36^th Annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race on Anchorage’s Fourth Avenue, and will continue through 2 p.m. AST. There are two events: a mountain obstacle course and a mountain sprint race. The events are timed with a leader board posted on the site.  The best time in both events will receive prize packages from ACVB for themselves and their avatars.

Second Life residents can register now to race in Virturod.  Registration is three dollars (U.S.) and is open to all Second Life residents.  Virturod registration includes a sled dog team and reserved race slot. Second Life users will be able to name their lead dog and their team, as well as choose the color of their sled.  Additional purchases of fishing rods for use in Ship Creek for virtual, world-class salmon fishing, Anchorage: Big Wild Life™ avatar gear, and Alaska artwork will be available in the virtual ACVB Visitor Information Log Cabin. Anchorage’s spokes-moose, Seymour, will be on hand to answer questions and assist Anchorage Island visitors during the competition.

Averaging roughly $1.5 million (U.S.) in sales daily, Second Life provides companies with low-cost, high-impact interactive promotional and market development opportunities. The top 11 Second Life resident country-of-origin include members form Germany, Japan and Australia who are among the top international visitors to Anchorage. Corporate and institutional organizations from IBM and Sony, to Harvard and the American Society, have established sales and educational offices in Second Life.

About the “Real-World” Race - 36^th Annual Iditarod Championship Sled Dog Race

It can’t be compared to any other event in the world! A race more than 1,100 miles through the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. Jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast challenge more than 96 sled dog teams as they vie to be first through the burled arch in Nome, Alaska. Danger lurks around every corner with temperatures plummeting far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of river overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous mountain pass climbs. The Iditarod is truly a race extraordinaire, possible only in Alaska.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic and Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.

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