Movie Facts
Speed and Distance
Dogs and Ratios
Time Math
Movie Favorite Parts
100

What is the total race distance?

Approx. 522 miles

100

60 Miles in 10 hours is how many miles per hour?

60 miles in 10 hours would be 6 mph

100

Will started with 8 dogs. 6 remain. What is the ratio of dogs that remain to dogs he started with?

The ratio is:  6 to 8    6:8   6/8   or 

3:4 would be a simplified answer. 

100

For every 8 hours traveled in one day the dogs were given 2 hours rest of their team leads. How many hours were the dogs hooked up to their team in 20 hours?

In 20 hours the dogs were hooked up to their team for 16 hours with 4 hours to rest. (The other 4 hours in the day, they were eating and sleeping.)

100

Real Dog Sledder Stuntman: David Bedford, owner of Black Ice Dog Sledding Equipment, did the actual dog sledding for the film's character, Borg Guillarson, throughout the movie, according to Hollywood.

Who was Borg Guillarson in the movie?


The villain. He is the main antagonist and a brutal Swedish competitor in the 1994 film Iron Will. He is an egotistical champion who accepts a bribe to sabotage Will Stoneman during the 522-mile cross-country dog sled race.

200

How many dogs did Will Start with at the beginning of the race?

Will started with 8 dogs.

200

100 miles in 20 hours = how fast was he traveling?

Will was traveling 5 mph

200

What is the ratio of dogs to mushers on each sled.

8 to 1 or 8:1. 

200

8 + 2 + 6 hours would be how many hours total?

Easy one!  16 hours!

200

Filming Locations: Although set between Winnipeg and St. Paul, the movie was largely filmed around Duluth, Minnesota, and the Lake Superior shoreline. Mountains scenes were filmed in Montana. 

Question: Which historic Duluth building was used to represent the Winnipeg starting line in Iron Will? 

A town hall, a park or a church?

It was a town hall setting.  It was actually filmed in a school but used as a town hall. 

300

Who was Will's main competitor?

Ned Dodd

300

If Will travels 6 mph for 5 hours, how far would he travel?

At 6 mph for 5 hours he would travel 30 miles.

300

If 2 dogs are lost from 8 what fraction remain?

6/8 or 3/4 

300

If he travels 4 hours at 6 mph, what was Will's distance?  

His distance was 24 miles.

300

The "Secret" Fuel: Will stays ahead of the competition by eating his mother’s special, high-energy fruitcake, avoiding the need to stop and cook meals. Did this help him or hurt him?

It helped make his travels easier so he didn't have to stop to heat food and eat. 

400

Name one major weather challenge that happened during the race. 

Blizzard / extreme cold

400

If 50 miles remain at 5 mph, how much time is needed?

10 hours is needed to go 50 miles at 5 mph.

400

If each dog pulls an equal amount of weight, what fraction does 1 dog represent out of 8? 

Each dog pulls 1/8 of the weight.

400

If a check point is every 100 miles, how many checkpoints in 500 miles?

There would be 5 checkpoints.

400

Loosely Based on Truth: While inspired by the 1917 Red River-St. Paul Sports Carnival Derby, the real winner was Albert Campbell but Will was the hero in the movie. Do you think having a boy win was a good idea? Why?

Yes, the acting was well done and it was a movie favorite in the 1990's. 

500

Did Will finish with all his dogs? 

No, did not finish with all his dogs. 

500

Will traveled 522 miles over 87 hours. What was his the average speed?

Will's average speed  was 6 mph. 5522 divided by 87.

500
If 6 dogs pull the sled and effort is equal, what fraction of total effort is LOST from 8 dogs. 

2/8 is lost or  1/4th is lost if you simplify.

500

If Will completes 400 miles in 80 hours, what is his speed? 

Will's speed would be 5 mph.   400 divided by 80.

500

In the 1994 Disney film Iron Will, the lead dog "Gus" is a fictionalized representation based on real-life sled dogs.

The lead dog Gus was portrayed primarily by an all-white Siberian Husky named Beau, whose grandfather also played a lead role in the film as another team's lead dog. The canine actors, including Beau, were provided by a NH dog trainer and brought to Minnesota  to work on the movie with approximately 80 other sled dogs.