HUMAN

Name: MATS PETTERSSON
Age: 48
Residence: KIRUNA, SWEDEN
Occupation: DOG MUSHER/SLED DOG TOURS
Years involved with Iditarod: 6
Iditarod Role: MUSHER
Current Location: NOME, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 14, 2019
Temperature: 65F / INDOORS

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:

GOOD QUESTION. NO, I LIKE THE WAY IT IS SET UP. I LIKE THE WAY THAT YOU ARE ALONE WITH THE DOGS. I LIKE THOSE TYPE OF RACES THAT THERE’S NO ASSISTANCE. IT’S ONLY YOU AND THE DOGS. THAT’S WHY I KEEP COMING HERE.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

EVERY TIME THOSE QUESTIONS COME UP, IT MUST BE ‘14. THAT WAS MY ROOKIE YEAR. AND IT WAS A CRAZY YEAR. 2014 WITH NO SNOW IN THE DALZELL GORGE AND ROHN SECTION, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A BIT OF A HORRIBLE MEMORY, BUT IT’S A MEMORY THAT’S REALLY STRONG FOR ME: LIKE IT WAS NO SNOW AND REALLY TOUGH CONDITIONS THAT YEAR. IT WAS MY ROOKIE YEAR.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION. I KNOW FOR SURE I LOVE MY FAMILY AT HOME AND I MISS THEM. THAT I KNOW NOW REALLY STRONG NOW WHEN I’M HERE.