HUMAN

Name: ANDI MALARD
Age: 68
Residence: STERLING, ALASKA
Occupation: RETIRED
Years involved with Iditarod: EITHER 14 OR 15
Iditarod Role: RACE OPERATIONS COORDINATOR FOR THE RACE DIRECTOR
Current Location: LAKEFRONT HOTEL, ANCHORAGE
Date of Photo: MARCH 16, 2019
Temperature: 68F / INDOORS

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

WELL, I’M A TRANSPLANT ALASKAN. AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I FOUND OUT ABOUT, WHEN I MOVED TO ALASKA, WAS THE IDITAROD AND THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF IT, THE SERUM RUN AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO JUST SEE WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. AND ONCE I GOT INVOLVED IN IT, I REALIZED JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO THE STATE AND TO THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE IN VILLAGES. AND I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF MEMORABLE ONES.  I THINK THAT, LIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO GO ON THE TRAIL IN THE BEGINNING, THEIR FIRST TRIP TO A CHECKPOINT AND WORKING AT A CHECKPOINT ALWAYS STICKS WITH THEM. AND WE WERE AT SKWENTNA AND WE ONLY HAD – THERE WERE ONLY 3 OF US THEN, AND NOW THEY HAVE 4 PEOPLE THERE FOR COMMUNICATIONS. AND WE STOOD AT THE PLACE WHERE THEY GO OFF ON THE RIVER AND BACK INTO THE WOODS, AND WE JUST YELLED, “HAVE A GOOD RUN!” AND “WHAT’S YOUR BIB NUMBER?” AND THAT’S HOW WE GOT “OUT TIMES.” AND WE STOOD OUT THERE FOR 30 HOURS IN THE DARK AND JUST YELLED. AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. EVERYBODY WAS REALLY NICE. AND I THINK WE SCARED MOST OF THE PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS FUN.

What do you know for sure?:

IN LIFE I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING’S CHANGING; THAT EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT. AND IT’S THE SAME WITH THE IDITAROD. EVERYDAY I WAKE UP, AND NO MATTER WHAT I DID THE DAY BEFORE, IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THE NEXT DAY AND THE PRIORITIES WILL CHANGE. AND THE PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES WILL CHANGE. AND THE POINT IS THAT EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD TIME AND THAT WE ALL ENJOY THIS.