HUMAN

Name: BRUCE MALARD
Age: 58
Residence: STERLING, ALASKA
Occupation: CURRENTLY RETIRED. I WAS IN THE PRUDHOE BAY OIL FIELDS FOR 25 YEARS, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS ENOUGH.
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS WILL BE 13.
Iditarod Role: I’M A TRAILS PERSON. I’VE BEEN THROUGH COMMS, I’VE DONE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT LEADS UP TO THE RACE AS WELL AS AT THE END OF THE RACE, TOO. SO I’VE DONE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.
Current Location: LAKEFRONT ANCHORAGE HOTEL – ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 28, 2019
Temperature: 65F / INDOORS

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

JUST THE FUN. THE MEETING, THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SEEING ALL THE OLD FRIENDS. TODAY I’VE JUST COME BACK TO HELP OUT WHERE I CAN.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

THERE’S BEEN SO MANY OF THEM OVER THE YEARS THAT IT’S HARD TO PICK JUST ONE. BUT I MEAN FROM SLEEPING UNDER A TREE IN THE DALZELL GORGE BECAUSE WE HAD TO BUILD A BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER IN THE MORNING, TO BEING IN NULATO ON THAT FATEFUL EVENING WHEN JEFF AND ALIY RAN INTO PROBLEMS, TO HAVING STEAKS DELIVERED TO US OUT AT THE SAFETY ROADHOUSE DURING A RACE. SO THERE’S BEEN JUST SO MANY, SO MANY, MOMENTS THAT I CAN’T JUST PICK JUST ONE.

What do you know for sure?:

I KNOW THAT I’M HAVING AS MUCH FUN AS I CAN. AND BEING PART OF THE IDITAROD IS PART OF THAT “HAVING FUN” I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF THINGS, MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE VILLAGES AS WELL AS ALL THE VOLUNTEERS. AND I DO MY BEST TO HAVE FUN. AND HOPEFULLY, EVERYBODY ELSE DOES THE SAME.