HUMAN
Name: Isaac Teaford
Age: 30
Residence: Talkeetna, Alaska
Occupation: I train sled dogs at Dallas Seavey’s sled dog racing kennel.
Years involved with Iditarod: For the last four years now.
Iditarod Role: Currently, my role is, I’m handling, so I’m handling for Kelly Maixner this year, helping him out, training dogs and doing that stuff.
Current Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Date of Photo: March 4, 2023
Temperature: -2 degrees
What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?
I got involved with the Iditarod about four years ago, and it actually started as a way me looking for winter work and I was friends with Dallas’s brother Conway Seavey, and he was able to get me a job working in Talkeetna with Dallas. And that was four years ago. And ever since then, a lot’s changed.
What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?
I’m here today and involved with the Iditarod because I’m absolutely fascinated by Alaskan history as well as just the wild spaces that Alaska has that I’ve been able to and blessed to explore. And doing it by dog team is the absolute best way in my opinion. And I’ve had some pretty incredible relationships that have come out of this whole experience of working with with dogs and with humans, and it’s just been a really special experience for me.
Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences:
One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was, I’d have to say, last year, my first time in Nome, being there for the finish and seeing the dogs come in and a lot of the dogs that were racing were dogs that I had had the opportunity to raise from birth and train and work with and that was a very, very emotional experience for me. I was just super proud to see them cross the finish line and do well and be able to be there for them at the finish line. That was huge for me.
What in life do you know for sure?
Whales poop in the ocean.