HUMAN

Name: JON VAN ZYLE
Age: 76
Residence: EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA
Occupation: ARTIST
Years involved with Iditarod: 46
Iditarod Role: OFFICIAL IDITAROD ARTIST, MEMBER OF IDITAROD HALL OF FAME, AND IDITAROD MUSHER
Current Location: EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA
Date of Photo: APRIL 23, 2019
Temperature: 65F / INDOORS

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

WHEN I RAN MY FIRST RACE IN 1976, I CAME BACK WITH A LOT OF MEMORIES AND WANTED TO HELP PROMOTE IDITAROD. AT THAT TIME NOBODY KNEW ABOUT IT, AND I THOUGHT THAT BY TAKING SOME OF MY ART. EXPOSING IT NATIONALLY, THEN THAT WOULD HELP RAISE MONIES FOR THE CASH-POOR IDITAROD AT THAT TIME.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

PROBABLY WITH THE DOGS. AND I KNOW THAT MIGHT SOUND CORNY, BUT IT’S WHERE I WAS.

What do you know for sure?:

I KIND OF BELIEVE THAT WE’RE ALL PUT HERE FOR A REASON; AND CERTAINLY IN MY CASE IT’S MAYBE EXPOSING A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT ALASKA MEANS TO PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY JUST IDITAROD, BUT THE MYSTIQUE OF ALASKA ACROSS AMERICA AND EUROPE AND ET CETERA.