HUMAN

Name: Laura Beck

Age: 53

Residence: Wasilla, Alaska. I’m from Kodiak, Alaska.

Occupation: I am usually a choir teacher, but this year not working.

Years involved with the Iditarod: This is my first year.

Iditarod Roles: I have been quickly learning a lot of positions. I’m on comms and our normal comms person that was the lead comms, had an emergency. So we are loving this very Alaska experience doing this, just jumping right in and figuring it out as we go so.

Current Location: Shaktoolik, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 13, 2022

Temperature: 68F Indoors/ 6F Outdoors & 20-30 MPH winds

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

I got involved with Iditarod this year. We just moved to Alaska or to Wasilla, and I live about three minutes from headquarters. So I pass it literally every day. And this is kind of tied into my why. I’ve always been fascinated with sled dogs. I love dogs and just Alaska culture. I’m a teacher. So I’m really interested in the traditions and history of Alaska. And this is just an amazing, beautiful tradition that I feel is important to keep going. So that’s one of the reasons I wanted to volunteer and help out.

What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod, because I feel it’s a really important part of Alaskan culture and tradition and history is a really fascinating beginning. I live down the road from the founder, where the founder lives. So everything about it is just typical Alaskan. And then I feel it’s a very worthwhile thing to keep going. So I wanted to support it.

Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences.

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was arriving at our checkpoint, just one vet and me, the comms person, again, the rookie comms person and needing to go outside and help with not needing to, but getting to go outside and help with Dallas Seavey’s team dog, handling. It was pretty amazing.

What in life do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is that you have to keep learning. You have to keep growing, you have to keep trying new experiences and I’m going to cry. This is already one day has been an amazing experience to learn from. I’ve already learned so much about myself. Things that are great and things that are uncomfortable, but it’s great. And the people are amazing. Relationships are the most important thing. Okay. That’s my summary. What I know for sure in life is that relationships are the most important thing.