HUMAN

Name: Rita Santos

Age: 39

Residence: Sweden

Occupation: Veterinarian

Years involved with the Iditarod: 1

Iditarod Roles: Veterinarian

Current Location: Unalakleet, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 13, 2022

Temperature: 68F Indoors/ 8F Outdoors

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

I got involved with Iditarod a little bit every year after I started with the sled dog races in 2016. But the idea of getting really involved with Iditarod was last year 2021, when I followed the whole race at home because of COVID restrictions. I had the time to get home and follow the whole race, and then it came up the idea, okay, let’s go to Iditarod.

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

I am here today and involved with Iditarod because I guess, it’s a must do race once you get involved in sled dog races. I guess it had to be done and that’s why I’m here. 

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experience was to get the contact with the local people, and also the landscape that is quite unique. That is really awesome.

What in life do you know for sure?

 What I know for sure in life is once you get involved with sled dogs and you like it, it’s very hard to stop it. You just continue coming every year to the races and you stop race season, and you start immediately thinking about the next one.