HUMAN

Name: Rob Urbach

Age: 58
Residence: In the 49th State of Alaska

Occupation: CEO of the Iditarod
Years involved with Iditarod: 1.5 

Iditarod Role: CEO
Current Location: Wasilla, AK
Date of Photo: January 16, 2021
Temperature: 68F/INDOORS

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

I BECAME FIRST INVOLVED IN THE IDITAROD WHEN I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE SELECTED AS THE CEO IN JULY 2019, AND VERY MUCH BEEN HONORED TO LEAD THE COMMUNITY OF MUSHERS, PARTNERS, SPONSORS, VETERINARIANS, VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYBODY THAT MAKES THE IDITAROD THE LAST GREAT RACE.

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

I’M INVOLVED WITH IDITAROD TODAY TO ENABLE THE PASSIONS, THE PASSIONS OF THE MUSHERS, THE PASSIONS OF THE DOGS, THE PASSIONS OF EVERYBODY THAT ENABLES LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES AND THE INDOMITABLE ALASKAN SPIRIT OF WHAT IT TAKES TO GET FROM ANCHORAGE TO NOME, 1000 MILES, OFF-THE GRID-WILDERNESS, THAT IS REALLY LIFE-AFFIRMING IN MANY WAYS. OUR MUSHERS ARE PART MAGELLAN’S, TENACIOUS ADVENTURERS, PART METEOROLOGIST, SLEEP DEPRIVATION NINJAS, AND REALLY EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURERS AND BAD HOMBRES.

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

MY MOST MEMORABLE IDITAROD EXPERIENCE WAS IN NOME LAST YEAR. THREE MUSHERS, UNFORTUNATELY, GOT CAUGHT OUT IN STORMS, THAT HAD TO BE RESCUED BY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS. AT THE HOSPITAL, WHEN I VISIT OUR MUSHERS, WHO ARE ALL OKAY, ONE OF WHICH SOMEHOW ON THE TRANSFER DIDN’T HAVE ANY CLOTHES, SO I HAD TO GIVE UP MY CLOTHES SO THIS MUSHER COULD LEAVE THE HOSPITAL. 

What do you know for sure?:

WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE IN LIFE, FOR SURE, IS PROBABLY MY LOVE FOR MY DAUGHTERS AND MY LOVE AND PASSION FOR ENABLING EVERYBODY TO ACHIEVE THE MOST OF THEIR POTENTIAL, FROM THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE IDITAROD.