HUMAN

Name: Susan Shinkai
Age: 61
Residence: Sonora, California
Occupation: Pharmacist at a hospital.
Years involved with Iditarod: 17 years. 
Iditarod Role: I’m an IditarRider for the first time.
Current Location: Downtown, Anchorage, Alaska. 
Date of Photo: March 7, 2020
Temperature: 14F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod because I just loved the idea of dog sledding as a sport, how there had to be such a tight relationship between the musher and the dogs, but specifically at the time, you know, all the information about Susan Butcher being champion multiple times, I found that very intriguing. And then the Iditarod – it was starting on my 40th birthday, my first Iditarod, so I decided I wanted to come up to Alaska for that.

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

I’m here today because I’m actually a IditarRider, but that’s after many years of being a volunteer. Usually I’m at the end in Nome where I work in the dog lot, so it’s actually being around the dogs and seeing – again, seeing the relationship between the dogs and the mushers and also just the thrill of actually being on the sled. All that’s kept me coming back year after year because it always changes. I see the evolution of the sport and the dogs and the musher attitudes as well.

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

One of the most memorable Iditarod experiences was when I was working in the dog lot and Lance Mackey was there, champion Lance Mackey, and he was walking by one of the dogs that used to belong to him – that he sold to another musher – was in the lot as well. And he walked by; the dog immediately got up and just jumped on him. And he recognized the dog instantly and they started hugging and kissing and he was just telling Thug, “man, I love you so much. I’m sorry we had to sell ya”. Again, it just showed me the bond between the mushers and the dogs.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that people are basically good and you got to give them a chance. Sometimes you got to encourage them, but if you give people the chance, they’ll do the right thing.