Some are born into the sport with mushing in their blood. Others, like 52-year old Iditarod rookie Eric Kelly, come to the sport by chance. He met a Jamaican musher by the name of Newton Marshall in 2013 after moving from Arizona to Alaska.
, grandson of the “Father of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race” Joe Redington Sr., are born into the sport with mushing in their blood.
Originally from the Northeast, Kelly traveled extensively before settling in Prescott, Arizona. After vacationing to Alaska in 2007, Kelly was sold on the Last Frontier as he and his wife Laura packed up the family to the 49th State the following year. Though Kelly has less dog sledding experience than most of his mushing counterparts in the Iditarod, his passion for the sport is just as strong.
“We’re a little anxious, but in a good way. Just want to get out on the trail ... I’m actually feeling a little calmer than I thought I would, so that makes me a little nervous,” Kelly said with a laugh.
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