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Written by Dogsled.com
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Wednesday, 11 October 2006 |
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Willow, Alaska
Andy
Moderow, 18 years old. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, and is a lifelong Alaskan.
The Moderow family began mushing in 1989 when the Willis family (a local
mushing family and sled builders) introduced them to the sport. The Moderows
share the same love for the dogs and the sport. "Mushing has brought
my whole family close together over the years," said Andy. A member
of the Anchorage Alaska Sled Dog Racing Association and the Chugiak Dog
Mushers Association, Andy participated in junior sprint racing from 1997
through 2000 and ran the Jr. Iditarod four times.
He is a handler for Iditarod veteran Martin Buser and
training a mix of his family's dogs and some of Martin's, which he will
run in this year's Iditarod. Andy says, "Eight years ago I was Martin
Buser for Halloween and today I'm living at his kennel".
Andy will finish high school this year through the Atheneum
School, a small innovative school that teaches through original sources
as opposed to text books. He says without that school, he wouldn't be
able to run Iditarod during his senior year. Next year Andy plans to go
out of state for college. His plans aren't certain beyond college but
he says he will have "at least a few dogs with me wherever I go."
And, he says, "I will return to Alaska." Andy enjoys photography,
school and anything outdoors.
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