Dogsledding is a winter sport that is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the world. Dog sledding has been around for as long as people know, but only in the past century has it become considered a winter sport; the introduction of the Canadian Iditarod race has greatly increased this sport’s popularity.
The Alaskan sled dog Iditarod race originated in 1978; this race was created as a means to test the strength, speed and agility of sled dog musher’s and their dog teams. The Iditarod trail runs through Alaska and covers roughly 1,151 miles, taking anywhere from 8 to 15 days to complete. The race begins with a ceremonial start in the city of Anchorage, AK, and then officially resumes in Wasilla, AK. The trail follows through the Rainy Pass of the Alaska Range, proceeds along the Bering Sea shoreline, finally ending in the city of Nome in western Alaska. The current record holder for the Iditarod is Martin Buser, set in 2002, completing the race in 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes, and 2 seconds. There are many factors that contribute to the successful completion of the Iditarod route; the sled dogs and the type of sled are important factors in dog sledding.
The breeds of dogs commonly used for dog sledding are Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian huskies, Eskimo dogs and Samoyeds. Some musher’s prefer to crossbreed among these kinds of dogs because they believe certain mixes make for more efficient sledding. Some musher’s prefer the mix of greyhound with Siberian huskies; the speed of a greyhound-Siberian mix is certainly a desirable trait in a sled dog. Though there are preferred breeds, apparently almost any mid-sized dog breed is capable of being a part of a sled team.
There are many kinds of sleds used in dog sledding. The most common types are the toboggan sled and the basket sled. The toboggan sled is unlike other dog sleds because it does not have runners or skis on the bottom; the sled rides directly on top of the snow. The basket sled is raised several inches above the snow and rides on runners. The basket sled is also made of light material so that it is easily maneuverable and fast. Even though the style and make of the dog sled aides in speed and smooth travel, the dog teams are the ultimate means to the success of sledding.
These dog teams can consist of groups as few in number as 3, or they can contain up to 24 dogs on a single team. There are multiple functions of a dog sled team: there are lead dogs, point dog, swing dogs, and wheel dogs. The lead dog has the most responsibility of the group, and he or she is highly valued by the musher. The point dog position is optional, but when present, they are located behind the lead dog. The swing dogs are positioned behind the point dogs and in front of the team dogs. The wheel dogs are positioned behind the team dogs, and their main duty is to pull the sled out of the snow when needed. The dogs are held together by a harness connecting to the gang line that ultimately connects the dogs to the sled and the musher.
The Iditarod race is ultimately a test of a musher’s skill to drive and travel with a select team of sled dogs. These dogs are chosen for their ability to perform well in extremely cold climates, to strength as well as their incredible power, strength and speed of travel.
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