Dogsledding. I INTRODUCTION Dogsledding, activity in which a dog team pulls a sled and a driver over snow and ice. Drivers, commonly called mushers, stand on, push, or run with the sleds. People practice dogsledding recreationally and competitively, and in remote areas they use dogs for transporting freight. In the northern regions of Alaska and the Yukon Territory of Canada, dogsledding stands as a symbol of the hardy frontier life of the past, when survival depended on the bond between humans and dogs. Most popular in Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, dogsledding also exists in mainland Europe, the continental United States, South America, and even Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa. Dogsledding's presence in warmer climates has prompted innovations such as wheeled carts that dogs can pull during warmer months when there is little or no snow. The term mushing, which people often use to refer to dogsledding, can also refer to pulk racing and skijoring, in which people wearing skis are pulled by one or more dogs. II DOGSLEDDING FUNDAMENTALS The basic dogsled is made of wood, metal, and plastic. Drivers stand on the back of the sled and direct the dogs with voice commands. The most common are gee for right, haw for left, hike to go, and whoa to stop. Drivers make the sled run smoothly by shifting their body weight around turns, pedaling with one leg, and getting off to push or pull the sled. A musher's most important responsibility, however, is to the dogs: feeding and watering them, checking their health, and tending to injuries. The type and number of dogs used on a team depend on climate and workload. Alaskan Malamutes, American Eskimo dogs, and Siberian huskies are the most common sled dogs. These breeds have compact feet and double coats of fur, and are comfortable running at temperatures from 5° to -40° C (40° to -40° F). In warmer climates drivers use a greater variety of breeds, especially short-haired pointers and husky-hound mixes. For short trips with little cargo, drivers use teams of 6 to 12 dogs. If heavy cargo, long distances, or deep snow are factors, a driver may use 16 or more dogs. As additional dogs are added to the team, the musher must spend more time training the dogs individually in order to retain control and help the dogs work as a team. Consequently, drivers must seek a balance between power and manageability when they form a team. III EQUIPMENT Mushers must remain warm while driving their sleds. To do so, they wear thermal underwear and socks, snow pants, jackets and parkas, face masks, gloves, hats, and insulated boots. Many mushers use ski goggles to protect their eyes from flying snow. Because there are so few daylight hours during winter in the northern regions, mushers need headlamps and reflector tape to see and be seen during the long, dark nights. Sled dimensions have remained constant for many years. Most sleds are 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long and 0.6 m (2 ft) wide. The weight of sleds, however, has decreased significantly since the late 1800s. The wooden freight sleds used in the past weighed 150 kg (330 lb) and could carry much more than 500 kg (1100 lb). Today, most sleds weigh between 15 and 30 kg (30 and 70 lb), and their loads are rarely as heavy. To glide across snow and ice smoothly, the sled rides on two runners that extend several feet behind the main portion of the sled. The musher stands on these extensions while the sled is moving and holds on to a vertical piece of wood called a handlebow, which extends waist-high at the back of the basket. The basket is the slatted base of the sled where equipment is stowed. Tired or injured dogs can be carried in the basket inside special pouches called sled dog bags. The front of the sled is reinforced by the brushbow, a strong, wooden, rounded lip that acts as a bumper. The driver can stop the sled by standing on the brake, which is a set of steel claws that drag in the snow. Once the sled is stopped, the musher can tie it to a post with a snowhook or a snub line. The sled and dogs are connected by a durable set of ropes, the main portion of which is called a gangline. The gangline runs straight from the sled's bow and attaches to smaller sets of rope that connect to each pair of dogs. These sets are called necklines and tug lines. Necklines, which meet the gangline at right angles, act as guides that keep the dogs running straight, and tug lines snap onto each dog's harness and link the dog's pulling power to the sled. Harnesses fit snugly around the dogs to maximize the transfer of strength. IV TRAINING AND CARING FOR THE DOGS Sled dogs are raised to enjoy running. Once they are old enough, they are placed on a team and tested in different positions. Each dog then assumes a specific role within the team. At the front of each team are lead dogs, which, alone or in pairs, set the pace. Leaders are usually the most intelligent dogs and are trained individually. It is essential that they learn commands and automatically obey the musher. The lead dog is followed by swing dogs, or point dogs, who help guide the sled. Swing dogs must also be intelligent. In the event another lead dog is needed, a swing dog serves as the replacement. The middle dogs, or team dogs, provide the main pulling power of the team. The two dogs closest to the sled are called the wheel dogs. They must be agile and able to pull the sled around tight turns. Mushers must know basic veterinary skills to care for the team's health. While traveling, mushers closely monitor their dogs for fatigue and injuries. Most vulnerable are the paws, which suffer cuts and abrasions from the snow and ice. Mushers treat sore feet with balms and protect them with fabric booties. V DOGSLED RACING Dogsled races can be held anywhere there are enough miles of open trail. Sprint races are limited to distances that dogs can sprint or lope. Middle-distance races are competitions under 500 km (300 mi), and long-distance events are over 500 km (300 mi). Teams usually start at short intervals one after another with the order assigned by lottery. Most race trails are groomed and lined with colored markers. The terrain, like the weather, can be harsh and inhospitable. Snowdrifts, blizzards, and thaws can create difficult racing conditions at almost any time, and with little notice. Sled designs have evolved to meet the demands of serious competitions. Today's plastic sprint sleds weigh between 7 and 9 kg (15 and 20 lb). Middle- to long-distance sleds weigh between 15 and 30 kg (30 and 70 lb). The number of dogs used to pull these sleds depends on the competition. The most common race classes are for 4, 6, 8, or an unlimited number of dogs, which can reach 20 or more. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, dogsledding's premier long-distance competition, allows a maximum of 16 dogs per team. The speed of teams varies. Sprint dogs race at 25 to 40 km/h (16 to 25 mph), while middle-distance and long-distance dogs run at 13 to 22 km/h (8 to 14 mph). Different types of races and climates favor different dog breeds, but all racing sled dogs must be strong and light. They usually weigh less than 25 kg (55 lb). Sprint dogs need explosive force, while long-distance dogs need endurance. During a long-distance race, each dog may use 10,000 calories per day. Mushers therefore develop special diets that are high in fat and protein by adding meat and supplements to commercial dog food. Mushers are caretakers, but also coaches. Top mushers have large kennels, and their preparation for competition begins by buying and breeding race-specific dogs. They train their dogs, decide which to run on certain days, and make adjustments during races by switching and dropping dogs. Serious competitors run their dogs year-round, using carts and all-terrain vehicles when there is not enough snow on the ground. During races they decide their strategy, choosing when to rest and when to push ahead. A race marshall and a set of race officials supervise competitions. These officials are responsible for timing and monitoring the competitors. During prerace inspections, they also check for the mandatory snowhooks or snub lines, functioning brakes, brushbows, and sled dog bags. In long-distance races, mandatory equipment includes survival gear, adequate food for the musher and team, a sleeping bag, and an ax. Officials can request veterinary examinations and can disqualify dogs or whole teams from competition for a variety of reasons. One reason is the mistreatment of dogs, including the use of choke collars, muzzles, and whips. Dogs or teams can also be disqualified if officials find any trace of drugs that enhance performance or suppress signs of illness or injury. If a dog dies during a race, officials carefully investigate. Any sign of mistreatment results in severe punitive action against the musher. Officials also enforce racing rules and etiquette. Teams must stay on prescribed trails and not interfere with other teams. When a musher requests right-of-way, the team in front must give way and remain behind for a stipulated period of time or until the passing team has gone a certain distance. The rules also prohibit pacing, or working with an outside source, such as a vehicle or other dog team, to set the pace of the race; trailing too close to another team; and receiving outside assistance. There are some exceptions to this final prohibition. Mushers who lose their teams may be helped, and if someone has a serious accident, other mushers are allowed and expected to help. VI GOVERNING BODIES Each year about 4000 dogsledding competitions are held throughout the world. Local and regional organizations oversee these races and enforce standards set by the sport's governing body, the International Federation of Sledding Sports (IFSS). The IFSS was founded in 1984 by two other organizations, the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) of the United States and Canada, and the European Sled Dog Racing Association (ESDRA). The IFSS supervises more than 20,000 mushers and 45,000 dog teams worldwide. The IFSS governs international competitions, such as the World Cup and the world championships, both of which include events in the four most common dogsledding classes (four-dog, six-dog, eight-dog, and unlimited). The cost and logistics of traveling overseas with dog teams, however, mean that many competitions lack a balance of international participation, and regional teams usually dominate races. VII HISTORY Dogsledding originated with the Inuit people of the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. These early peoples constructed sleds out of natural resources and used them for transportation. They made sleds of wood, runners of ivory, and harnesses of leather. Traders, explorers, and gold miners who entered the regions in the 1800s also used dogsleds to carry freight, mail, and people. The newcomers made improvements in sled design, most importantly by adding durable iron runners. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, adventurers used dogsleds to explore the Arctic and to reach the North Pole. Explorers also took sleds to the Antarctic and used them to reach the South Pole. Lore from the Alaskan and Yukon gold rush of the late 1800s states that wherever two dog teams traveled the same route, there was a race. The first major organized race was the All-Alaska Sweepstakes, run from 1908 to 1917. Held around Nome, the annual event covered about 650 km (about 400 mi) of wilderness trails. Perhaps the most famous dogsledding event occurred during the winter of 1925, when an epidemic of the highly contagious disease diphtheria broke out in the isolated community of Nome, Alaska. Over a course of several days, mushers relayed a diphtheria serum about 1125 km (about 700 mi) from the town of Nenana, saving many of Nome's residents. This trek became the inspiration for the Iditarod, the premier dogsledding event. After World War II (1939-1945) the popularization of airplanes and snowmobiles had a severe impact on the use of dogsledding for practical purposes. After the first running of the Iditarod in 1973, however, the activity gained international exposure as a sport. Recent decades have seen the founding of the IFSS and increased international competition, including the first world championships in 1990 and the establishment of the World Cup circuit in 1996. Every country has its own racing heroes, top breeders, great tacticians, and innovators. Some are known worldwide, including Norwegian Leonhard Seppala, a famous musher in Alaska during the early 1900s. More recent names include American sprint racer George Attla and several Iditarod champions: American Rick Swenson, Swiss-born Martin Buser, and American Susan Butcher. Butcher is particularly known for opening the sport to women. In Europe, French musher Jacques Philip and Swedish mushers Roger Leegaard and Jan Swenson are famous. Contributed By: Susan Butcher Enrico Sassi Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
