Last weekend Fairbanks hosted the 64th annual Open North American Championship sled dog race. This three day race comprises of twenty mile sprints the first two days and a thirty mile sprint the third day. It's hard to convey how much fun it is to watch a sled dog event. The only comparison I can really think of is to have you imagine how excited your dog gets when you pull out the leach to take them for a walk around the neighborhood. If your dog doesn't go crazy with enthusiasm something is wrong. Now add another twelve dogs to that leach and watch the energy explode! The races are particularly exciting at the start where the dogs are waiting for their chance to run. Once in their harnesses and hooked into the line they start jumping and barking with excitement, then...... the snow hook is released from the sled, the dogs are free to run, and all goes silent as you see the dogs focus on their task at hand.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Open North American Sled Dog Race
Last weekend Fairbanks hosted the 64th annual Open North American Championship sled dog race. This three day race comprises of twenty mile sprints the first two days and a thirty mile sprint the third day. It's hard to convey how much fun it is to watch a sled dog event. The only comparison I can really think of is to have you imagine how excited your dog gets when you pull out the leach to take them for a walk around the neighborhood. If your dog doesn't go crazy with enthusiasm something is wrong. Now add another twelve dogs to that leach and watch the energy explode! The races are particularly exciting at the start where the dogs are waiting for their chance to run. Once in their harnesses and hooked into the line they start jumping and barking with excitement, then...... the snow hook is released from the sled, the dogs are free to run, and all goes silent as you see the dogs focus on their task at hand.
