Dog sledding is a race in which a team of several sled dogs pull a driver on a sled over a snowy racecourse in cold winter conditions.
Races can be held over a few or hundreds of kilometres (or miles) over ice and snow in cold Arctic conditions, and can last several days (and nights). Sled dogs are usually Alaskan Malamutes or Huskies, and are conditioned to long winter treks pulling a heavy sled, with the necessary food and gear to complete the race, and the driver. Drivers follow marked trails or use maps to follow the course.
The sled dog team that has the fastest time wins.
Sled – the driver and supplies such as food and water are on the sled that’s pulled by the dogs
Harness – the series of ropes that holds the dogs together and connects to the sled to pull it along
Collar – the driver tugs on the collar to give signals to specific dogs or all dogs, telling them what to do next
Lead dog – one dog leads the dog team during the race
Musher – the driver
Check points – the sled teams check in with race officials at points in the race to ensure teams don’t get lost in dangerous Arctic conditions, and also to ensure that teams don’t cheat by taking short cuts