Sled Dog Racing

Iditarod• A race over 1150 miles in 10 to 17days• Has been known as the “Last Great Race On

Earth” and has won worldwide interest.• Temperatures are known to be way below

zero add the wind that can cause lose of visibility

• Starts in Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast

Check Points• 27 check points through

out the whole race.• Some have tents where

the mushers can stay and rest .

• Check point 17 Grayling This the last checkpoint all the mushers will see until they reach Kaltag, 103 miles farther up on the trail.

Going to the Dogs

• Most preferred dog for racing is the Siberian Husky

• In 1988 to 1991 a team of Standard Poodles competed in the Iditarod Trail sled dog race.

• Endurance and speed are the most important quality a sled dog needs

• For every check point the musher stops at each dog gets check by a veternairy

Winners from 1999-2009

• 1999-2001 Doug Swingley

• 2002 Martin Buser• 2003 Robert Solrlie• 2004 Mitch Seavey• 2005 Robert Solrie• 2006 Jeff King• 2007-2009 Lance

Mackey

Last Dash• Racers must rest their

dogs for eight hours before they reach the Last Dash

• There is usually a few hour difference as each racer comes in

• The “Widow’s Lamp” stays lit until the very last racer comes in.

Works Cited

• http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/13/sports/13dogs.span.jpg

• http://www.experiencefestival.com/iditarod_-_last_dash

• Http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/iditarod/• http://www.iditarod.com/