Kearney has gone to the dogs

By Sarah Ryeland

Mush!

Harnessing the power of man’s best friend is nothing new. Native Canadians and those who dwell in our world’s frozen north have been using sled dogs for transportation and fun for hundreds of years.

When you think of dog sledding, images of northern Canada or maybe even the famous Iditarod race in Alaska come to mind. But there’s another famous dog sled race that takes place right in our own back yard.

Kearney’s annual dog sled race is a weekend filled with excitement and new experiences. Every year, thousands of spectators – not including competitors and their families – make the trek to Kearney to see the dogs face off. Teams can register for races of various lengths, including a 120-mile route through the snowy countryside, with winners earning cash prizes and trophies.

It’s a huge event, and committee chair Lisa Houliston loves planning every minute of it.

“The race takes place in February,” Houliston says. “And the planning for next year’s race starts as soon as the event is finished.”

Committee members and volunteers dedicate their time to the race, walking the trails all year long, making sure that the course will be in the best shape possible for the event. While the committee plans the race well in advance, volunteers can get involved at any time.

“We have hundreds of volunteers,” says Houliston, “but we can always use more. On the day of we get lots of people asking us how they can help, and that’s great.”

The race is also good for the community. Local businesses sponsor the event and see a dramatic influx of customers on a snowy weekend that might otherwise be slow for sales.

Coming from far and wide, spectators and competitors look forward to the weekend. Events for the entire family take place over the course of the two days, with barbecues, ice sculptures and dramatic water rescue demonstrations by local firefighters. And if it’s too cold to stand by the trail, there’s always the live video feed shown in the arena.

A local videographer records every race, broadcasting the live footage inside the arena, where fans can go to warm up or simply take a break without missing the action.

The most highly anticipated race is definitely the 120-mile. Teams begin the grueling event at 5 p.m. and race through the night, stopping for a mandatory 4 hour resting period to feed and rest the dogs. The course takes them on a 60-mile loop before the rest stop, then back around the loop in the opposite direction for the final leg of the race.

Spectators love to see the dogs and their mushers cross the finish line. For Houliston though, the best part of the weekend is in the early morning.

“I love showing up at 5 a.m. and hearing all the dogs getting ready for the day,” she says. The sounds of the dogs barking in the dark, misty, winter morning is what she wait for every year.

For many, it’s the dogs themselves that are the attraction. Friendly and energetic, most of them are called huskies, which is less a breed than a classification for northern dogs. They’re trained from a young age to understand the specific commands and techniques they need to be a leader, wheel, swing, or team dog.

Each member of the sled team has a specific job to do. Leaders are fast, intelligent dogs that are in constant communication with their human leader, or musher. It is often said that these dogs have an almost telepathic connection with their musher, being highly sensitive to the needs and commands they receive and even anticipating orders.

Wheel dogs are the two huskies located directly in front of the sled. These strong dogs work together to pull the sled around corners or obstacles like trees and rocks.  Swing dogs are placed behind and on either side of the leader, essentially swinging the sled around curves and corners.

Team dogs make up the rest of the sled dog pack and contribute strength and speed. No dog is more valuable than another because without the balance and difference of ability no pack would be complete.

Kearney’s annual race is something every winter-enthusiast should see at least once. With plenty to see and do, it’s no wonder the event is so popular. And it’s also growing.

“This is our second year with the 120-mile race,” says Houliston. “It’s been a big hit and we’re thinking of making it even longer in the future.”

It’s clear the race is a winner for the town of Kearney.