Dog Sled Racing: What It Takes To Compete

In the snow-covered French Alps, one of the longest and toughest dog sled races in the world will take place for the 18th time this January: La Grande Odyssée.

The 35-year-old Norwegian dog breeder Sissel Wolf Mølmen is taking part. Over eleven days, she will compete against other dog sled drivers, the so-called "mushers,” making her way through the Northern Alps at temperatures as low as -30° C.

The "Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont-Blanc" covers 378 kilometers. This year’s edition will see the participation of 68 mushers from France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany and about 600 dogs.

How do you think Sissel Wolf Mølmen and her dogs will do?

#Dogsledrace #France #DWEuromaxx

---------------------------------------------
Subscribe to DW Euromaxx:

Would you like to find out more about Euromaxx?

DW Euromaxx brings you engaging insights into European cultures and lifestyles.

[wombatwilly]

Huskies must be in short supply in Europe..:) Interesting to see blue tick hounds pulling a sled...:)

[germanshepherd]

These dogs aren’t breed for this type of climate. These are greyhounds and only breed for speed. Alaska banned these types of dogs from the Iditarod because they were freezing to death.
Please only use winter sled dogs for sledding!

[doggodoggo]

Women have been in dog sled racing for decades. Its an open secret that women actually do better. Its a pulling sport, lighter drivers have an advantage. Some guys train the dogs all season but make their wives and girlfriends actually run the race.

Frankly, the fact the men and women are competing together just highlights how its not actually a sport. If it was, that makes me a retired professional athlete. Which i am not.