Posted on Jan 17, 2022
Warming temperatures lead these dog sledders to race on dry land
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In Flagstaff, Arizona, dog sledders have had to shift gears due to the warming climate. Because there is less snow in the region, racers are competing by harnessing their dogs up to bicycles and carts.
Warming temperatures lead these dog sledders to race on dry land
Posted from wbur.org
Dogs
Flagstaff
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""So this is Arizona’s second dry land sled dog race," said Brad Kassing. "We’re out here racing with sled dogs, but without the sleds. We’ve got people on mountain bikes, on scooters, on carts, and we actually have a bunch of people who are just running, and with a sled dog pulling them in a harness."
Kassing took up dryland racing four years ago. He says the reason for changing from snow to dirt is simple: climate change.
"There hasn’t really been consistent snow for at least 10 years to be able to plan a specific weekend for a race," Kassing said.
Luu Nguyen checks her phone while Arlo rides along.
The shift started in Europe, which is also feeling the effects of climate change. Now Americans are starting to take up the sport. Some of the racers are mushers from way back, like Denise Edwards.
“I’ve been running sled dogs for over 30 years. Up here in Flagstaff,” Edwards said.
She’s watched as the sport has adjusted to a world with less snow.
“We used to have one of the best races up here in Flagstaff years ago and we used to have a super one over in Alpine, Arizona,” Edwards said.
Those races drew teams from all over the Southwest.
“There were a lot of big mushers back then. The bigger teams are kind of dwindling now,” she said."...
...""So this is Arizona’s second dry land sled dog race," said Brad Kassing. "We’re out here racing with sled dogs, but without the sleds. We’ve got people on mountain bikes, on scooters, on carts, and we actually have a bunch of people who are just running, and with a sled dog pulling them in a harness."
Kassing took up dryland racing four years ago. He says the reason for changing from snow to dirt is simple: climate change.
"There hasn’t really been consistent snow for at least 10 years to be able to plan a specific weekend for a race," Kassing said.
Luu Nguyen checks her phone while Arlo rides along.
The shift started in Europe, which is also feeling the effects of climate change. Now Americans are starting to take up the sport. Some of the racers are mushers from way back, like Denise Edwards.
“I’ve been running sled dogs for over 30 years. Up here in Flagstaff,” Edwards said.
She’s watched as the sport has adjusted to a world with less snow.
“We used to have one of the best races up here in Flagstaff years ago and we used to have a super one over in Alpine, Arizona,” Edwards said.
Those races drew teams from all over the Southwest.
“There were a lot of big mushers back then. The bigger teams are kind of dwindling now,” she said."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel - That makes two of us. I hope they have good brakes on the bikes... scooters... carts.
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