Maldaner was at Diavik 150, that happened from march 28th to 30th 2008 in Yellowknife, NT, Canada. Check about his impressions of the event, in addition, the description of the preparation and starting of the racers.

In many times we don't have and idea of what is really a dog race. In Brazil I have ever seen horse races, cars', motorcycles' and other machines. But in the dog race, as in the horses one, there are limits, because there are life, who even the pilot or the musher, have to administrate.

Even though, it's a overshoot test, to beat records. For me that am an initiating in this area, even had ever riding in paths with dogs, I learned a lot in this king of race. Starting by the care that we must have with the animals, the preparation that is doesn't seen, but demands attention.

Not just in the race's day, but also during all year or all dog's life. I observed the cares and attention with the dogs and the love gave to them, like a father giving attention the his many sons.

The feed, the comfort, heating and stretching during the hard cold morning, about -27°C or less. In the beginning they prepare the animals putting protections in their feet, as little boots or a type of paste.

After preparing the sled, it's time to selection the dogs. It's necessary to administrate the choice, to the race be efficient, healthy and without suffering, both to dogs and mushers.

These dogs, different for what I've though, are very affectionate. But they bark a lot and don't be quite for any minute. Because of this, they stay in they houses, called kennels, until the race start.

The public arrives almost late and suddenly. The little children come very heated with some many clothes, to face the hard cold of -20°C. Even though, they stay very happy to see he animals, and their parents are always with cameras to photograph.

Here, I see everybody with their each pet, even at the hotel, where enter and leaves dogs. Like this, they become part of the people's life. Although, the dogs used in the sled, are much "functioning". It means that are just used to races, there, compete just light dogs, usually hunters types.

As wolfs and foxes, the racer dogs be very adapted to the cold weather, they even need to live in cold weather. Even though, the competitors have the responsibility to preserve them from a very intense cold.

It's time to the race start. The technical director arises on the stand and shows a black flag, where is written "10 minutes". The public starts to move to the track, after the meet of each competitor. Each musher has their track that seams to be a funnel, 'cause in the end, all tracks became just one.

After, appears the red flag, it means that remain Just Five minutes to the race, and the dogs are already. When appears the green flag, remains just one minute to the race start. The director gets his rifle and prepares to make the starts shots: bang bang bang - everybody leaves.

At this moment, we just can listen the noises of the sleds smoothing and some dogs barking. The silence of the public, shows the expectation to see who will be the first in the end of the funnel, and in some time, start to appear the first sleds.

In the first day of competition, one of the sleds dropped and was pulled, but agile, the musher achieved to get it up. While everybody was passing, I saw one of the sleds still leaving, it was the number nice, from Lola Rancher, her sled was breaking and left in last.

The sleds go edging the Frame Lake - a lake within the City Hall, all frozen, with cars and the track on it. The track structure was very well done because allows the public to see the circuit by many angles. So, as the sleds goes, everybody moves to the side track, where the sled will arrive in minutes.

Following, start the race for the positions, I saw even four sleds together - a beautiful view. There were kids positioned besides the track, father and mothers with camcorders and photo cams, everybody trying to register the best shots of the sons and dogs. Also there were Japanese tourists observing the event.

They come to the city mainly to see the aurora boreal. Many sleds passed by us, and in last one of the judges that were by snowmobile or snow machine - as also is called. Like this, everybody leave the lake very calmly and happy, talking about the race. Three hours after, the public come back there, to see the sleds arriving.

As I have said, the track was very well made, because of this, the people can see the sleds going four to six times on the frozen way on the lake, almost without moving from their place. Who moved a little, was capable to see the competitors from eight to nine times.