On April 2008, the American musher Wendy Davis, tells to INEMA about her relation with the sled, and how she began her career.

Wendy Davis is natural from Philadelphia (USA) and lives actually in Laramie (USA). 33 year-old, the American has many tasks. She's student, mountain guide and sled dog racer. On the sled, the racer has already achieved great positions in competitions in Canada and in the United States.

The girl knew the sled been guide in the Oregon mountains, in the US. She tells that before guiding she didn't knew anything about this sport, and she learned all of the basics through guiding.

She tells that wanted a bigger challenge than guiding sled dogs. Was offered her the chance to train two racing teams in exchange for getting to race one of the teams in the Attaboy 300, in Oregon.

She accepted. Attaboy 300 was her first sled dog race. There, Wendy knew one of her majority influence, The Gilbertsons. They taught her how to race, she has learned everything from race strategy, to training properly, to excellent dog-care.

Been a musher was a challenge in Wendy's life, a challenge where she really worked. Mainly because she is detached in a sport practiced by few women. With the support of Gilbertsons and all her talent and dedicating, her career really took off.

According to the musher, is very enjoying been able to complete equally against men. And this is one of the few sports that allow that. There are definetly less women in this sport, so that, last year she was the first woman to ever win the Diavik 150, which has been going on for over 50 years.

For her, it was an honor to be a positive role model for young people in the area and in the sport, showing that women are just as capable as men in mushing and in everything else too.

For been woman, she says that had to prove that she was a competent musher before people have that opinion, instead of people assuming who was her. But this took several years of competing in challenging races until been respected by everybody, mainly by other mushers.

She thinks that you have to prove yourself, whereas men do not get scrutinized as much. And that this is often true if you are running dogs that you do not own yourself and if you have entered a kennel that already has a competitive dog team when you begin racing.

The american has participated of many sled dog races in Canada and in the US, between her Best positions, are: 1st place at 60 miles of Mancos Mush, Colorado (EUA); 1st place at Diavik 150 2007, Yellowknife (CAN); 2nd place at 300 miles of Pedigree Stage Top, Wyoming (EUA) and 3rd place at Diavik 150 2008.

She has a big involvement with the dogs, and it's why she loves mushing. Wendy has an special care with each animal, and affirms: "They are not machines, but have character, heart and become part of your family. You must develop a relationship of trust with the dogs in order for them to perform their best".

For her, each dogs has different personalities, and because of this, we must develop a relationship with each individual dog. Besides this, she adds that the coach must ensure the animal safety, and this person has to know when to push them and when to let them take a break.

Wendy detaches her dog Fireball as her more dedicated racer. "Fireball is our most valuable player on our team. She is a hard-driving leader, who continually wants to run faster" said Wendy.

Fireball is a resistant dog, because she rarely gets hurt and seems to never tire. She also has the ability to sense the trail when the musher cannot. The dog is tough and runs well in hard conditions. According to Wendy, Fireball is plus very loving and sweet.

The cares with the hard cold are an important point to the dogs and mushers. Wendy explains that the both must be properly dressed, hydrated, and fed. We might jacket and bootie the team. And also may prepare the dog's food and drink a little differently if it is drastically cold.

The racer said that when you run sled dogs you are bound to have some mishaps and adventures eventually, and "there is no way around it even if you are not competing". She affirms that she has had many adventures with the dogs, and often they humble the mushers in skills and instinct. She tells a history:

"During a race a few years ago we were running in white-out conditions. It was blowing hard and the ground off of the trail was hard, so it was easy to get off the trail and lost. We were running 50 miles that day. I left the starting line and within a few minutes my leader wanted to turn sharply left.

I told her 'no, we must go right!' she disobeyed, which is very rare. I was shocked to see a trail marker a few seconds later. My leader had made the right choice, and I had been wrong.

A few minutes later, then same thing happened, and my leader Fireball was correct and I was wrong. So, for the rest of the 50 miles, I kept my mouth shut and let her take us all the way home safely. She never once got off the trail, I couldn't believe it".

Wendy Davis and her team are sponsored by Caribou Creek Pet Food. She said that with this, there is no need for supplements, and you can feed alone and have all of the nutrients you need for working dogs.