Description of the dogsled

A brief description of the dogsled
The Greenlandic dogsled is built for the terrain in which it is primarily used. The sleds in the northernmost regions of Greenland are therefore long and narrow with straight runners because a lot of running is done on sea ice, whilst the sleds used on the west coast are shorter and more curved because these sleds tend to be driven over land. In Eastern Greenland the sleds are very different; the dogs, for example, run side by side in pairs rather than in a fan formation. Side-by-side running is the best formation for running in deep snow.



	East Greenlandic sled runners

The components of the sled
Basically the sled consists of two runners, a number of transverse boards and two uprights. The entire sled is tied together with cord, which enables the sled to give when running over rough terrain. The top of the sled is usually covered with reindeer hide or sealskin, thus enabling the driver or passengers to remain warm and comfortable.

The uprights are used chiefly in hilly terrain – either to push the sled or to steer with when running downhill. In very hilly areas there is often a brake on the rear of the sled. Elsewhere the braking effect comes from having the dogs run behind the sled when running down steep inclines.

On the back of the sled hangs the sled bag in which the dogsled driver keeps all his equipment and provisions so that everything is close at hand when stopping for a coffee break.