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By Greg Bartlett

Since 1946, mushers and sled dogs from all over the northern United States and Canada have gathered at the annual Fur Rendezvous Sled Dog Race, an event that caps off a three-week winter festival near Anchorage, Alaska. Sleds trek 25 miles around the Anchorage area in a difficult course that can test the best of mushers. The race is always well-attended and televised, yet spectators rarely get to see the excitement that occurs beyond the cameras or after daylight hours. Not so this year.

Fur Rondy & GPS

Beginning February 26th when the race kicks off, GPS trackers will be included on the sleds as part of an effort to allow officials and spectators to view every moment of the competition. Anyone with access to the internet will be able to enter the Fur Rondy website and view each musher and his dogs race along a map of the course. Far from an anti-cheating measure, these GPS trackers simply enhance the viewing experience for those interested in the sport. Users can follow the race whenever they’d like, and the tracking data from the GPS trackers will let them see events rarely caught on camera.

For the first annual Sprints at Sundown Race, organizers are especially enthusiastic about the information the GPS trackers will provide. The event will be held overnight under a few occasional trail lights, so following the race via television would be especially difficult. However, the GPS trackers included on sleds this year have allowed organizers to put together an event that can truly be appreciated by dog sled aficionados, and even expand the audience to include casual viewers. Said the Fur Rondy board president Ernie Hall, “There’ll be meetings, passing things that happen out on the back trail that people don’t normally get to see. I think it’ll bring home the excitement of sprint racing.”

The event showcases the tremendous utility and adaptability of GPS trackers, which can provide timely and accurate location data to professionals and spectators alike. Other sports could certainly benefit from the technology. Imagine following an off-road event real-time on a satellite overlay. With ratings getting lower for Olympic events, organizers should certainly consider including GPS trackers on extended races which include turns and excitement beyond the cameras. Most spectators can’t sit glued all day to a television set, but many would be willing to check race summaries online with all the exciting details laid onto a map of the course.

Whether your clients are sled dog lovers or package recipients, a well-implemented GPS tracking system will give everyone the information they need.