Amazing Alaskan Huskies at La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc

La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is an international sled dog race spanning 900 kilometres in French Alps and Swiss Alps. La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is intended for mushers with teams of 14 dogs who are experienced in long- and middle-distance. The course takes the teams to 20 ski resorts in France. For each of the 10 stages, time-trialed (every two minutes) or mass (in parallel) starts bring thousands of spectators to the Savoie Mont Blanc region.

The race includes three completely independent encampments: one in the first week and two in the second week.

The journey…

First they were two… The journey of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc has been phenomenal and interesting. In 1998, Henry Kam (head – KTT, a hi-tech company) and Nicholas Vanier became friends. For many years, Henry had been supporting nature-adventure sporting events while Nicholas was preparing to cross Canada with his dogs and KTT was one of his partners. In 2002, Nicholas was preparing for the Yukon Quest, the legendary 1000-mile race linking the Yukon Territory to Alaska, when Henry asked, “Why don’t they have this in Europe?” Nicholas replied, “Because no one organises it.” The two decided to organise a similar race in Europe. Together they left for the Yukon Quest (between Maska and Yukon, it is a sled dog race of 1000 miles), Henry as a voluntary worker for the organisation. This was a ‘learning’ experience for them. The decision was made: La Grande Odyssée will be the greatest race Europe had ever known.

Then they were three… Dominique Grandjean, a well-known veterinary surgeon and a specialist in Huskies, with experience in organising races, joined the founder team. Three complementary expertises therefore came together: the champion’s expertise, knowledge of animals and marketing and organisational expertise.

Thus, it was decided that La Grande Odyssée would take place in the Portes du Soleil (Haute Savoie, France and Switzerland) and Haute Maurienne Vanoise (Savoie).

Then they became 20… In 2004, there were 16 French ski resorts and four Swiss ski resorts involved in creating 1000 km of routes, 90 percent located outside the skiable areas.

Then they were 500… On 7th January 2005, 18 best mushers in the world, representing 10 nations and accompanied by their 300 dogs, exceptional sports dogs and men, were in Avoriaz for the start of the first event. For organisational purposes, a team of 50 people had been created – more than 200 professionals and 250 Alpine huntsmen were involved. Some 20 partners offered their support, including Pierre & Vacances, the Ademe (French agency for the environment and energy management) and Eco-Emballages.

This first event was a great sporting, media and popular success, despite the numerous problems with organising any first event. It was confirmed: La Grande Odyssée, this great sporting event, matched the objectives of the Portes du Soleil (a ski-sports destination in Alps) and the Haute Maurienne Vanoise (a ski resort) in terms of image and values.

Then they were 1000… The second event in January 2006 had become the main theme for the winter communications strategy of the entire region. It enabled people to discover that the mountain is beautiful, that it can be used in a gentle and non-aggressive way and the values of authenticity, courage, and respect for the environment have a high educational value. La Grande Odyssée attracted more than 70,000 spectators and 1,000 people who were involved in this second edition.

What’s more? La Grande Odyssée became the medium for many ‘edutainment’ campaigns: 1,000 primary school children from Savoie were invited to take part in an educational project, conferences were organised to promote eco-citizen initiatives.

Then they were 1,000 and 1! In October 2006, the Savoie Mont Blanc brand name was chosen for the national and international promotion of all the tourist destinations of Savoie and Haute Savoie in summer as well as winters: 110 ski resorts, as well as the lakes, open spaces and national parks.

The concept

The dogs running this race are the most endurant animals in the world. They can run for hours, at a high speed in cold weather, but to reach this level, it requires great breeding, accurate training, feeding and most importantly the building of a strong bond between the dogs and the musher (man driving the sled). It is very important to notice that the musher drives his team only by his voice. He holds no leash or whip. The only link between the dogs and the musher is the voice. The dogs in front of the team learn many commands (direction, pace, etc) that they follow when asked by the musher. So, it’s only the trust and the love that the dogs have for their mushers who make them run.

There is no other sport than Mushing (name of dog sledding sport) where man and dogs can share the effort so much. It’s really the ultimate activity for those who want to share an adventure with their best four-legged friends.

Who can participate?

The majority of the dogs running La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc are Alaskan Huskies. The breed is still evolving as the mushers are still breeding the best dogs to increase the capacities of these dogs to run for a long time speedily in cold weather. No other dogs can stand the performances of the Alaskan Huskies. On the musher’s side, the men and women running La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc are true athletes as they need to help dogs to travel 750 km of mountain trails in 11 days of the race.

The awards

There is a 54,000 Euros purse shared by the Top 10. The special awards include Best Dog Care (to the musher who has shown the best care to his dogs all along the race); Rookie of the Year, Best Ranked Musher (among those who are running the race for the first time); Sportsmanship Award; Best Siberian Husky Team; Best Climber; Fastest Team on the Three Longest Uphills of the Race; Friendliest Musher (chosen by the staff); Friendliest Dog (chosen by the veterinarian team); and Red Lantern (last musher to finish the whole race).

Quick Facts about Sled Race

The race: Timed competition of teams of sled dogs who pull a sled with the dog driver or musher standing on the runners. The team completing the marked course in the least time is judged the winner.

Popular in: Arctic regions of the United States, Canada, Russia, and some European countries.

Types of sled race: Sprint (4 to 25 miles/day), mid-distance (100 to 300 miles), and long-distance (300 to more than 1,000 miles).

First sled race: All-Alaska Sweepstakes in 1908

First heroic expedition of sled dogs: Dog team of Alaskan postal service carried vaccines for a small town in Northwest Alaska, Nome in 1929 to save the residents from Diptheria, where even aircrafts could not fly due to harsh weather conditions.

Breeds: Earlier, all kinds of breed were used for sled race, including Saint Bernard. But, gradually Siberian huskies took over as they are faster and can withstand the harsh climatic conditions.

Major sled races: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska; Ivakkak in Nunavik, Quebec; La Grande Odyssée in French Alps; and Yukon Quest from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon one year then Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks, Alaska the next.

Care for K9: Like all athletes, the Siberian Husky is also prone to twists, joint sprain, muscle tears, sore soles, stress diarrhoea, etc. Mushers take special care of their sled dogs. They are fed a high-energy nutritious diet and they are kept in shape all the year round. Mushers learn how to massage their pooch’s feet so that they can help them when the need arises. They also make them learn basic commands and are taught how to work as a team. All these dogs are well groomed as well and are regularly taken for their health check-ups to their vets.
Did you know?
Radek Havrda from Czech Republic is the only musher who has won the race two times, which is an amazing feat.

Next race
Next La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc race will be held from 11th to 22nd January 2014.

(Annabel Kam is Responsable Communication et Relations presse at La Grande Odyssee Savoie Mont Blanc, Montreuil, France).