Lekkarod

Combining performance and respect

In the international sporting spirit of a top-level competition, the organisers, who have many years of experience, have decided to return to the true values of the sport of dog sledding:

• Respect for the dog: adapted routes and stage lengths, resting times and introduction of a rule allowing rotation of the participating dogs within a predefined group (an entire team of substitutes!).
• Respect for the competitors (mushers) who, like their dogs, put all their effort into the race, and their helpers (handlers) who give all they have to ensure the dogs are well prepared for the race and cared for during the rest periods.
• Respect for nature, through simple civic gestures (cleaning strawed or soiled areas) but also through respect for the trails used with the collaboration of the ski resorts..

Beyond sport: Lekkarod, an educational tool

The Lekkarod race is intended to be a fun tool for schoolchildren, through various educational materials made available to them and a follow-up of the event.
It is also a great study support for veterinary schools. Thus a strong partnership exists between Lekkarod and the National Veterinary School of Alfort. Every year many students come to follow the event and their teachers use data or images collected during the race.
ENVA is a public and administrative institution of higher education and research under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. It maintains strong links with the University of Paris-Est, ANSES, INRA and INSERM.