Train with Man’s Best Friend and their Human Teammates on PASSPORT
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Khamelia Henderson
Ever wonder what it takes to train sled dogs to championship? Join four mushers, sled dog racers, as they embark on a yearlong training course in preparation for winter races.
Watch Musher on WITF TV or the PBS or WITF App. Livestream it for free or stream it on demand with WITF Passport.
Musher allows audiences to peak into the lives of professional athletes and their furry teammates. Although dog sledding is now a monetized sport event, sled dogs are one of humankind’s oldest means of transportation. Researchers believe that sledding began with a 9,500-year-old domesticated dog named Zhokhov, the oldest found to date. The pup’s remains were found on Zhokhov Island in the Eastern Siberian Sea, and he is believed to be an ancient ancestor of many modern sled dogs. While dog sledding was and still is used for transportation, emergency rescue, and humanitarian aid, dog sled racing was born in 1908 with the 408-mile-long All Alaska Sweepstakes.
The documentary features Kelsey Beaber, a junior racer that participated in her first big race, Alex LaPlante, a veterinarian who runs her own practice, Blair Braverman, a published author writing about her experience trying to qualify for the Iditarod, and Martha Schouweiler, an experienced racer with a kettle ball fitness regime and avid rope climber. The film explores the relationship between athletes and their dogs and the training it takes to succeed while commenting on the role of women in one of the few mixed-gender sports.
Watch Musher on WITF TV or the PBS or WITF App. Livestream it for free or stream it on demand with WITF Passport.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
