At the foot of the shin of Mount Nasaasaaq- « The King of the Mountains »-in Sisimiut, Greenland, hundreds of spectators grouped in bright jackets, isolated pants and heavy boots on Saturday lined a snow-packed path waiting for runners to pass.
The sun’s sun shone from the ice. The snow was crushed under the feet, fine and dry like the sifted flour. The red and white flags of Greenlands appeared everywhere, from the Poles, stuck to the Capuxades, with the hands of the hands.
For more than three decades, Greenland has held a National Dog Sled Championship: Avannaataa Qimussersua, which means, in the Greenlantic language, « the great northern race ». This year, the event brought together more than 25 mills, including a 14 -year -old hard boy, and at least 400 dogs. It is a tradition deeply rooted in the culture of the country, where dogs are not only animals, but also partners in survival. And usually the race does not attract much international attention.
But this year he dragged on a significant geopolitical storm when the White House announced that Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, and one of his children would attend. With Greenlanders that was prepared to protest, Ms. Vance ended up canceling his trip.
Ms. Vance had tried to frame his visit as a gesture of cultural appreciation. The Greenlanders did not buy it. President Trump has been arranged in taking office of Greenland (a semi -autonomous territory of Denmark) and has put his conversation into practice with « it, in one way or another, » he said.
Many Greenlanders (and Danish) saw the visit as a threat. The race organizers rapidly issued a pointed statement saying that the boats had not been invited. A spokesman for Ms. Vance denied this, saying that the second lady had received « multiple invitations ».
Ms. Vance, along with her husband and some other officials, arrived in Greenland, but ended up spending less than three hours on Friday at the Pitffi space base, a remote Defense Station of the North Missiles -Americans on the northern coast of Greenland, kilometers from any city.
The race, however, continued, as planned. For competitors, it was the culmination of years of daily care, discipline and deep mutual understanding between humans and dogs.
On Saturday afternoon, a voice was broken on the speaker with updates on the progress of the competitors when they cut off the miserable 26 mile route. The children bounced off to keep it hot. At the distance, sharp thieves echoed through the mountain.
« We do not try to impress anyone, » Inununa Davidsen, a spectator who was alerted to appear that the sleds would appear. « We just want to keep us near nature and one another. »
Like many others here, he saw the event not only as a competition, but as a meeting: a space where people are celebrated, celebrated and connected people from distant towns. Sisimiut, who hosted the race this year, is the second largest city in Greenland, with a population of about 5,000.
Mikaela Eliassen, a siximiut businessman, was on the finish line with his children. He said he was a little disappointed that the wands would not come.
« We never get visitors, » he said. « So when we finally heard someone important see here, I was excited. »
Greenlanders have been working with SLD Dogs for hundreds of years. They were used to travel to distant villages and hunting stamps and reindeer.
In 1968, when an American nuclear reinforced bomber crashed by ice near what is now Pipuffik’s base, sled dog teams were called to help cleaning. The ability of dogs to move through fragile ice made them essential for efforts.
Today, dogs are still important, helping Greenlanders to ice fishing, supply transmission, tourist taking on a walk, and even delivering mail.
Only one breed is allowed in the Arctic region of Greenland: the pure -breed sled dog. This race has evolved over centuries to work in the cold, and, thought, any mix could harm its harshness.
Musher, Ms. Eliassen started driving sleds at the age of 6.
« The dog sled is not just a sport, » he said. « It teaches responsibility, patience and respect. »
« They say that the Musher the dogs that respect him the most is the one who wins, » he added.
When the first sled grew the final ridge and saw himself in sight, the people exploded. Henrik Jensen, a 26 -year -old wet from North Greenland, broke the arrival line: his face wind face, his dogs were frozen with ice and foam, but he still threw hard.
Their supporters advanced. Some were dressed in the black jackets with the « Team Henrik » that was hooked on the back.
While sitting in his sled, smiling and stopped, a group of fans raised the wooden sled in the air: the dogs still thrown and twisting in their harnesses, energized by the roar of the crowd.
« I have been preparing for this for years, » he said, his father proudly smiling with one hand on his shoulder.
And if the north -Americans were in line, he said, that’s good.
)It’s great that you follow, « he said. » There should be room for everyone. «
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