Media contact
Pavel Kučera, P.O. Box 35, 384 51 Volary
Tel: +420 602 109 583
E-mail: sedivackuvlong@email.cz
Press releases
Dog sledding
Since ancient times, people in regions where winter lasts longer than the other seasons have used sleds pulled by teams of dogs to transport people and goods. Any dog could be used in a team – breed and looks didn't matter, the only measure that counted was how honestly a dog worked and how well it withstood harsh weather.
Around that time, the first wagers began – whose dog could pull the heaviest load, or whose team was the fastest. Just as other sports found their way to us, the first enthusiasts in the Czech Republic began harnessing their dogs to early sled prototypes in the early 1980s.
Not every attempt succeeded, but the number of fans inspired by the romance of the north kept growing. The first true northern breeds – Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies – were successfully brought in from abroad, and with these dogs the mushers, as drivers of dog teams are called, began to race. This is how the sport of dog sledding was born here as well.
History of the race
Several years ago, a group of dog-sledding enthusiasts in the Czech Republic went looking for an area whose snow conditions, altitude, trail profile and cooperative local authorities would suit a long-distance dog sled race. They found the ideal spot, meeting all the conditions as far as possible, in the Orlické hory mountains, and so the trial "year zero" (later renamed the "first" edition) was started in February 1997.
Just before the race itself, the day before the start, two dogs escaped from organizer Pavel Kučera – one of them, a Siberian Husky named Šedivák, was shot near a distant village by a local resident. Despite this, the race went ahead as planned, but in memory of this sad event it was named, once and for all, "Šediváčkův Long".
Over time, two trails were created, 222 and 333 km long, running along the ridges and through the beautiful Polish side of the Orlické hory mountains too. The race has four stages with one mandatory camp, which has traditionally found its place in a meadow behind the old farmstead near the village of Souvlastí.
This race is traditionally held in the last week of January, characterized by its bitter cold and plentiful snow. The race itself demands great effort from all the organizers and volunteers, and could not happen without the support of sponsors and local municipal and regional authorities. Over the years, this small local race has grown into an event of pan-European scale.
When describing this race, words like longest, toughest, and most famous come to mind, and its reputation among European mushers keeps growing. In 2004, Šediváčkův long was honored with a nomination for, and subsequently hosted, the FISTC European Championship. The tenth edition in 2006 saw 64 of the best racers from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic compete. Around 400 dogs of northern breeds took part – Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Greenland Dogs, Samoyeds, Alaskan Huskies and European sled dogs. This race draws many visitors to this beautiful region who wish to taste the magic of the polar world – a world of people defying freezing weather alongside their loyal helpers, the dogs.
We sincerely thank everyone who helps make this race happen for their help and cooperation.
Cooperation with the region
We organize Šediváčkův long in cooperation with the municipality of Deštné v Orlických horách and the municipality of Orlické Záhoří. Holding the race regularly has increased interest in the entire Orlické hory region, and the race continues to enjoy the ongoing support and patronage of the Hradec Králové Region.