Commands
There are some commands that mushers have to use in the Iditarod. They are the following:
"Hike" is the word used to start the team going.
"Ahead or straight ahead" means do not turn.
"Gee" means to turn right.
"Come gee" means to turn 180 degrees right.
"Haw" means to turn left.
"Come haw" means to turn 180 degrees left.
"Whoa" means to stop.
Sled Parts
There are some parts of the sled that you need to know about.
The "FalseRunners" are the pieces of the wood in the front of the sled for racing.
The "Slats" are thin pieces of wood that are on top of each other.
The "Ice Anchor" is a heavy hook that helps hold the sled. It is the "parking brake".
The "Basket" holds the musher's gear and the dogs' gear, sometimes it holds a dog in a bag.
The "Hand Bow" is a wooden curved piece of wood which a musher holds onto when he or she is racing.
The "Brush Bow" is also a curved piece of wood that is on the front of some of the sleds that deflects snow off the trail.
The "Top Rail" is a top part of the basket that sits on top of the stanchions.
The "Stanchions" are upright pieces of wood that help the sled.