A northern Michigan man is in Anchorage, Alaska this weekend defending his title as the winner of the annual Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races.

Defending champion Ken Chezik of Fife Lake, Michigan guided his team down 4th Avenue on Friday, the first day of the annual Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races.

Chezik and his team finished third overall in th race on Sunday.

Many call the "Rondy" one of the most uniquely challenging sled dog races in the world

Musher's from all over North America come to participate in the the race which pushes the mental and physical capacities of both the musher's and the dogs.

The races are part of the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Festival, an annual celebration now in its 78th year. 

For more information, see www.furrondy.net and www.anchorage.net/rondy