Jan Kotiš, a 28-year-old musher from Czechia, dedicates his life to training Siberian Huskies while managing his work in the lumber business, aiming for success in sled dog racing.
Jan Kotiš, at just 28 years of age, humorously claims to be perhaps the last musher in Czechia. Living in the Pošumaví region with his 18 Siberian Huskies, he balances his time between the demanding world of mushing and his job in the lumber industry. His dream is to build a sled team capable of competing in the toughest races around the world, but he admits that mushing is far from romantic; it's hard work, filled with compromises and relentless battles against time and conditions.
He wakes up before five in the morning, not for work, but for his dogs, who often rouse him themselves. On his family cabin's yard in Horažďovice, he finds joy in the anticipation and excitement of his dogs who know what training entails, whether it’s feeding them based on the timing of their training schedules or preparing them for their workouts. When Kotiš is not occupied with his dogs, he sources supplies for the local sawmill, diligently managing his time between his responsibilities as a lumber businessman and as a musher who hopes to one day stand among the best in the sport.
Kotiš’s journey into the world of sled dogs is rooted in his upbringing, as his father was also a racer. This ancestry influences his dedication and passion, making it clear that although being a musher in Czechia can be viewed as eccentric, Kotiš embodies a unique blend of tradition, love for dogs, and aspiration for competitive excellence in a sport that demands resilience and commitment.
