How to Get Started Skijoring This Winter
If you’re starting to feel cooped up in the house this season, there’s a good chance your pup is, too. But you can both try an unusual and unique cold-weather sport: skijoring. Originating in Scandinavia, skijoring is skiing while being pulled by a dog(s), similar to mushing without the sled.
“When we took lessons, my dog was so excited to do it [that] we were flying,” says Charlotte Litjens, a skijoring enthusiast. “Northern breeds like huskies and Samoyeds are usually ready to pull without much training, but they say any breed can do it.”
While skijoring doesn’t require formal training (check out Minocqua Winter Park up north for that), Litjens suggests letting your dog get familiarized with a trail before attaching the lead. The Prairie Path at Lapham Peak is the closest option; skijoring is allowed on hiking trails that aren’t designated for cross-country skiing.
To get started, you’ll need skis, a harness for the dog, a tug line and a belt for yourself where you can attach the lead. Litjens also suggests investing in dog booties in case it’s particularly cold.
Skijoring is a sport that people do both casually and competitively, but even for the most hardened challenger, it’s all about the dogs. “I mean, when you see a dog blasting down a trail with a big smile and its tongue hanging out, just having the time of its life, it’s hard to stay coldly competitive,” says Litjens.
