THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR WINTER SPORTS PLAYBOOK. READ MORE HERE.
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.”
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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.
