We were introduced to the sport skijor, which is the crazy combination of skiing with dogs. The skier stands at the starting line with their dog (s) attached to their waist. At the signal the dogs set off pulling the skier, while the person uses their pole to help get a faster start. Very quickly the racer is going quite fast, no longer requiring their poles for speed, only balance now. It was very impressive to see the coordination executed as they speed through the trail.
We spent some time before watching the start of the 4 mile dog sled race walking around looking at the dogs, the different types of sleds and the set up used to have the dogs transported and harnessed too during the wait time. The sleds were either metal or wood, with the frame being almost identical (to our untrained eye) in style. The dogs were a real mixed bag in terms of types, we were surprised that only about 1/3 of the dogs were huskies. The others ranged in variety from border collie to whippet to mixed breeds. They all shared a common love of running and sledding.
The teams of dogs are so incredibly coordinated. Their listening skills were amazing, we watched one team hook up to their sled, the dogs patiently waiting as all the dogs were brought out one at a time. The owner telling them to wait, be quiet, move together, all without missing a beat or being told more than once.
We left wanting to give dog sledding a try....and you guessed it, we left wanting another dog even more.
1 comment:
How crazy (intoxicated) was the first person who put on skis and tied themselves to a pack of dogs?
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