Going with the dogs
Skijoring is a sport like no other
BY SHEILA ASCROFT
THere’S a new kind of Sunday driving and it has nothing to do with cars. It’s all SkIjOR TRAINING
about snow kissing your face, the plume of air-cooled breath above your head, the
another local group, mush larose
swish of skis and woofs of delight from your dog pulling you into the woods. yep,
Dog Sled Club, offers both dryland and
skijoring clinics and racing events. The
this Sunday driver is a skijorer, the norwegian word for ski-driving – skiing with
skijor clinic is scheduled for Jan. 10 in the
a skijoring belt around your hips linked to your dog’s harness with a tow rope, larose Forest, and novice skijorers will be
through a winter wonderland.
quite comfortable – you can opt in or out of
whichever activities you like. If you are an
It’s great fitness training for you and your you can get this equipment at Dusk run in intermediate skijorer, you can share ideas
dog during the winter. It will help you both Kemptville, Komatik outfitters in gloucester, and train your dogs in a safe and friendly
to stay healthy and fit, to learn a new sport, and aKKo Sports in Hudson, Que. setting. If you’re an expert, your help would
to get outdoors and have fun. If you want to join the Sunday Drivers, go to be much appreciated. The only fee is a
Presuming you already have cross-
www.skidogs.ca/Forum and register. The
country ski equipment (skate-skis work group gets people together for training
THe BIg loCal event is the ottawa Fun
best for this) and a strong dog (14 kilograms runs and outings, sharing information
race on Feb. 8 near the larose Forest. This
or more) who likes to run, then all you need about upcoming events and promoting
race is oriented towards amateurs and
is a skijor belt, dog harness and tow rope. skijoring and small-team sledding around
novices, and all breeds of dog are welcome
and make sure your skis have no metal the community.
– so if you have never tried racing before,
edges, which could injure a passing dog if In the fall, the group goes on Sunday
this is your chance. If you have an expe-
you accidentally clipped it. outings to the Trans-Canada Trail near
rienced team, enjoy the trail and share
Padded skijor belts have a one-inch Stittsville, the private trails of Ferguson Forest
your knowledge and experience. race
webbing strap sewn around the belt that in Kemptville or other good road-training
classes include one- and two-dog skijor-
extends one foot beyond on each side to areas. Scooters are the vehicle of choice for
ing, and small-team sleds. There is a non-
form an integrated tow line, ending in D training one or two dogs. weeknight winter
competitive open trail run after the awards
rings. The tow line snaps onto the D rings. outings take skijorers and sledders alike lit
ceremony. all race classes are held on six
The other end of the line — elastic bungee up with headlamps, mushing off into the
to eight kilometres of wooded trail with
material to absorb the shock from starting night. on some weekends, there are clinics
lots of curves. The race is a charity event
and bumps along the trail — attaches to or special events like the ottawa Fun race
in support of the alaskan malamute Help
your dog’s properly fitted, padded harness. (see sidebar).
league. For details:
www.skidogs.ca.
18 OTTAWA >> WINTER 2008/2009
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
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