Skijoring
Information
So, how much fun can you have with a couple of
dogs?
LOOK AT THIS!
Scott Dahlquist skijoring at Mound, Minnesota
Skijoring is one of the fastest growing sled dog
sports!
Although skijoring has been very popular in Scandinavia and
Alaska for years, its popularity is rapidly spreading to other regions of the world. And
well it should! As more races and tour companies feature skijoring, dog enthusiasts
recognize it as an activity they can participate in with a couple of dogs and minimal
equipment. (Most of the General Suppliers listed on our Equipment & Supplies page carry skijoring
equipment.)
Skijor competitions associated with sprint races are
usually 3 to 10 miles in length, but there are a couple of 50 mile and 20 mile endurance
events hosted by the Alaska Skijoring
and Pulk Association.
You don't have to compete to enjoy skijoring with your
dog--with minimal skijor equipment, an eager dog and a pair of cross country skis, you're
on your way! Just be sure dogs are welcome are the trails you use. As with all sled dog
sports, with a little digging you can probably find a mentor who will help you get started
in this exciting sport. In the meantime, the following resources can help get you headed
in the right direction!
If you are new to sled dog sports, I highly recommend that
you review the Sled Dog Care Guidelines at the P.R.I.D.E.
web site. The Exercise & Training section is particularly informative if you're new to
conditioning a skijor team.
Just for fun: 16 Steps to prepare for the skijoring season 
Articles
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Books
Ski Spot Run
By Matt Haakenstad and John Thompson
Illustrated by Jack Lunde
A complete guide for skijoring, canicross and bikejoring.
Smart, attractive, well organized with lots of humor, illustrations, photos and excellent
information on how to get started in skijoring.
Lots of useful tips and suggestions mixed with sound knowledge of dog care, training
and racing. If you're thinking of taking up skijoring, do yourself a favor and start
here.
Paperback, 204 pages, Published November 2004
Skijor
With Your Dog
Carol Kaynor, Mari Hoe-Raitto / Paperback / Published 1992
The definitive book on how to get started Skijoring--with
YOUR dog! Covers equipment and training for different skijoring objectives (racing,
recreational).
Clicking on this book title will take you directly to
Amazon.com where you can order online or browse for other books.
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Clubs
Many additional clubs offer skijoring classes at their
organized events. Check the Race
Schedule chart under Skijoring & Pulka for your area.
Alaska Skijor and Pulk Association
PO Box 82843, Fairbanks, AK 99708-2843
Jamie Marschner, President
E-mail: marschne@arsc.edu
Hotline for race & event updates: (907) 457-5456
The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association sponsors a full
season of Skijoring events for teams of all skill levels!
Anchorage
Skijor Club
P.O. Box 240573, Anchorage, Alaska 99524
The Anchorage Skijor Club encourages and promotes the
development of skijoring for recreational and professional development of the sport in
Alaska.
Phone: (907) 349-9663
E-mail: allen.freudenthal@acsalaska.net
Bogus
Skijoring Club
Tren Long, Boise, Idaho
E-mail: heedicus@hotmail.com
A guide to local skijoring trails in and around Boise,
Idaho. A club to get new people into the sport and group outings.
Cascade
Skijoring Alliance
President: Dina McClure, P.O. Box 1742, Sisters, Oregon 97759
E-mail: info@cascadeskijoring.com
Midwest
Skijorers Club
President: Jim Benson
E-mail: bensonjim@yahoo.com
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
New Midwest skijor club!
Midwest Skijorers ListServer: To
subscribe send a message to SKIJOR-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Leave the subject blank and put the word "subscribe" in the body of the
message. Once you have subscribed, you will receive copies of messages that you and others
send to the listserver.
North Country Mush & Skijor Club
Presque Isle, Maine
The purpose of the North Country Mush and Skijor Club is to
provide support for individuals and families in the New Brunswick, Quebec and Northern
Maine interested in dog powered sports.
E-mail: NorthCountryMushSkijorClub@Hotmail.com
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Destinations
- Alaskan
Skijoring Adventures-Ski with dogs of Alaska - Guided Tours By The Hour
- Crystalwood
Lodge LLC, Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA - Musher owned and operated, nestled in the
heart of the Winema National Forest Trail System. Mushers and dogs welcome!
First-class accommodations to make for the perfect vacation with your best friends.
- Klondike
Ventures, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada - Introduction to dog-sledding and
ski-joring. Day and overnight experiences in the pristine "David Thompson"
corridor west of Rocky Mtn. House (central Alberta).
- Skijoring at the
Telemark Inn - Maine Guide
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Web Links
- Awareness Pet
Training, North Gower, Ontario, Canada - Introduction to skijoring courses, fun
Skijoring Club in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and surrounding areas. Spring & fall dog
scootering classes. We are hoping to start a dog scootering club in the near future.
- Green Mountain Distance Mushers,
Underhill, Vermont, USA - GMDM encourages mid-distance running and sponsors a race January
25, 2003 that includes a 1-3 dog 15 mile skijor class and a 1-3 dog 8 mile skijor class.
- Norvik Nordic and Skijor,
Canada - Lessons in Cross Country Skiing and Skijoring. One on one or clinic format. Train
your dog or borrow one to aid in training yourself. Will travel to you for clinics of 4-6
participants.
- Skijor Now - The
Skijorer's Source - Great skijoring information plus online equipment
shopping
- Sunday Drivers, Ottawa Ontario,
Canada - A group of skijorers and small team sledders who get together for training and to
share information.
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Product Reviews
European
Guard Harness - Reviewed by Ami Gjestson
New Ski Boot: The "Pilot" - Reviewed by
Scott Dahlquist
Trails
Check the Training
Trails Page for skijor trails in your area
Special thanks to Scott Dahlquist and Kevin Murphy for their informative
articles, photos and tireless promotion of skijoring.
Thanks also to all who have paved the way in introducing
skijoring to a larger audience. One special person, Carol Kaynor, opened the door to
competitive skijoring in the USA Midwest and the ISDRA sanctioning program by sharing
existing Skijoring Rules with us "greenhorns" in the Lower 48.
Submit your skijoring links, books, destinations and
ideas to webmaster
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