Scandinavian Skijøring

Apollo drove a chariot pulled by fiery horses across the sky in order to illumine the earth each day. Norse goddesses get their spark by skiing pulled by a single horse or several hundred horsepower.

The Scandinavian sport of skikjøring —translated from Norwegian to English as ‘ski driving’— has been around for more than a century. What began as a means of transportation for Scandinavian immigrants and their horses was quickly picked up by the Norse gods and has now become a full-blown sporting spectacle. Minnesota’s most recent ‘loppet,’ the largest skijoring event in the world, attracted approximately 200 dog-skier teams and nearly 5000 spectators. At such competitions both skiers and their dogs must submit to drug testing. Clearly skijoring has become serious business.

At present, the International Federation of Sleddog Sports, which maintains club affiliates in 40 countries, is working with the International Olympic Committee to introduce skijoring into the 2016 Winter Olympics. Their case should no doubt be helped by the fact that skijoring appeared in the 1928 Winter Olympics as a demonstration sport.

It’s become especially popular as an activity for urban goddesses to engage in with their best friend, i.e. any dog over 35 pounds who enjoys running. Most dogs instinctively love to pull and skijorers love to be pulled, making the skijoring relationship a win-win.

To embark on your skijoring career, simply attach a 6-10 shock-cord bungee line to your pup’s chest harnass as well as to your waist, preferably by means of a hook with a releasing carabiner. When you’re ready to whisk away, call out, "Hike!" meaning "Let's go" and your dog will take off with you gleefully in tow....

OK, maybe there is a teeny bit more to it. If you want to do it right, there is equipment designed to ensure your maximum comfort and safety. Click here for the rundown on beginner skijoring tips and let the exhilaration begin... Hike!