First thanks for the wonderful comments. I am trying to learn the stats game but I love to listen to your comments and learn the race. As far as skijoring goes words cannot describe what its like between you and your dog. I think part of the reason is because you are also working with your dog as a team (trust me you are the slow one!) I first started skijoring in 1997 in anchorage while in the army with a rescued husky mix from the pound and I had never been on cross country skies before!!! If nothing else I learned to skate ski quickly with my pup or be dragged down the trail
That first winter we raced a few local races but we were mainly learning. I belonged to a club called NASSPA In 1998 we started racing seriously winning the first run/skijor race and that year we went on to race the North American Limited in Tok Alaska where we finished in the top 10. After 1998 we moved from racing to more long distance camp/skijoring and had many fun nights on the trail. There are three stories that stick out in my mind the most. The first is one night in December we were on Poleline pass and skijoring silently with no headlamp under a full moon. I noticed my pup Shawna's tail go up a sure sign she is slacking and then I heard the lone howl of a wolf. I looked to my right and saw the entire pack running just above treeline with us. I got shawna stated again and the wolves while 200-300 meters above us were keeping pace with us. The male, I assume the leader came within 50 meters of the trail several times to check us out. I couldn't help but to imagine him wondering why that silly dog was luging a human all around. as we neared the top of the pass we stopped to rest and the wolves stopped to. They sniffed the air the howled and soon my husky took up the song and joined in the howling. I sat there like a visitor to awestruck to move and could not help but to feel they were beckoning her to join them. I swear at one point I felt like taking off her harness and letting her go. In what seemed like hours but was more like 30 min the leader gave a final long howl and they were gone. It was an amazing moment.
The second most memorable time I had was when I was deep into the trails around eagle river when a white out rolled in. I couldn't see my dog just 5 meters in front of me. I pulled her close and said "hike it up take me to the car" she headed down the trail and I followed along. She would stop and sniff them make a turn. The trails are a maze out there, several times I thought she had no idea where she was but followed anyway lost myself. Sure enough she brought me to the car although I didn't see the car until she veered suddenly and literally ran me into it. Smart dog!!! dumb skier
Lastly, late in march we were having just a fun run outside some trails by the Anchorage airport when I saw a baby moose across the trail. A sure sign of trouble because moma is close around. I reined shawna in falling to the ground to stop her. I will be darned if that moose pup didn't come up the trail till her and shawna were nose to nose. I looked around frantically for mom but she was no where to be seen. I got to my feet and no sooner than I was on my skies then the baby moose ran and Shawna followed. trust me there is no stopping a determined husky. Shawna and that moose ran side by side playfully nipping and bumping each other like kids. Hind sight being 20/20 I should have fallen again but I found myself laughing. Another 1/2 mile up the trail and there she was moma straddling the trail 200 meters forward. Needless to say I hit the ground like a rock. The baby looked at moma then looked at shawna them at me and again I swear moma looked at the baby like "no more playing with the humans" and the baby walked over to momma and they were gone.
I could go on for days but those are my favs. When I left Alaska I went on to skijor in Wi,MA,ME,and VT spreading the sport of skijoring wherever I went. In July of 2006 I finally lost my beloved friend, and partner who lived to be 15. She skijored until she was 14. It took me a long time to get over her loss but in Jan 2007 I got another pound puppy husky mix who goes by Harley, she is stubborn, hardheaded, loving and full of youth, and hitting the Minn trails with her is a challenge all over again. 2008 was are first year really skijoring and she has never ending youth !!!! I on the other hand have aged 10 years since competitively racing!!!!!!
It doesn't matter if you skijor,bikejor, rollerblade whatever its all about the dogs
I will be happy to answer any technical questions you have about skijoring but thought this would be a good post while the leaders are resting )take care
ski
but don't think I've heard them howl....very cool!
