Skijring Is Like Dogsledding With a Twist
Here’s where to do it.
By Shelley Arnusch
photograph by Russell Donald, courtesy of Mad Dogs & Englishmen Inc.
Though it has long been a thing in Scandinavia, skijring is new around these parts. It’s essentially dogsledding, but, instead of a sled, the dogs are harnessed directly to a Nordic skier. If you grew up on a farm with older brothers, you’ve likely tried some version of this with an old water ski rope and the family dog. For a more professional experience, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, a sled dog expedition outfitter based in Dead Man’s Flats, east of Canmore, offers two-day skijring clinics. Participants can do the clinic with their own dogs, or use trained dogs to master the skills before giving it a go with their canine contingent.
