“The cold is here to stay. This time last year, our skis were out, and the snow officially covered the ground, and we could ski!
Depending on how you look at it, Central Alberta has been lucky so far this year. We don’t really have any snow on the ground, and the temperatures have been very liveable, i.e., nothing colder than -15 degrees Celsius.
But that means there is not enough snow for us to go skiing.
In other parts of Alberta that do have snow, we are starting to see our fellow Cani athletes out skijoring and sledding with their dogs!
Last year, we took skate skiing lessons to try and help us become better skiers so we can actually help the boys!
One great tip I took away from the lessons was to keep our skis waxed and make sure to use the correct wax for the temperature that you will be skiing in.
Getting your skis waxed by someone else will cost you roughly $20-$30 each time, and normally you want to reapply wax every 4-6 outings or when they don’t slide as easily.
To save some money, I watched some YouTube videos and bought my own waxing kit and ski clamps. I’ve linked what I bought on Amazon. It came with everything you need to get started. Having the clamps makes a huge difference when running the iron on the ski.
Make sure to check your skis, fix any dents or scratches, and rewax.
Check your gear and make sure that your Belt, bungee, Bungee Extension, and clip are all in good shape.
The good thing is we reuse our summer Canicross belts (Jackie uses a single traction Nahak running belt, and Jeremy uses his double traction Nahak running belt, but he doesn’t use the leg straps; they are just clipped behind him. This allows the belt to move around more.)
If you’re new to skijoring and are not sure what gear you need, here’s a breakdown.
Before hitting the trails, ensure you have the right equipment:
Canicross belt, bungee, and extension:
If you’re already canicrossing, you can use your existing belt and bungee, but you’ll need an extension for your bungee line. When skijoring, you need more distance between you and your dog. Using only the bungee won’t provide enough space for your dog to run freely without getting close to your skis.
Opt for a single traction canicross belt for skijoring. If you, like me, only have a double traction belt, using the leg loops may hinder your hip movements. In this case, wearing just the belt might be more comfortable.
Skis, Boots, and Poles:
We are both using skate skis. The first year Jeremy tried skijoring, he used a pair of classic cross-country skis, and Jackie used her skate skis.
Talk about frustrating!! No matter how much we skied, I (Jeremy) struggled to stay on my feet. I would do fine for about 200m and then fall.
I have since switched to skate skis, and it really makes a huge difference! Skate skis are designed more like downhill skis. They don’t have the scale grip on the bottom of the ski, and the edges are designed to grip into the snow, allowing you to push off and then glide.
Dog Gear:
Your dog will need a running and pulling harness. We use a Nahak pulling harness, and we also use boots, especially in icy snowy conditions.
And because we spoil the dogs, they have a sweater or jacket depending on how cold it is.
Training and Preparation:
If you are already doing canicross or bikejoring, then your dog has an idea of how to pull you along, and you just have to worry about staying on your skis and helping them. If your dog isn’t used to pulling you while in a harness, I would suggest starting out on your feet with canicross.
Skijoring is 100 times better when you’re on a groomed skate ski trail. We are very fortunate that we have a couple of trails that allow us to ski with our dogs as long as they are attached to us at all times.
Trail Etiquette:
Because this is still a very young sport, it’s VERY important to be kind and always slow down when approaching other people and other animals.
Make as much noise as you can and give anyone you are approaching a verbal warning. Always assess the situation. If it makes more sense for you to stop or slow down, then make sure to stop or slow down as needed.
When approaching another skier, either stop to let them pass or, as long as you are able to control your dog and yourself, create enough space for you and your dog to pass.
We like to shorten our bungee line by pulling it in closer, widening our stance, and having our dog run in between our skis. This gives us the best control. Play around with different ways to find out what works best for you.
Skijoring is becoming one of our new favorite things to do, and it makes winter so much more enjoyable.