Putting The SKI Into SKIjor

Tuesday Nov 11 2008
by Shelley Ramsay

What type of skis you should use and how to decide.

"I'm thinking of starting Skijoring with my dogs! I've got all the gear, but how do I choose the right skis?"

Definitely one of the most FAQ's.   

First things first. Be honest about your level of talent on skis. If you can barely stand up when you're stationary, it doesn't matter what kind of ski you've clipped to your boots, now does it! There's no sense in spending a bunch of on skis which will barely get the chance to glide  in between your wipeouts. We started with a pair of 5 skis purchased at an auction. I couldn't tell you what type, style or brand name they were ~ they may have been antique. The main thing about them which seemed to work for us at the time, was that they stayed attached to the boots we found at the Thrift Store (most of the time) and they slid along when the dogs pulled.

After our first season of getting to know the ins and outs of falling, getting up and beginning to stay up for longer periods, it was time to put some into skis. Here's the thing ~ As your ability increases, so does your feel for how you'd ulitmately like the skis beneath your feet to glide. If the dogs are keeping pace and you're learning to work behind them, but you don't seem to be getting any speed out of all the effort you're putting in, then it's time to get a pair of worthy skis.

At this point, pay attention to your ski style. I don't mean how you're dressed, but how are you gliding? Are you a classic skier? Do you have the tendancy to want to skate? Trail will also play a big role in the type of ski you purchasel. Do you have access to wide, groomed trails? Do you call a 3 day old snowmobile track your trail? Are you more of a backcountry explorer without any trail at all? (Lord help you!) All of these situations and conditions should dictate which kind of ski you select.

Go to a ski swap in your area and ask a lot of questions about which type of skis would best suit you.

If you ski Classic Style, then you would choose this type of ski, boot and pole. It's usually best to seek out some sort of groomed trail for this  type of skiing. The three day  old snowmobile trail mentioned above, can do nicely for Classic skiers. A trail of any sort is always best for the dogs. It gives them direction so none of you have to guess which direction to travel. Sometimes, when you're out in an open area such as a lake which is packed and supergroomed by all the snowmobilers, the dogs will tend to irradically weave back and forth. At that point, it doesn't make any difference what kind of skis you've purchased because you're bound to go nowhere, fast! A distinct trail will always make for a much more pleasurable Skijoring experience. (unless it's overrun with bunnies & squirrels!)  

 Once upon a time, when I was younger, I was a figure skater. Grew up on skates from the time I could toddle. So,  I had natural balance and feel for the glide of the skis, but essentially, I learned to ski behind my dogs. I think I had a x-country lesson or two in physed class back in elementary school. The first time I was on a decently groomed x-country trail and the dogs were running a fair pace, I naturally felt the urge to skate along behind them. I had so little ski knowledge that I actually thought I made it up! Skating on skis! Like, nobody else had ever thought of it before, not even the Olympians. Anyhooo, once my husband brought me up to date, we decided that I probably should invest in some skate skis. The only drawback about skate skiing is that you have to be a little more particular with the kind of trail you can use for skijoring. It has to be wide enough for the strides you'll be taking as well as being properly packed and groomed. Usually, if you're choosing to skate behind your dogs, you're clipping along at a fair speed. The faster the dogs run, the easier it is to add momentum if you can skate ski. I find that a classic glide can only be used if the dogs have settled in to a slower pace and when they are running full out, all you can really do is some poling.

Which brings us to another question I hear frequently, "Do you use poles when skijoring?".

Yes. Yes, yes, yes and yes!  The whole idea of skijoring is working together with your dogs to create a team. A team! And, you're on it, so you have to do your part, right? If you can't find your legs under you to stride with them, then you can at least use your poles to help your team along. It's not like waterskiing , where you're going to hold the line in front of you and go for a ride. No, no, no and no!  You want to work with the dogs as much as you can. Remember you'll be moving faster than most x-country skiers, depending on the dog you're running or how many dogs you hook up. For this reason, some skijorers like to choose a pole that is a bit longer than usually suggested for x-country skiing.

Back country skiers should choose a ski which suits the terrain they'll be dealing with. The most important factor in choosing skis when you're going to be including a dog for skijoring is NO METAL EDGED SKIS. If the activity requires a metal edged ski, then don't involve your dog being fastened to you in skijor syle. It's too easy to collide with them, and you'll surely slice their feet or worse.

All being said, I am surely no expert on skis and after more than a decade of skijoring, I'm just learning how to wax for race day. Waxing is something that wasn't on our "To Do" list, until a few years ago. I was running dogs which were moving really fast and I didn't necessarily want to go any faster. Once my ability reached yet another level, I was ready to wax. We found this made an enormous difference in certain weather and snow conditions. When you wax properly, the dogs have a much nicer time pulling, especially on those days when the snow can be sticky. So, once you've chosen your new skis, I would definitely suggest investing in at least one good waxing for the season. Unless, you're still falling down every few yards, just concentrate on finding your balance. You certainly don't need to complicate things by speeding up your skis! Ski wax has a serious science attached to it, so it would be worth your while to seek out a professional to do this for you. You might be able to take a course through your local ski shop. It's one more question to add to your list when you attend the ski swap in your area.

I hope you're able to pull a few ideas out of this! Any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!

Here's to Snowy Trails and Wagging Tails, everybody!