013. Skijoring equipment
Description
This article is from the Working Dogs FAQ, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
013. Skijoring equipment
Skijoring really only requires six simple components. A skier (you!), a dog (or dogs!), an x-back harness, a tow line, padded belt, and cross country skis. You MUST know how to cross country ski VERY well to do this. The harness has been discussed previously, there is no need to discuss the skis, and the tow line is just that -- a line that connects you to the dog(s). This leaves the padded belt. These can be purchased or made. The idea is that you put the belt on, attach the tow line to it, attach the dogs to it, and go! Some people prefer to use a handle to hang on to rather than attach the dogs to them. The handle can then be dropped if the dogs pull you into trouble! Others feel that it is best to use a belt and execute a controlled fall in case of trouble rather than risk having the dogs injure themselves in a tangle when a handle is dropped.
Carol Kaynor adds that the use of a shock cord (aka bungee cord) is recommended in the skijoring line. It is an important enhancement over a regular towline and is easier on both the dog's back and the skier's back. Also recommended is a quick-release system of some sort between the belt and the line, for safety's sake. In Fairbanks, a "quick point of detachment" is actually written into the race rules for skijoring.
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