First Skijor Race!

Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#1
Today was the City of Lakes Loppet skijor race.
NOT ONLY did I get to meet our esteemed PWCorgi, who was one of a squadron of volunteers who rushed to meet my every need after we crossed the finish line, but we had a BLAST!

My only goals were to finish and not be a part of any dog fights. DONE AND DONE.

Waiting while the other classes were lining up in the starting area. As the most novice class, we started last. One of my concerns was that he would be stressed by the unfamiliar ruckus. Clearly... he was not lol.





Getting ready to line up for our class.


Lined up and waiting for our start!




Aaaand we're off!


Cheerfulest butt.


This was almost a disaster, and as close as we came to being involved in any altercations. The lady attached to that dog fell down and halted his progress, and after pausing every so briefly Squash went ON BY like a champ. I was incredibly proud of him.



more...
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#2
The view of the trail across the lake from the start... he looks dang good here but I admit that he wasn't always so nicely out in front or focused.






Then we got too far for even grainy photos, and my husband/photographer met us up at the final stretch.




I really, really love this picture. Because we're not perfect here... he's a bit winged off to the side and he's not very focused on pulling, but he's looking back at me and he looks so happy, and it just encapsulates how much fun we had together today.


We got a medal! Ok, everyone got a medal for finishing, but still... FINISHING WAS ONE OF OUR GOALS!




Thanks for looking!
 

PWCorgi

Priscilla Winifred Corgi
Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
14,854
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
34
Location
Twin Citay!
#5
Yay Squash!

I loved how right before he crossed the finish line he jumped up at you like HEY! THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!

He may not have been the most focused dog all day, but he certainly seemed like he was having a heck of a lot of fun :D
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#12
Thanks everyone! We had a blast!

Yay Squash!

I loved how right before he crossed the finish line he jumped up at you like HEY! THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!

He may not have been the most focused dog all day, but he certainly seemed like he was having a heck of a lot of fun :D
Yea, every once in awhile he would stop and come bouncing back to me with this big grin on his face. Not super efficient, but definitely fun. :)

And then when we came around the last turn to the finish, the person with the microphone said something like "Hey, let's have some applause for Squash... it looks like Squash is spending a lot of time saying 'hi' to the spectators..." lololderp. :D
 

Finkie_Mom

It's A Red Dog Revolution
Joined
Feb 7, 2012
Messages
1,794
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Bensalem, PA
#13
I LOVE this. You guys are amazing!!!! And I'm so glad you were able to get pics taken :D

And then when we came around the last turn to the finish, the person with the microphone said something like "Hey, let's have some applause for Squash... it looks like Squash is spending a lot of time saying 'hi' to the spectators..." lololderp. :D
HAHAHA he's such a ham :p
 

PWCorgi

Priscilla Winifred Corgi
Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
14,854
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
34
Location
Twin Citay!
#14
Thanks everyone! We had a blast!





And then when we came around the last turn to the finish, the person with the microphone said something like "Hey, let's have some applause for Squash... it looks like Squash is spending a lot of time saying 'hi' to the spectators..." lololderp. :D
LOL!
I heard them say his name, but it was loud with all the dogs at the end and I couldn't really hear what they were saying :p

If Siri doesn't hate the cold I would love to try this next year. Not skijoring really, more like my cross country skiing and Siri running ahead. But seriously, if those tiny toy poodles could do it!! Did you see the beagle?! If a BEAGLE can do it then I feel like a jack could! :lol-sign:
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#15
Yea I saw the pair of toy poodles, and I saw the beagle. Unless you're serious about racing, they don't HAVE to pull you - just like to run!

Even the dude's dog who was just SMOKING the 7K race was tired and more running along beside him by the time he finished his second lap (he finished his second lap before we even started!!!)
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#16
Unfortunately, because I had to mount it a little lower than is ideal because of the bib, unbeknownst to me my camera chose to focus on my skijor belt bungees. So most of my first-person perspective video is pretty unusable but I did want to post this short segment with our finish... what the lady actually said was "Squash is very busy saying hello to everyone!" lol

[YOUTUBE]KOpZKKNAg68[/YOUTUBE]


One of the things I love so much about this dog is he's so go-with-the-flow. When we first arrived at the festival, he needed some time to sit down, soak all the new things in, and have a think about it all. But then once he did that, he was totally chill all day long. Even with all the crowds and noise, he was just hamming it up and having fun.
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#18
Be very careful where you go! Generally skijoring on groomed cross country ski trails isn't allowed and you need to use areas designated for skijoring or multi-use (like winter walking/hiking trails or sometimes snowmobile trails). The dogs' feet mess up the groomed tracks for the cross country skiers, otherwise.
 

PWCorgi

Priscilla Winifred Corgi
Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
14,854
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
34
Location
Twin Citay!
#19
Yea I saw the pair of toy poodles, and I saw the beagle. Unless you're serious about racing, they don't HAVE to pull you - just like to run!

Even the dude's dog who was just SMOKING the 7K race was tired and more running along beside him by the time he finished his second lap (he finished his second lap before we even started!!!)
Whoever the guy was that finished first (no clue what distance race he was in though) came flying across the finish with his dog still pulling, but the dog pretty much threw himself onto the ground once the owner got him stopped and just laid there eating snow :p
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#20
We didn't stay for the awards so I don't know if you and I are talking about the same guy, but holy cow the really serious skijorers were going SO FAST, it was just amazing. The one I thought was leading (and waaaaay ahead of everyone else at the time) was getting off the lake after his second lap before the next class even started. Whether it was him I saw with the dog next to him or not, the amount of conditioning those dogs have is just incredible.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top