Klondike Sun ~ April 8, 2009
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The Percy welcomes First Ski Jorers in its 33rd Year
Story & Photos by Josée Bonhomme
For the first time in the Percy de Wolfe Memorial Mail Race’s history, three elated ski jorers completed one 35-mile figureeight loop repeated over two days for a total distance of 70 miles. These skiers were tied to teams of two or three dogs each. The sport originates from Scandinavia where early skiers were pulled by reindeer.
Conditions were near perfect on the substituted trail, prepared as part of the extensive system for the Trek over the Top and the Quest dog sled race. Percy volunteers made the decision to avoid the river route to Forty Mile as the ice on the river was too rough for ski joring. The competitors were amazed at our spring conditions regardless.
Temperatures climbed in the afternoons, but the snow remained powdery or icy and fast. As ski jorers have teams of various sizes, it is difficult to compare performance because of the many variables. Orienteering alone can pose a challenge if your dogs can’t read maps… they’re in front, and usually in a hurry to get somewhere.
Seen above at top left, Darryl Sheepway is moving at a good clip up the final hill to the finish line. Top right is Jonathan Lucas trailing 14 minutes behind. Lucas is well known for his keen enthusiasm for the sport as organizer of the Copper Haul Road Classic Series in Whitehorse.
Equipment used by ski jorers is nordic light touring apparel. Jonathan here is seen in plastic- reinforced boots, and prefers straight-cut skating skis with no metal edges.
Two hot sled dogs are seen at the bottom right, wearing sun-reflecting, thin white nylon blankets to help keep the sun’s heat away.
Although skiing with the help of dogs may seem novel, the sport was practiced by adventurous women and men behind horses in the early 1900’s at the Banff Winter Carnival.
Today, it is a wonderful way to work with an animal, keeping not only the dogs in shape, but more so their owners, who must help the dogs up the hills and along flat sections as much as possible. Skating and poling, along with good balance, are the most critical skills. Organizers and skiers vow to do it again next year.
More on the Percy inside…
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