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Skijor? For Sure
by Elisa Kronish

Skijoring is a sport with an funny-sounding name, but it is a heck of a lot of fun. Norwegian for "ski-driving," skijoring is kind of like water skiing, but you ride cross-country skis and a dog (not a boat) is your driver over the snow. You wear a wide belt around your waist or hips and connect to a harness on the dog with a tether about 10 feet long. The sport was brought to this country a century ago by Scandinavians who skijored from place to place during the Arctic Gold Rush. But now you don't have to go all the way to the Arctic to enjoy the sport. Within several hours of Chicago, Madison, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee in southwest Wisconsin lies the Justin Trails Country Inn and Nordic Ski Center, where visitors enjoy 12 miles of Nordic ski trails and 213 acres of rare Midwest hills and open fields, perfect for skijoring, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

The sport requires a big, healthy dog and a pair of cross-country skis, both of which will be provided for you. (Heidi and Harley, two Siberian huskies, do the pulling.) All you need to bring is a good attitude and a sense of teamwork—although the dog is pulling you, you still need to move your legs. You also need to be confident with the dog as your leader, but be able to stop competently on your skis, just in case the scenery gets in the way. You'll be moving at speeds up to 20 mph—a pace typically much faster than regular cross-country skiing.

The activity comes free with your reservation at the inn, which provides a comfortable, cozy refuge to warm up and wind down. Don and Donna Justin are the third-generation owners of this old dairy farm, which pampers its guests with quaint, country charm and hearty homemade farm breakfasts.

Practically Speaking
Rooms range in price from $75 for a space in the 1920s farmhouse Sunday through Thursday ($85 on the weekends) to $175 for the Scandinavian-scribed log home, modernized with welcome amenities, such as a whirlpool and gas fireplace ($200 on weekends). Pets and children are welcome in some rooms ($10 per day per pet). For reservations and information, call 800-488-4521 or e-mail justntrailsbb@centuryinter.net. There is a two-night minimum stay on holidays and on weekends during the summer and fall.

Related Links
Justin Trails Country Inn
Wisconsin's Northern Lights Skijor Club
North American North American Skijoring and Ski Pulk Association
Sparta, Wisconsin, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Elisa Kronish is an editor at chicago.citysearch.com and a freelance writer who specializes in Windy City recreational activities.

Photo:David Wheelock/Pictor
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