How to keep up with a Birkie boy

Early last March, I left my Ohio home to spend time skiing in Wisconsin's northwoods with a friend from Mercer. Although I have over 20 years of skate skiing experience, Ohio winters do not exactly lend themselves to staying in shape for this sport. March marks the end of my friend's ski season, but it was essentially the beginning of mine since we had so little skiable snow until early February.

Needless to say, it was going to be tough to keep up with my friend who had skied a 2:45 Birkebeiner a couple weeks earlier and spent much of his time as a volunteer ski coach. Luckily for me, however, my friend had a secret weapon that would boost my skiing efficiency by at least 25 percent so I wouldn't hold him up.

What kind of exceptional nutritional supplement or far-out, high-tech equipment could exist to take my skiing to this level, you ask? Well, the secret weapon is actually a well-trained, uncannily smart and hard working dog. His name is Soccer and he is my new best friend.

Soccer is an exceptionally strong 12-year-old border collie who began training as a skijoring companion at six months of age. Simply put, a skijoring dog wears an X-back sled dog harness with a padded collar that is attached to a tug line that is then fastened to the waist of a Nordic skier.

Soccer was taught commands such as "tighten" (to make the rope taut by leaning forward and waiting), "gee" (right), "haw" (left), "hike" (go), "on bye" (straight), "whoa," "reverse," "easy," "over" (lines up in front of trail) and '"get up'" (accelerate on the downhill).

As a skijoring dog pulls, the skijorer - the skier attached to the dog - can skate, double pole or work on various techniques. It is rare that a skijoring dog is able to do all of the work unless he is on ice or pulling a very light skier. Soccer, however, is so determined he is able to pull 320-pounds worth of skiers over ice while the two skijorers just double pole.

Cool weather is better for dogs since they work hard and can heat up quite quickly. It is important to recognize when a dog is fatigued and give him the chance to pull off the trail, rest a few minutes and eat some snow if the owner has not brought along water.

There are several reasons, besides keeping up with a Birkie Boy, that someone might want to dabble with skijoring. First, it is a great way to introduce new skiers to skate skiing. It lessens the intimidation factor when novices are skiing with more experienced skiers. Second, skijoring enables all skiers to work on improving their technique. It teaches skiers to step around turns better, to ski more efficiently and to adjust to skiing at higher speeds. A skier can also work on double poling without tiring as quickly and also work on their V2 form for longer periods of time.

Third, skiing with a furry friend makes zero glide days much more enjoyable. Instead of struggling with sticky snow, a strong skijoring dog will pull skiers through the snow with ease.

Fourth, skijoring with a skijoring partner gives serious skiers more training incentive and contributes to a better quality workout and added fun for both people. Two skiers with mismatched abilities can enjoy each other's company with little or no waiting for one another.

If you are interested in trying skijoring, there are some important things to know before starting up. Some, but not all, local ski trails allow dogs. Regardless, it is important to keep your dog off the classic tracks. Also, if the snow is too soft, the result will not be good for the dog or the trail. Be careful not to overwork your dog - most dogs have so much fun skijoring that they will continue to work for you long past the point of fatigue. This can lead to heat exhaustion or serious injuries.

Even though I was somewhat hesitant and irrationally afraid of being dragged to my death by Soccer, I quickly adjusted to skijoring. After a couple of adventures with my new friend, I felt much more at ease. As I was skating - flying, more like it - on Long Lake and smiling from ear to ear, it occurred to me that I'm not half the athlete that Soccer is. I am awed by his musculature, determination and eagerness to work with me as a team. He is a true athlete.