Skijoring is a winter sport in which a cross-country skier is pulled by one or more dogs, by a horse or a motorized vehicle such as a snowmobile. The equipment normally includes skis, reins or a nylon belt to tighten around your waist and which will be tied to the animals as well. Skijoring has become an official sport in 1928, when it was demonstrated for the first time in the Winter Olympics.
Dog skijoring (with normally one to three dogs) combine cross-country skiing technique with the traction of dogs. Dogs can be replaced by a horse, with or without a rider, or by a motorized vehicle such a snowmobile, both allowing to reach higher speeds.
Skijoring has become widespread in the Dolomites, too, and in winter you can find more and more speed competitions, usually organized on flat areas or along a trail.
This new discipline started to spread in Val Gardena and on the Merano 2000 Ski area in South Tyrol, where skijoring tours are organized.
