Sleigh-driving Tips

Out on the safari, keep a safe distance of 10m between sleighs.

• Why the gap: it gives you time to react to your own balance or team and to any sudden change in speed ahead
• Watch ahead: keep an eye on the sleigh in front and brake appropriately, passing any slowing at the front down the line like falling dominoes
• Faster team: if your team is consistently faster than the one ahead, your guide will spot it and reorder the teams
• Never overtake yourself: your dogs might tangle in the lines of the team in front

As with biking or skiing, lean your body-weight into the turn: left for a left bend, right for a right. Keep your weight mainly on the inside runner, leaving a little on the outside runner so the sled doesn't tip inwards. If you need to slow for a turn, brake before it and balance strongly through it. Some corners are so tight you almost stop the team and run the sled around before the dogs tug again, to avoid over-turning.

The brake sits at foot level between the skis, and the harder you press, the more resistance the dogs feel.

• When to brake: to keep at least a 10m gap to the team in front, to slow before turns, and on descents so the sleigh does not overtake and injure the dogs
• Why the gap matters: the dogs are competitive and want to pass each other, and unsupervised they may fight or tangle
• To stop: place both feet on the brake, pulling up hard if you are light, and hold that position for as long as you want the dogs stationary

All our routes follow tracks we work hard to keep in good condition, one of many things that set our farm apart. The snow either side of these groomed pistes is softer and powdery.

• Watch for drift: the sleigh can slide towards the soft edges if you are unbalanced and start to tip outwards
• Counterbalance at once: put both feet and all your weight on the opposite runner and gently pull the sleigh that way
• Whatever happens: even if you end up on your knees with the sledge tilting almost impossibly on its side, do not let go

On a steep uphill, help your team by pushing with one leg as if on a scooter, or walk or run behind the sledge while keeping your hands on the handlebar. On a steep or long descent, keep one foot lightly but constantly on the brake so the sleigh cannot slip sideways or hit the dogs.

Each driver is responsible for their team, so always keep an eye on the dogs. Watch for a tangled line, a dog running on 2 or 3 legs, a dog dragged along on its back in loose snow, or a dog constantly shaking its head. If you see anything untoward, err on the side of caution and call a guide for help.

Passengers need only remain seated and keep hands and legs inside the sledge rather than holding on, as instinct suggests - if you hold on and the sledge overturns you risk hurting your wrists or fingers. Passengers can take photos or film and help the driver watch the team. A passenger who is athletic and used to dogs can jump out to sort a tangle (the driver cannot, as they can't let go of the handlebar) or help pull the sleigh back onto the track.