Sled Driving Tips
Practical mushing tips covering the start, safe distances, turning, speed control, counter-balancing and surveillance of your dog team.
Don't let go. Before you start, we will talk through and demonstrate everything you need to know for a safe start, secure turns, speed control and stopping, plus 'counterbalancing' the sleigh and handling ascents and descents. Those joining us for longer safaris can also learn how, and why, to supervise the teams during breaks.
- Keep both hands firmly on the handlebar at all times
- Maintain a 10m safety distance from the team in front
- A trailing cord behind the sleigh ahead is your visual distance cue
- Stay relaxed - absorb bumps and turns with your knees, like skiing
- Lean your body-weight into the direction of each turn
- Longer safaris also teach untying, ascents, descents and team supervision
The start
Starts are high-adrenaline moments for huskies and mushers alike, and the atmosphere can be electric. At rest, the sleds are tied to an immovable object such as a holding post on the starting line or a tree. We help passengers settle comfortably on their reindeer skins with blankets tucked around their feet, and will happily take pictures of you primed and ready to go.
Wait with both feet on the brake and both hands firmly on the handlebars until all the teams are ready, and keep them there at all times once you set off. The only time you should ever consider letting go with one hand is to signal a guide for help. Nearly every day we see a client relax half-way round, reach for a camera or lose grip, and suddenly the passenger is enjoying a free ride with the dogs while the driver is left behind.
02Learning to relax
The most common difficulty for novice mushers is learning to relax. Adrenaline and the fear of falling off usually make you tense up and grip too tightly, which exhausts you quickly and actually makes a fall more likely. Hold your stomach firm and absorb bumps, turns and sudden twists with your knees, much as you do when skiing. Luckily, it doesn't normally take long to realise you are managing fine and to start enjoying the experience.
03How close should I be to the team in front?
As soon as you leave the start line, keep a 10m safety distance between the sleighs. This gives you time to react to problems in your own team, or to the team ahead stopping unexpectedly. Always watch the speed of the team in front and brake when they do, so the gap stays constant and slowing ripples smoothly back through all the teams.
A cord trails behind the team in front as a visual cue for this distance. If your lead dogs approach the cord, you are too close to react in case of problems.
04Turning
As with biking or skiing, shift your body-weight into the turn: lean left when the bend turns left, right when it turns right.
Good to know
- Safety distance
- 10m between sleighs
Ready when you are
Real wilderness, 200+ huskies, eighteen winters in.