Lately, we’ve been mushing a lot. No, we don’t have a dog team or a kennel. Instead we have a 14 year old husky mix who takes anxiety medication twice a day. He hasn’t been in a harness for years. When I used to skijor with him he’d run just slow enough to leave Cashew pulling all the weight. He’s not the dog we use for mushing. I am. We aren’t using a harness, or even a mushing sled. We’re using our our new Esla kicksled. Cedar and Coral ride; I pull.
TJ got it a few weeks ago. He went down to Anchorage for the Anchorage Folk Fest and picked up an Esla Muksu Kids Kicksled at Alaska Mill Feed . As far as I know, they’re the only place to buy one in Alaska (please comment if you’ve seen them anywhere else). Kicksleds are a traditional form of winter transportation in Scandanavian countries, but they don’t seem to be widely known in Alaska.
Even though we’re both way too big for it, we couldn’t resist taking it out for some grown-up trial runs. It’s amazing how fast you can get going just by kicking with one leg. We’re definitely getting an adult sized one the next time we’re down in Anchorage. Because it’s a 12 minute walk on trails from our new house to TJ’s work, he can use it to shorten his commute next year.
The best thing about the kid’s kicksled is it gets the girls outside so happily, even when it’s cold. Coral stands at the door and chants, “Outside! Outside!” Cedar has decided she’s going to go over the the “sled dog store” and buy dog team. She’s decided she’s going to be a musher when she grows up.
In case you’re wondering, I’m an anti-corporate nutcase and I abhor advertising, so this is my review, unsolicited. I’d eat the kicksled before I’d take money or free stuff for writing about it.
I had no idea there child-sized kicksleds! We recently got an adult-sized one (there’s a local guy here in Whitehorse who makes them) and our 2yo likes to ride on the seat. Kicking is pretty great, but hooking up our dog and the neighbour’s really lets it fly! (I blogged about it recently: http://fawnahareo.com/2008/02/18/kicksled-power/)
We’re seeing more of them around town these days – people are starting to discover them. I’ve even seen one family who’ve jury-rigged their own design out of an old lawn chair and some skis – quite a sight!
We bought an adult size kicksled this year from Cold Spot Feeds. They ordered it from a local sled maker right here in Fairbanks. I suppose one could just order it directly from Laughing Husky ( laughinghusky.com ). We LOVE it! I can put the toddler on the seat, pack the baby, and not feel like I am going to tip over on the icy roads. I’ve yet to try hooking one of our dogs to it – both the dog and I need some training first.
Traditional Norwegian kicksleds are available at Underdog Feeds, Mile 49.5 Parks Hwy, Wasilla. (907-373-6851)
North American distributor of Esla Kicksled (Finland)
http://www.goslide.ca