Ski Joering: The Family-Friendly Sport You’ve Never Heard Of

If you love horses, skiing and the feeling of wind blowing through your hair, then ski joering could be perfect for you. The sport dates way back to 2500 BC, and the term ‘ski joering’ comes from the Norwegian word 'skikjøring', which means ski driving.

The wonderful thing about ski joering is that it is an enchanting and unique experience, which can be enjoyed by the whole family. Here’s what to expect from this fantastic and fairly unknown winter sport.

What Is Ski Joering?

To try ski joering, all you’ll need are a horse and some skis. Basically, the horse wears a special harness that the skier holds on to. When the horse starts to trot or gallop, the skier is pulled along, giving an exhilarating sensation that’s similar to flying.

Ski joering is perfect for adults and children alike, provided that the latter are over eight years old and are able to use a drag lift. Skis are usually included, but you need to bring your own boots.

How to Get Started

It is essential that you take private family or small group lessons to learn the ropes, as it can be a little tricky. Firstly, you need to learn how to adopt the correct ski joering position, which requires that your arms are straight and that your knees are bent slightly.

Expect to start at a gentle walking pace. Even if you’re nervous, it is important to try to relax and enjoy the experience – before you know it, you'll be skiing along at a fast trot. Just as you are beginning to feel comfortable with the pace, you'll be flying past forests, streams and quaint little villages. What could be more exhilarating?

If you feel that you're whizzing along at too fast a pace, just take a deep breath and soak up the wonderful sights and sounds around you. If you feel a bit frightened, simply repeat the following command: 'whoah, ho, ho'. This will slow the horse down.

On the other hand, you might be having so much fun that you'll want the horse to speed up. Just pick up some snow and throw it at the horse's bottom – this may sound strange, but it really works!

Where to Try It

Chamonix is a wonderful place to try ski joering, and many companies offer courses at different levels: you’ll find everything from absolute beginner to group courses and even private family lessons. During your lessons, you can opt for pleasant, family-friendly promenades that’ll take you through the stunning Chamonix woodland and charming alpine villages, or – if you’re feeling adventurous – you can choose fast-paced, adrenaline-packed routes that are sure to get your heart rate up. For families with older children, there are even mysterious night-time lessons that’ll give you a lovely glimpse of the starry alpine skies.

How to Get There

The skiers' mecca of Chamonix is only an hour away from Geneva Airport. Take the hassle factor out of getting to your resort by booking a Geneva Airport taxi with Shuttle Direct. Our knowledgeable, local drivers will be delighted to take you and your brood to Chamonix. We will even transport your sports equipment free of charge if you indicate what you’ll be bringing at the time of booking. As soon as you touch down in Chamonix, your Geneva Airport taxi will be ready and waiting to whisk you away to start your skiing adventure!

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Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable Geneva Airport taxi, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.