It's all in the way you loppet...

Yesterday we went to spectate at a loppet on the Lake of Isles in Minneapolis. It consisted of lots of sporting and bearded types (yes women too!!... well not really) racing eachother in various ways upon the frozen lakes south of downtown Minneapolis, which are actually in Uptown. 

Being childishly amused, the highlight for us was the 'Skijoring loppet' which is when human cross-country skiers pair up with their doggy friends in a race full of calamity and distractions. 

So really, what is going on inside those doggies heads'? The happy-go-lucky pup who thought it was going on some fabulous long walk (albeit at high speed) would often get distracted by more interesting things along the way, like spectators who smelt good, and would wander off course for a sniff and a jump around – much to the amusement of us, but to a curt reprimand from its human partner! Other dogs, chasing other dogs' tails, got so excited they decided to start the mating ritual en route... leading to a mass lead tangle with the ensuing threesome!! Some felt the cold and thus needed to pee in the middle of the track and others simply had had enough and wanted to sit down and have a scratch. 

There were however some highly trained canines who listened to their owners as they shouted: "hy! hy! hy!" to propel them forwards faster as their tongues lolled out the sides other their mouths with the sweet taste of victory in salivating reach. (That's the dog by the way, not the owner.)

Take a look at some of the pairs in action:

  

 Go doggy go!! (Nice booties!) The dog is actually supposed to be in FRONT of the person, pulling them along, this golden retriever looks like he's going for a walk in the park...

  

Atta boy!! That's the way you do it!!

 

See that tension?! A very well trained pooch, but perhaps not quite big or strong enough to speed them both up?

 

These hounds had to pull the man and the baby! Cool sled though!

For those who wanted to take it a step further there was bike racing on an ice track. It was full of pumped up tyres and egos and we watched them wiggle their way around technical sections and zoom along at dangerously high speeds while trying to precariously overtake the bloke in front. 

There was a fashion prize that went out to the man wearing an all-in-one tight lycra bike suit that was designed to look like he was wearing overalls with a flannelette shirt. It came complete with a hammer 'hung' on his thigh and a handkerchief coming out of his 'back pocket'. Stunning. Best hair went to Gramps with the longest flowing white wizards beard, he also managed to crack a good pace alongside the rookies!

  

Who's the daddy? The overall winner who beat the rest by a mile and lapped they guy in the 'overalls'... can you see him in the background?! 

Round and round we go!!

Best Hair.

 And whilst you were warming up with your hot cocoa or inhaling your Divine Swine Pulled Pork Sandwich, you could peruse the talents of the local snow sculpturers. They varied in subject and skill, but here's probably one of the best ones.

 

We missed the night loppet where they placed blocks of ice with candles in them around the lake lighting the way with a huge ice pyramid at the finish line... it would have been beautiful, but now we have something to look forward to next year!