In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, a nature-loving individual has found a unique way to cut down on gas expenses. Chris Nielsen navigates the city with his trained pack of huskies, using them to pull him on a sled in winter and on a skateboard in summer. While dog sled drivers in Canada, known as “mushers,” typically focus on training for races and avoid public areas, Nielsen engages in this activity for leisure.
Nielsen can often be spotted taking leisurely walks with his huskies in downtown and Bellevue Park or going on longer runs to the airport and Garden River. Due to the novelty of his hobby, Nielsen’s dogs have become local celebrities, amassing millions of views on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok. The dogs, which include Siberians and Alaskan Malamutes, are friendly and enjoy interacting with both people and other dogs during breaks.
His dogs, named after characters from the Disney movie “Brother Bear,” excel in colder weather and embark on daily runs of up to 30 kilometers around Sault Ste. Marie. Nielsen expressed pride in his pack, highlighting their achievements and the joy they bring him. Nielsen discovered his passion for dog sledding after acquiring his first two huskies before the pandemic, leading to the formation of his unique recreational activity.
Training his dogs along the Hub Trail in Fort Creek, Nielsen has streamlined the training process for each new husky that joins his team. With a pack of six huskies, Nielsen goes through a substantial amount of dog food, sourced from local store owner Pat Andrews, who has been supplying the family for five years. Andrews, a former sponsor of a dog pull event at the Bon Soo Winter Carnival, praised Nielsen’s dedication and expressed a desire to see more dog-related activities at the carnival.
Nielsen aims to involve his huskies in future carnival events, offering rides and mushing experiences for children while also training other residents’ huskies to participate. The community has embraced Nielsen’s unique hobby, with hopes for more positive and engaging dog-related activities in the future.
