Skiing Pets of Other Lands
Now that the crocus are starting to bud and the ski season is being eclipsed by the approaching spring, remember our sister nations below the equator. While our winter fades away, the South American and Australian winter approaches.
Not many of us will be heading for the mountains of Chile and Peru (Yes, I know Peru, Vermont is only several miles from Bromley; but you know what I mean, so don't interrupt again.) nor are we likely to ski the heights of Queensland and the Southern Alps of New Zealand (the most amazing glacial skiing imaginable!)
But we can share in some of the joy of our fellow skiers in other lands. Everyone has seen the parrot at Stratton flying above its owner's shoulder and every skier has heard of the famous skiing dogs at Heavenly and Squaw Valley.
Many people I've talked to have even read about the kangaroos in Queensland which have been trained to ski slalom gates.
But the most recent pets to join the ranks of alpine skiing are the llamas of Peru! According to an article by Una Sincero in "Ski Life Magazine", the latest fad in the mountains of Peru is to strap two extremely long skis (each made by splicing a pair of skis) to the feet of Peruvian llama and let gravity take its course. The llama seem to take quite naturally to the snow.
Although the article does not report that anyone has been seen riding the llama down the slopes, it does seem like the next logical thing to do.
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Last updated: October 15, 2006