This winter sport has its roots in Scandinavia (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
First, it was cruises. Now, horses are taking centre stage in the latest wild TikTok travel obsession, which sees people taking part in a dangerous winter sport popular at ski resorts.
Dog sledding with huskies, gondola lifts and snow (lots and lots of snow) are three of the things you would expect to find at a ski resort. But a new icon in winter sports has galloped into the realm of social media superstardom.
Over in Banff, a small town in Alberta, Canada, a local TikToker filmed a video that has taken the app by storm. It shows the sport skijoring, which is said to be one of the most dangerous competitive winter sports in the world.
It involves someone on skis being pulled by a horse, or a dog. Sometimes the person may opt of a different kind of animal, or a motor vehicle.
The name of the sport comes from the Norwegian word skikjøring, meaning ‘ski driving’. The sport made its official debut in Stockholm, Sweden at the Nordic Games of 1901, 1905 and 1909. It’s debut as a social media craze would come over a century later in 2024.
In one video filmed in Banff and uploaded by the TikTok account @banfflakelouise which now has over 1.6 million views, crowds can be seen lining the snowy streets as someone is pulled along by a galloping horse up a slope.
The horse rider holds a massive Canadian flag as onlookers watch. The video , which has just under 70,000 likes, shows three more clips of other adrenaline seekers taking part.
‘This is so Canadian maybe we do live up to our stereotype,’ TikTok user Serena (@serenatr6) commented under the clip.
The owner of the account confirmed that the footage was filmed during the SnowDays Festival, with the skijoring part taking over the local streets January 20th. The festival is ongoing and began on January 19 and will finish on February 4 this year.
SnowDays is expected to go ahead next year but the date is still TBC if you want to attend.
Meanwhile, there was a lot of love for Canada and its culture, as another user simply named Delaney (@laneyyalonso), shared: ‘I love Canada’.
People from other parts of North America weighed in on the craze and said that people also play the sport in their home states, including Alaska and Colorado.
The TikTok account @banfflakelouise, which blessed us all with footage of skijoring on our timelines, shares videos and travel tips for those planning to visit Banff and the neighbouring area Lake Louise.
Banff is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its gorgeous peaks, beautiful valleys and wildlife.
Canada’s first national park was established in Banff in 1885 and it continues to be an in-demand spot as a resort town known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs and places for outdoor sports, hiking, biking and skiing.