4 November, 2024
~ FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY
& FOR SKIJORING ~
Photos courtesy of Mark LaRowe Photography*
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~ A PATRIOTIC MESSAGE ~
As some of you may know,
I am a Yale graduate.
Our slogan is For God, for Country, and for Yale.
In recent years, I have questioned whether my alma mater
has upheld this motto, and this has made me sad.
At my club in New York, there is a plaque
that quotes Nathan Hale, a Class of 1773 Yale graduate,
who is famous for saying,
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
On the walls of my club in New York are the portraits of
US Presidents who graduated Yale
William Howard Taft
Gerald Ford
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Who will join their ranks someday?
VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE
In addition,
there is a portrait of a Supreme Count Justice on our walls,
Sonia Sotemayor, Yale Law 1979,
yet
Clarence Thomas Yale Law 1974 and
Brett Kavanaugh, Yale College 1987 and Yale Law 1990
are not represented.
Fast forward 2024.
I am glad to see another brave and outspoken
Yale Law School graduate on the Presidential ticket this election,
Vice Presidential Candidate,
J.D. Vance
J.D. represents my personal beliefs,
and he eloquently and powerfully expresses these in words
both spoken and written.
In my mind, he is a warrior, past, present and future.
I wish he skijored!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ BACK ON TOPIC ~
For over a decade now,
I have devoted myself to the sport of skijoring
largely because the community that I have come to know
largely shares my values:
Love of country, The United States of America.
Respect for God, a power higher than myself,
and
Self-empowerment as individual American citizens
who have the right to free speech, the right to bear arms
and the right to pursue happiness, as each of us sees fit,
without the threat of prosecution or social backlash.
VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE
Skijoring is my pursuit of happiness,
and I know this sentiment is shared by many of you.
I am proud to be a part of this extraordinary and diverse community
of athletes, organizers, sponsors and volunteers.
We have an open field of competitors and pride ourselves on
establishing and upholding rules that keep
the events safe, fair and fun.
We don't need DEI to expand our sport, just walk on in!
I thought to do my civic duty and use this platform
not to influence your vote, because I respect every individual's right to
choose and right to expression,
but to encourage each and every one of you to exercise
your right to VOTE
and express yourselves at the polls.
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~ IN CONCLUSION ~
We are all fortunate to call America our home.
My grandparents escaped the poverty and political turmoil of Poland
and arrived on Ellis Island in 1912 with only the clothes on their backs,
hope in their hearts and strength in their convictions
willing to work hard to achieve their dreams.
I applaud anyone who follows in their footsteps lawfully and honestly.
We are all fortunate to be involved in a sport that provides
a level playing field to athletes, both human and equine,
male, female or otherwise identified.
Our community is open to all genders, all ethnicities, all races, all religions,
all socio-economic backgrounds, and yes,
all political points of view,
and we, as a community, do not pass judgment on others.
VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE
You will find, however, that the skijoring community
flies the American flag proudly and sings our national anthem
at the start of every event, and that most participants and attendees alike
respectfully remove their hats to honor our flag.
You will find that our announcers usually offer a prayer
to keep our athletes and volunteers, both human and equine,
safe during competition.
You will find that those who are currently serving in our military
or who are proud veterans who have served and fought for our freedom
and rights as Americas are often honored at our events.
You will not see protests at our events.
We are there to have fun.
Being able to describe our skijoring community this way
makes me proud to be a part of it.
SO
VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE
Go to the ballot box.
Go to your local polling place.
Cast your vote for the future that you see for America.
THEN
Go to Skijor USA.
Click on the skijoring event websites.
and
REGISTER to compete in 2025!
*I would like to add a disclaimer that my views may or may not reflect the viewpoints of any individuals portrayed
in this newsletter nor of the photographer. The photographs were selected to illustrate the patriotic nature of our sport.
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~ A SOLID START ~
The 2025 Calendar of Events
is shaping up quickly!
23 events
have already announced
races and most are committed to dates.
Some are still to be determined,
primarily in Alberta, Canada and Maine
and who knows!
often new races pop up. . .
ALL RACES ARE ORGANIZED INDEPENDENTLY
and SKIJOR USA proudly supports them all.
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2025 EVENTS
MEEKER, CO ~ JAN 3, 4 & 5
RIDGWAY, CO ~ JAN 10, 11 & 12
PAGOSA SRRINGS, CO ~ JAN 18 & 19
LEWISTOWN, MT ~ JAN 18 & 19
ESTES PARK, CO ~ JAN 25 & 26
BOULDER, MT ~ FEB 1 & 2
SARATOGA, WY ~ FEB 1 & 2
SHERIDAN, WY ~ FEB 8
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO ~ FEB 8 & 9**
CRAIG, CO ~ FEB 8 & 9
BIG SKY, MT ~ FEB 8 & 9
MARSH VALLEY, ID ~ FEB 8 & 9
HEBER CITY, UTAH ~ FEB 14 & 15
SUNDANCE, WY ~ FEB 15
SILVERTON, CO ~ FEB 15 & 16
BELLEVUE, ID ~ FEB 15 & 16
DRIGGS, ID ~ FEB 22 & 23
CANTERBURY PARK, MN ~ FEB 22 & 23
WISDOM, MT ~ FEB 22 & 23 TBD
BROWNING, MT ~ MAR 1 & 2
LEADVILLE, CO ~ MAR 1 & 2
RED LODGE, MT ~ MAR 8 & 9
STEELE RANCH, WY ~ MAR 7, 8 & 9
** Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2025 RACES TBD
PINEDALE, WY
BONDURANT, WY
GILLETTE, WY
BEAR LAKE, UT
COLUMBIA FALLS, MT
BANGOR, MAINE
TOPSHAM, MAINE
SKOWHEGAN, MAINE
SKIJOR CANADA, ALBERTA
COLD LAKE, ALBERTA
GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
POLE AND SPUR, BLAIRMORE, ALBERTA
SAINTE-BRIGIDE-D’IBERVILLE, QUEBEC
For a continuous up-to-date calendar
and links to each event visit
SKIJOR USA
https://www.skijorusa.com/
Click on each event to get more information.
SKIJOR USA proudly promotes and
supports each and every one.
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A new event has been announced in
Estes Park, Colorado
January 25 & 26
https://www.runningwildevents.com/skijor.html
Estes Park Skijor has a $20,000 prize purse.
$10K in Open, $6K in Sport and $4K in Snowboard.
Divisions include
Open, Sport, Snowboard, Novice & Junior.
Open, Sport & Snowboard
will be Match on Saturday and Draw on Sunday.
This will enhance the fair and competitive nature of the sport.
Registration is now OPEN.
https://www.runningwildevents.com/skijorcontestant.html
The event is designed to appeal to spectators of all ages.
General admission is available on line
with kids 8 and under FREE.
VIP group tailgate tickets are also available.
https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/EstesParkSkijor
Estes Park has many other activities, attractions and businesses
that offer competitors, spectators and their families
options to enjoy throughout the weekend.
For lodging packages and other offers click below.
https://www.visitestespark.com/events-calendar/estes-park-skijor/
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~ SKIJOR SUMMIT ~
Last December,
a group of organizers and advisors
got together in advance of the season
in Las Vegas during the NFR or National Finals Rodeo.
This December, another
SKIJOR SUMMIT
will be held during the NFR,
most likely over December 6,7 & 8,
but it will be virtual so that more people can
participate and contribute.
Our intention is to involve as many organizers
as well as athletes, volunteers and sponsors who participate
with the most frequency and thus, would provide
the most insightful perspective.
Invitations will be sent out via email
and
more details and an agenda will be announced shortly.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For anyone who may find themselves in
Las Vegas for the final weekend of the NFR,
December 12th - December 15th,
please let us know.
SKIJOR USA will be in Vegas, and
we'd love to have a cup of coffee, an ice cold beer
or a shot of whiskey with you
to talk about skijoring in person!
To comment or contribute, email loren@skijorusa.com
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~ RISE 'N SHINE ~
Day light savings time
is always a reminder that winter, the holidays,
skijoring season and the New Year
are just around the corner.
If haven't bought your own 2025 Calendar yet,
Mark LaRowe
has two calendars again this year:
Scenic Montana
&
Cowboys and Cowgirls of Western Montana
Go to this link to explore
&
support SKIJOR's official photographer!
https://marklarowe.photoshelter.com/index/C0000k1SIjKOfEDk
See you at 2025 Skijoring Events, Mark!
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~ LET IT SNOW ~
Whether or not Mother Nature bestows upon you ample snowfall
or
your event is fortunate enough to have snow making capabilities,
the Brits have the answer when it comes to skijoring
under the greenest of conditions!
Check out Horseboarding UK
on Facebook and Instagram
Their approach expands skijoring into the summer season
and gives competitors more time to practice.
We encourage US races to explore it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0tmGYjuNNM
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Last season, our new brand
got off to a solid start.
SKIJOR
https://www.skijor.com/
launched a new website featuring
CLUB SKIJOR
PREMIER EVENTS
SKIJOR MERCH
A VINTAGE SHOP
SKI-DRIVING
RESOURCES
Each of these tabs is being updated and more info is to come.
We have also acquired the domain Skijoring.com
so that our message remains consistent.
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JOR ON!
Loren Zhimanskova,
President, Skijor USA, Inc. & Skijor International, LLC