24 January, 2025
~ GETTIN' 'ER DUN ~
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2025 EVENTS ADDED
For
Saturday, March 8, 2025
two events have been announced.
Canyon Rigging
presents
THUNDER IN THE PINES
in
Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556262875558
&
Crowsnest Skijoring
presents
THE POLE & SPUR
in
Blairmore, Alberta, Canada
https://poleandspur.com/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This brings the 2025 grand total to
36 events
in the US & Canada!
If we include events in Europe
this is over 40 skijoring events in 2025.
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.
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~ HOT TOPICS ~
ACTION PACKED WEEKENDS
First week of February: 4
Second week of February: 6
(plus 2 carnivals or exhibitions)
Third week of February: 5
Fourth week of February: 6
Second week of March: 6
This action packed and fast paced schedule
has prompted some heated discussion on social media.
It is a topic that Skijor USA
would like to include in our future
SKIJOR Summits.
We encourage you to email your thoughts to
info@skijor.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the meantime, here are some statistics for consideration.
Every race in 2025 is scheduled more than 250 miles apart.
350 + Pinedale, WY to Sheridan, WY
350 + Bellevue, ID to Heber City, UT
250 + Whitefish, MT to Wisdom, MT
300 + Bear Lake,UT to Driggs, ID
400 + Grand Lake. CO to Boulder, WY
All of the rest are at even greater distances.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you take into consideration winter road conditions
and dangerous mountain passes, (which might even be closed)
not to mention
roadside hazards like animals, the cost of fuel and unexpected breakdowns,
isn't it better for there to be more events
where competitors don't have to travel long distances?
Add to that the advantage of having more horses, riders and skiers
able to experience skijoring by being able to enter races closer to home.
These days often races fill up in record time,
which is a GOOD problem to have since our sport it growing.
People who want to compete need alternatives
and
Novice Divisions need to be more plentiful.
Youth Divisions need to expand to usher in the next
generation and they should compete closer to home.
Also,
to retain spectators, maintain safe track conditions,
and appeal to live media,
the goal should be to make races shorter, not longer.
Additional activities such as concerts and dances
can attract and retain larger audiences!
Add to THAT
less danger of and stress on transporting horses
long distances during winter months!
We are NOT saying that races in relatively close proximity
should be stacked on top of each other,
and that events should not consider this factor when planning.
We firmly believe that most race organizers DO.
Furthermore, if an event has to reschedule
do to unforeseen circumstances then some understanding is in order.
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~ BOOTS ON THE GROUND ~
ESTES PARK SKIJOR
in Estes Park, Colorado
January 25 & 26
As we speak, a group of dedicated skijor community
members representing three great states,
Colorado, Wyoming and Montana,
are helping to ensure Estes Park, Colorado's
inaugural event is a success.
This is a great opportunity to expand the visibility
of the sport of skijoring to a larger audience since Estes Park
is a travel destination for over 400K visitors annually and,
in particular,
many residents of Colorado's front range.
Hot off the press
&
straight from the skijoring horse's mouth!
Estes Park Skijor's competitor roster is full,
and
over 4000 tickets have been pre-sold.
The track is looking good,
and minor adjustments are being made
to optimize safety for horses and humans alike.
The fairgrounds venue is primed
for the ultimate experience with warming huts, an indoor bar,
multiple food and retail vendors and big screen viewing monitors
should spectators wish to take a break from the
winter conditions essential to skijoring.
There are plenty of photographers and videographers
on site, so we should see great results!
Estes Park Skijor
has created some SUPER fun
promotional videos on social media.
For some laughs, check out
"A Skier Walks Into A Bar"
https://youtu.be/g6hEpR1-zqI
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~ NEW PREMIER RACE ~
SKIJOR
is excited to announce the addition of
WHITEFISH SKIJORING
February 22 & 23
to its list of Premier Events for 2025.
https://www.whitefishskijoring.org/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT ~
For those of you who do not know
the rich and colorful history of Whitefish Skijoring
here is a brief synopsis.
Skijoring entered the scene
as part of the local winter carnival tradition since 1959.
Ski legends from Big Mountain Ski Resort
and horsemen from Mountain Trails Saddle Club
were recruited by the carnival's Founding Father, Norm Kurtz.
The event was first held down Central Avenue,
and then moved to the Saddle Club grounds.
This continued through the 1980s.
Whitefish Skijoring took a bit of a break,
but in 2003 it was revived, and, since then, has hardly missed a beat.
Taking the year 2024 to catch its breath, Whitefish Skijoring
has formed a new board whose members are now leading the charge.
The 2025 event will be bigger and better than ever
with 65 acres of event space to work with.
Food trucks, retail and non-profit vendors will provide
more activities to enjoy alongside the main action of skijoring.
Ticket prices and more spectator details
will be announced shortly.
Whitefish Skijoring
is one of the few events also offering
practice sessions on dates before race weekend.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Whitefish Skijoring
has already amassed a strong sponsorship following
including Flathead Cycle Riders, Glacier Bank and Murdochs
as well as Rebecca Farm
which has hosted their own skijoring event in the past.
More help is needed to support
the organizers' commitment to have a vet and horse ambulance,
Search & Rescue, the Sheriff's Department and EMTs with an ambulance
ON SITE.
Sponsorships range from $10,000 to $250
so pick your level,
and support this new team
that is working hard to keep the skijoring tradition alive
in the Flathead Valley of Montana!
Click here to access the sponsorship packet.
https://www.whitefishskijoring.org/sponsors
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ REGISTRATION & DIVISONS ~
Online registration will open TODAY, Friday January 24th at NOON.
Whitefish Skijoring
offers 4 divisions of competition:
Open, Sport, Novice and Snowboard.
The race organizers are capping three of the divisions
in the interest of efficiency and safety.
Sport at 35 teams $150 each team
Novice at 25 teams $100/each team
Snowboard at 20 teams $$150 each team.
* Registration fees have been lowered from previous years!
All competitors must register as ENTIRE TEAMS.
Registration will close if/when full
or on February 11th, which ever comes first.
If slots are still open,
teams will be added on Friday, February 21st at final registration.
Mandatory Friday gathering will be
Friday February 21st from 6pm - 9pm
at a location TBD.
Racing will start at 11am both days.
A Calcutta will be held Saturday night at 7pm at
Fatt Boys Bar & Grill
in Kalispell.
Awards will be held Sunday night post race at
Midway Tavern
in Whitefish.
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~ RULES & REGS ~
It is worth taking a look at the Rules & Regs.
They are straight forward,
but a few things of note are:
Rings will be part of the course challenge.
No batons will be allowed.
Saddles must be free of impediments
such as lariats, saddle bags, holsters and saw sleeves.
Riders and skiers that compete in Open and Sport,
may not compete in Novice.
Skiers may compete in only one division
with the exception of the Snowboard Division.
Skiers may compete up to 4 times in Sport or Open
and 3 times in Novice or Snowboard.
A horse may compete 2 times a day. No exceptions.
A rider may compete in multiple divisions up to 4 times
with the exception of the Snowboard Division,
but the limit on a single horse running only twice still applies.
https://www.whitefishskijoring.org/rules-regulations
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ VENUE ~
The event takes place at
1530 West Springcreek Road in Kalispell, MT.
The track will be built on a working crop field.
The design is new for anyone who has competed at Whitefish Skijoring in the past.
It will curve gradually from side to side.
The run out is safe and ample.
State of the art grooming equipment is being used
including a snowcat with a tiller
maximizing safety for horses' footing.
~ PAYOUTS ~
The payouts will be announced,
but there will be Day Money and Added Money
as well as those coveted buckles!
~ HOUSING ~
Whitefish Skijoring has partnered with
MyPlace Hotel in Kalispell
for discounted rooms between February 19-25.
A link is provided on the event website.
~ HORSES ~
Camping in trailers is allowed on-site
but competitors must provide your own panels
or containment methods for horses.
There will be water troughs or a water truck.at
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~ RESULTS ~
Congratulations to all who participated
at San Juan Skijoring and Skis and Saddles.
Results are posted on
San Juan Skijoring Website
https://www.sanjuanskijoring.com/
and
Skis and Saddles Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057591515163
We will take a more in depth look
at the leaders in each division following
the third race of the season
(which is also in Colorado this weekend!)
and announce which teams are making tracks in 2025
in our next newsletter!
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~ GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING ~
We recently received an inquiry
regarding how to attach a rope to a saddle
and this is the video we found most informative and helpful.
Thank you "Tex" Eddy for posting this!
For anyone new to the sport,
feast your eyes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpGEvcfUV8o
We realize that competitors may use alternate methods,
but this is one example of a safe system.
JOR ON!
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~ IN THE NEWS ~
Hopefully, our readers checked out
the social media posts from the exhibition in Banff.
If not, you are in for a treat!
Skijor Canada
is the first and only organization
to feature both trick riders and skiers that go upside down.
Their Skijor Style fashion statements are also
"over the top" and can serve as inspiration to all.
Congratulations to Sam Mitchell and her team
on another HUGE success
and thank you for your contribution
in bringing skijoring to a world of new urban spectators!
https://www.facebook.com/skijorcanada/videos/1153912989672334?st=7ayFIYKD8vm
Answering the challenge.
Skijoring Utah
also did a skijoring exhibition in downtown Salt Lake City
on February 11th of 2024
during their Winter Roundup event,
and a repeat performance is scheduled on February 8th of 2025.
Here is a link to a newscaster's report from last season.
https://youtu.be/YnILmTLv4sE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ON THE EUROPEAN FRONT ~
Poland
held its first skijoring event on
January 12 in Koscielisko
and on January 26
the second race will be held in Poronin.
This was in jeopardy of being cancelled due to
warm temperatures/rain, but the race is ON!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In Saint Moritz, Switzerland
this weekend marks the beginning of snow polo
January 24, 25 & 26.
The event is held on the same lake
as the skijoring competition and it is nothing short of
MAGNIFICENT!
Check out their website at
https://www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com/
Skijoring at White Turf will commence on February 2, 2025.
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ANOTHER VIRTUAL SKIJOR SUMMIT
will be held on
Thursday, January 30th
at 5 PM Mountain Standard Time
Several topics that have come to our attention are:
improving the ability of teammates to find each other,
streamlining Registrations and Rules & Regs
so that events are adapting a more synchronized approach.
Please email loren@skijorusa.com
if you are interested in attending
&
any topics you would like to follow up, discuss or introduce.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Loren Zhimanskova,
President, Skijor USA, Inc. & Skijor International, LLC