POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT
March 21, 2025
Photos by Loren Zhimanskova at
Little Jennie Ranch
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the last newsletter, we spoke of
spreading the love,
and WOW! do we have a lot to report!
Skijoring events
are helping dozens of communities
bring revenue to their towns during slower winter months.
We have heard that the skijoring weekend is
HANDS DOWN
the biggest boost for restaurants, bars, hotels, AirBNBs,
shops and services.
This also brings in sales tax revenue for the municipality.
When we ask,
"Are you having another event next year?"
Towns respond,
"Heck yeah! We can't afford NOT to!"
Travelers are seeing a snowier side
of these mountain and ranching enclaves where
throughout the summer and into the fall,
county fairs and rodeos
or fishing, hunting, camping, rafting, biking,
horseback riding or climbing
attract droves of visitors.
From towns like
Sundance, Bondurant and Boulder, Wyoming
to Bellevue and Driggs, Idaho
to Wisdom, Boulder and Whitefish, Montana
to Heber City, Logan and Cold Lake, Utah
to Topsham and Skowhegan, Maine
to Ridgway, Grand Lake and Meeker, Colorado
populations that range from under 100 to barely 2000
jump to 10 to 20 times that over a skijor weekend!
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~ UPCOMING EVENT ~
This Monday, March 24th
skijoring will be showcased during the
Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals
in Sun Valley, Idaho
Did you know that "destination skiing" was born in Sun Valley?
The first American ski club was founded here back in 1936
by W. Averell Harriman,
ambassador, statesman and son of a railroad baron.
The lodge was built in a cow pasture
and chair lifts constructed on the sheep-grazed slopes.
A ski race was conceived to rival events in Europe,
and competitors hiked up 3500 vertical feet before racing down.
There were events for both men and women.
It was through the efforts of determined
volunteers that this feat was accomplished, and
more than 1000 spectators attended.
This story parallels
the history of skijoring in some ways
since it was also in the 1930s
that enthusiastic riders on horseback first towed skiers
in make-shift races down the snow-covered
streets of towns like Jackson and Pinedale, Wyoming.
Recreational skijoring was popular
at resorts on the east coast like Lake Placid, NY
and gaining ground in mid-western states like Michigan.
Look how far WE have come in 100 years!
With 50 events planned in 2026
and an exhibition during one of the world's
most celebrated ski finals in 2025,
I'd say we are on our way to making our own history!
If you wish to spectate,
the Sun Valley Wild West Skijoring Invitational
event will be held at Champions Meadow,
currently called Festival Meadows,
half way between the town of Ketchum and
the City of Sun Valley.
It will run from 12 noon to 3 PM.
Teams will compete in a Match/Draw format,
in Open, Sport and Women's Divisions,
and every team will get one run.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hats off to all of the
organizers, volunteers and competitors
plus all of the support staff
that is hired and shows up to make each of these
events happen.
Often volunteers are from local
horse rescues like Hapi Trails at Teton Skijor or from
Elks and Lions Clubs
in towns like Leadville and Saratoga.
Money raised often goes
to scholarship funds or veterans groups.
Costs continue to escalate
when it comes to equipment, insurance and infrastructure,
and Mother Nature continues to keep us
on our toes, seeking solutions to less than snowy
or warm conditions, but we still get 'er done.
It is this spirit of the West,
the NEVER SAY DIE mantra,
that makes skijoring so special and raises EVERYBODY up
leaving no man or event behind.
"Cowboys never say die, they just keep on riding."
JOR ON!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ MAKING THE RIGHT CALL ~
That said, when conditions prove too dangerous
or challenges are insurmountable,
we respect that events need to cancel such as two races
in Alberta, Canada scheduled in March.
Most of the events in the
Podhale Region of Poland had to be cancelled in 2025
which saddens us since this tradition
is SO ingrained in their culture
and is an important social gathering in the region.
Even the White Turf event
in Saint Moritz, Switzerland had to cancel
their first weekend this year since the ice on the lake
was not thick or stable enough for racing.
Here is an excerpt from a fascinating article
about what it takes to put on that international spectacle.
"Building a racetrack and erecting tents requires an army of 60 people working seven days a week, and there’s no time to waste. Engineers begin poking holes in the ice’s surface in January to measure thickness; the magic number is between 40 and 50 centimeters, and preparations begin the moment it’s safe. “This year it was late,” explains Grasern-Woehrle. Were people nervous? “Um, sometimes, yes. Yes. Because it’s nature, right?” If the lake’s border isn’t quite thick enough, a helicopter will airlift supplies (and man power) into the center so construction can get underway.
There’s no margin for error. Ultimately the ice must withstand 2,900 tons of equipment, including running stalls and starting stalls. Seventy-five tents—situated like high-end barracks around one half of the track—will house a variety of pop-up cafes, boutiques and even a BMW dealership, which in 2015 showcased the X5 xDrive50i (sticker price: upwards of $80,000), plus the massive grandstands—the best place to view the sport. Nine semi-trucks transport food and equipment to the lake. Chef Remo Siebers of Gamma Catering, who presides over some 50 cooks, describes the often chaotic scene in the kitchen, where the ovens are constantly working. “Some years,” he says, “we are standing in the water.”
To read the full article, click here:
https://dujour.com/life/st-moritz-white-turf-festival/
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~ CHARITABLE CAUSES ~
Besides helping local communities,
skijoring has also helped to raise money for some specific
charitable causes this year.
In the past,
the Wood River Skijoring event
in Bellevue, Idaho
has helped to raise money for Devon Peterson's
multiple treatments to fight cancer.
Thankfully, Devon is doing well, and competed this year
riding horses Hercules and Super Dave!
Skijoring for MS
in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada,
completed its 4th year and, to date, has raised over $100K
to further MS research and support.
This year alone it raised $37K,
surpassing their goal.
James Purdy,
lives with Multiple Sclerosis and organizes the event.
James expressed his gratitude in a recent article in The Penticton Herald.
The event was in danger of being cancelled
due to the same challenges facing
Pole and Spur and Thunder in the Pines,
but James and his committee pressed on and succeeded.
He had the full support of the mayor.
“I emailed James, I said, are we cancelling? And he said, ‘No.’ The course is up and running and that just talks about the spirit around here and the determination,” said the mayor. “So, hats off to them. Just a shout out to all the sponsors and the volunteers that helped James and the gang put this off.”
and
the announcer, Lionel Romanchek, put it perfectly:
“We are so excited to have you and to be here and it's going to be a great day. We're going to maybe look a little different than we have in the past just because we're dealing with the weather. But we're going to get through it. We've made it to today. A few extra grey hairs and some stress. . . ”
Go to their Facebook and Instagram pages
and follow them!
This is for a GREAT cause!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100089847481412
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Another inspiring story has emerged from Canada.
Ponies & Planks Skijoring
in Fernie, British Columbia had its 2nd annual event.
Their purpose is to raise money to
"remove all financial barriers to accessing their
therapeutic horseback riding, equine assisted learning and
wellness programs for any individual or group and
to build community."
While this is already a testament to
how skijoring events can "give back" to the community,
we found that Fernie's success
is due largely to one individual who decided
to lend a helping hand.
Let's just call him "Ron from Whitefish".
Many of us know who he is.
In a post on the Freedom Equine Association Facebook page,
we read,
"It's certainly a story.
In November of 2023 I was scouring the internet for
skijoring course design, skijoring rules, and any other tips and tricks
because in 3 short months we were putting on a skijoring fundraiser. . .
I woke up to a contact form on our website that simply stated-
I've done this before, want help?"
and the rest is history.
https://www.facebook.com/freedomequineassociation/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Well, my dear skijoring community,
we have another fundraiser brewing in Canada!
Amazing Kids Foundation
A woman named Tara, in Cloverdale, BC
which is roughly 100 miles south of Whistler,
wants to start an event to help children who have lost
a parent or parents at an early age.
Sadly, she experienced this first hand,
and her lasting bond with her mother is horses.
Skijor USA has provided her with some leads
and guidance, and if you would like to
join us, please reach out directly to Tara at
tara@amazingkidsfoundation.org
We would love to
build events in the Pacific Northwest
of the United States
and in British Columbia!
Watch for events in Nevada, Oregon and California in 2026!
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~ POSITIVE SOCIAL MEDIA ~
Just this morning, while listening to the news,
we heard a report that depression
has been on the rise, especially among young women, since 2014.
A factor that is a likely cause?
Social media.
As someone who has two daughters
in their 20s, I worry about social media's impact.
I am thrilled to say that I feel skijoring
is having the OPPOSITE of a negative impact
when it comes to social media influences.
As evidenced by the thousands of posts,
our community is kind.
We are supportive of each other,
have a healthy outlook on life and competition,
emphasize athleticism and the great outdoors,
focus on family and respect for animals,
and promote responsibility and accountability.
The world needs more skijoring!
Thank you to everyone who is creating and
posting social media content
that promotes and expresses the most positive
aspects of our sport:
Integrity
Community Building
Excellence in Competition
Teamwork ~ Three Heartbeats
Skijor Style
The overall response
to video content posted by talented creators
on Instagram and Tik Tok, primarily,
has been extraordinary.
Views and likes topping 100K and 200K
and in some cases millions,
are successfully showcasing the sport and growing
our viewership and attendance base.
Posts that attract smaller audiences are important, too,
since they increase the number of posts overall
and show the breadth and scope
of our various communities and competitors.
Our next newsletter will highlight
some of these success stories and the people
and organizations behind them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Facebook posts
are increasing the interaction
between individual competitors and their fans
and shared or tagged photographs make the sport more personal.
Let's bear in mind
that these platforms are visible
to a broad audience,
and that it is imperative to maintain a professional
and constructive dialogue.
Discussions involving the sport or specific events
should remain polite and respectful,
and organizers should be contacted directly
with any concerns.
Personal issues, as they arise, should be discussed
privately and kept off social media.
Skijor Event Websites
are also becoming increasingly sophisticated
which enhances the competitor's, the sponsor's and the
spectator's overall experience of the sport.
Keep up the great work!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ RECENT EVENTS ~
The essence of our skijoring community
was on full display at two events this past weekend.
Brian Head Resort in Utah
celebrated its 50th Anniversary
and
featured a skijoring event to mark the occasion.
Skijoring Utah
organized the event bringing in local teams
from RMO horses and beyond.
The social media posts
show that there was plenty of snow
and lots of enthusiasm in a crowd of over 1000.
Skiers flew overhead as horses raced by.
Let's hope that Brian Head will be an annual event!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Little Jennie Ranch
wranglers, crew and family members,
readily identifiable by the colorful leis worn around their necks,
fought through nearly constant snowfall to run their race.
Competitors from Canada, Montana,
Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming
teamed up to run in 8 different divisions.
Over 2500 spectators
attended throughout the weekend,
and Skijor USA
intermingled with many of them.
Many came from nearby Jackson, Pinedale and Alpine,
while others traveled from Lake Tahoe
and Las Vegas specifically to experience the sport which
they had recently discovered on social media.
It quickly became a bucket list item!
The track was lined with
enthusiastic onlookers of all ages
who dressed for the occasion in Muck Boots,
all manner of fur, down and fleece,
cowboy hats, wild rags, gloves and scarves.
Common themes were BROAD smiles
and snowflake dotted beards, braids and eye lashes.
Vendors sold hamburgers, chili and short rib sandwiches
made from Little Jennie beef
and spiked coffee, mixed drinks and beer were available
to sip on around the Cowboy Cauldron bonfire.
Check out images on Skijor USA's Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/skijorusa
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ RESULTS ~
While official results and times have not been posted,
we took notes during the awards,
so here is what we have:
(Name of Team, then Rider, Skier & Horse)
Congratulations to all who competed and placed!
Open Division
1st: Black Velvet
Kat Licht & Ty Frueh with Babes Last Rascal
2nd: Thunder Birds
Luke Mullendore & Neal Robertson with Tudd
3rd: The Silly Geese
Tristam Hokensen & Casey Countts with Autumn
4th: No Name
Kevin Frueh & Colter Fretwell with Pop A Top
5th: Hog Heaven
Clint Grimes & Neal Robertson with Stash
Sport Division
1st: CRR #2
John Hampton Cornelius & Ben Johnson with Avery
2nd: Alpine Skijor
Carlee Hansen & Ian Nelson with Lori
(We believe it was Alpine Skijor not Alpine Skijoring
in which case the rider was Tyler Houle on Fred)
3rd: ?
Novice Division
1st: Frosty and the Snowman
Dylanne Free & Dayne Free with Snowman
2nd: Adrenaline Cowboys
Tanner Brady & McKinley Keener with Liberty
3rd: Shake 'n Bake
Braily Newman & Grant Sadusky with Ruby
Century Division
1st: Free and Frueh
Kevin Frueh & Ty Frueh with Pop A Top
2nd: Free and Frueher
Kevin Frueh & Ty Frueh with Beau
3rd: Backcountry Leather
Stephen Lloyd & Bryson Threatt with Cash
Working Horse Division
1st: Sharon!
Hanna McNinch & Pat Tolton with Granite
2nd: Fifty Shades of Hay
Tristam Hokensen & Bryson Threatt with Titan
3rd: ?
Womens Division
1st: Lips and Fur
Amy Gardiner & Alexi Wattis with Harrison
2nd: Grit & Grace
Paige Collins & Tyra Foley with Pesos
3rd: Snow Problem
Terra Jorgensen & Kyra Foley with Drifter
Snowboard
1st: Thunder Snowsliders
Kat Licht & Jakobe Chacon with CVC Wild Look
2nd: (Not sure which team name)
Courtney Anderson & Jakobe Chacon with ?
3rd: No Name Yet
Piper Crabtree & Kevin Wilder with Golden Gun
Kids
1st: Hot To Go!
Vanessa Heileson & Anna Milne with Squirrelly Dan
2nd: Dragon Slayers
Terra Jorgensen & Preston Jorgensen with Black Betty
3rd: Zane and Noel
Zane Meeks and Noel Meeks with Lonny
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ IN THE NEWS ~
Sheila Flynn, of The Daily Mail,
a publication with audiences in the UK, the US and beyond
covered skijoring recently
using Leadville's event as a backdrop.
(Its online publication has 50 million unique views a month!)
Savannah McCarthy, Leadville's all-time title holder,
organizer Duffy Counsell and his son, Brennan,
rider and former bull rider, Jed Moore, veteran skier, Jerry Kissell
and Loren Zhimanskova of Skijor USA
were interviewed.
Here is an excerpt:
"A hefty portion of spectators. . . are viewing the sport and Savannah for the first time; a chorus of gleefully astounded 'Oh my Gods!' and ‘Holy s***s!’ rings out as new fans realize just how fast and dexterous skijoring can be. Savannah's team completed the course from 8th Street to 4th Street in just 16.88 seconds, before onlookers could scarcely grasp what they'd seen.
Skijoring is soaring in popularity, fuelled by the latest iteration of cowboy culture having its day – think everything from Yellowstone to Beyoncé’s country album – and by social media, which provides a perfect platform for showcasing the ‘nerve-wracking’ sport."
The article ends with the perspective of a spectator:
The first year he attended, he says, ‘it probably was 1,000 people, very comfortable walking around, find a spot here, move over there.
‘Now it’s like you have to hold your spot three hours ahead if you want to keep your view.’
To read the full article and view photos click below:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14444845/skijoring-leadville-colorado-broken-bones-Savannah-McCarthy.html#
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~ LOOKING FORWARD TO 2026 ~
Skijor USA has posted the beginnings of a 2026 calendar.
Races whose dates are not official are listed as TBD.
This is organized alphabetically by state.
Please contact Loren at (646) 209-0229
or loren@skijorusa.com
with any updates.
We are thrilled to include NEW races
on the 2026 calendar as well!
Let's spread the word!
Go to www.skijorusa.com
to see the calendar.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JOR ON!
Loren Zhimanskova,
President, Skijor USA, Inc. & Skijor International, LLC