~ NEW SKIJOR WEBSITE LAUNCH ~
Monday, December 18, 2023
MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!
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There's a NEW website in town!
www.skijor.com
And it is LIVE and ready to view!
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Introducing CLUB SKIJOR,
an opportunity to show your support
for the sport of skijoring
and
become a part of a larger community
of competitors, organizers, volunteers, spectators
and fans!
Two levels of membership are being offered
Individual and Family
and
each comes with perks and benefits.
JOIN TODAY
and receive a Membership Card
as well as
a SKIJOR lapel pin.
A 10% discount is available to members
when you SHOP on our new website.
The product line includes t-shirts, caps, hoodies
and fun accessories like
blankets, dog leashes and hip packs,
and we also have a VINTAGE shop where you
can find one-of-a-kind pieces
to wear at skijor events.
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The new website
highlights PREMIER EVENTS that are endorsed
by SKIJOR,
and also lists the full calendar of races with
links to websites and Facebook pages
similar to Skijor USA's site.
Our goal is to offer VIP Membership perks
at participating races in 2024,
and fully build out this program in 2025.
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We are offering SKI DRIVING equipment
on the new site
which allows you to ski behind your horse while
reining from behind rather than riding in the saddle
and pulling a skier.
This traditional form of skijoring
is making a comeback and has been featured
recently on social media, and we will be promoting it!
Harnesses and SKI BARs
are available for purchase so check them out!
Each is fashioned from the best materials
by artisans in the USA.
Years of research and testing have
gone into this equipment.
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SKIJOR is offering RESOURCES
to Members which will help
new organizers, new competitors, new ski drivers
and new visitors or media navigate our sport
and its events.
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Finally, SKIJOR is endorsing
ATHLETES and TEAMS
that will be seeking sponsorships
and traveling to events to represent their team
as well as brands of those companies supporting them.
This is a great program that we are
looking to expand,
so if you wish to form a team and represent your state
at races, contact us to get started.
The first team has been formed in Montana
by Michael Miller, Tayler Stobaugh and Colter Fretwell.
It is called Skijor MT.
We wish them the best of luck!
Michael has also joined our Advisory Committee
(Josh Abbott, Dennis Alverson & Jerry Kissell)
which will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss
the upcoming 2024 season.
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~ SKIJOR SUMMIT 2023 ~
The first SKIJOR Summit in Las Vegas
on December 6th & 7th
was a success!
Meetings were held both days in a swanky
conference room at the
Westgate Resort & Casino.
This was the perfect time to get together
and brainstorm since so many
members of our community
attend the NFR or National Finals Rodeo.
Outside of the meetings our group
enjoyed rodeo events, concerts, shopping, gambling and dining.
WHAT A GREAT TIME!
Those who weren't in Las Vegas
called in and were able to participate via
conference calls.
Much was accomplished,
and attendees came away inspired
and fired up about the future of the sport.
The topics covered and discussed were:
The Event Experience
Sponsorship & Main Events
Structuring the Sport
Marketing & Social Media
Rules & Regs
Logistics & Resources
Since the Summit was by invitation,
a total of 15 people participated, and they included:
Ted Slathar of Canterbury Park, Minnesota
Randy Greer of Gillette Skijor Derby, Wyoming
Elliott Paull of Teton Valley Skijoring, Idaho
Tyler Peterson of Bellevue, Idaho,
Jed Moore, Rider
Mark LaRowe, Photographer
Josh King, Videographer
Stan Olsen, Marshall
Mary Rosenberg of Brainerd, Minnesota
Randy Jokela of ProWest Productions
and
Loren Zhimanskova of SKIJOR and SkijorUSA
Members of our group also used this time to conduct meetings
in Las Vegas
with future race organizers, sponsors and media.
We would have liked to have met
with Jerry Kissell, an Advisory Committee Member, and
with two skijor announcers that were in town,
Dusty Sagers and J.W. Kinder,
but, unfortunately, our schedules conflicted this year.
We were also able to visit with a
former top skijor athlete,
Erica Hutchings formerly of Leadville, Colorado,
whose family member,
Tristan Hutchings,
took first place in bull riding on Thursday night
and fourth place on Friday night.
SKIJOR Summit 2024
is already in the planning stages,
and we are considering
a spring meeting in addition to
the annual December Las Vegas conference.
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~ A SOLID START ~
In our last newsletter,
we listed the
The 2024 Calendar of Events
in which 24 events
have already announced
races and most are committed to dates.
https://www.skijorusa.com/
Since then we have added
a race in
Boulder, Wyoming
on March 9th & 10th
called Steele Ranch Skijoring.
This is being organized by John Hyde,
so please reach out to him with any questions.
We will keep you apprised of event details as they emerge
and check out their Facebook page below.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554679132934
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SKIJOR CANADA
has announced a date for Skijordue as
March 2, 2024
Please check the website
https://www.skijorcanada.com/
during the next few months for any updates since
their event depends on snow levels.
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The first race of the season
December 29th, 30th & 31st, 2023
in Meeker, CO
is still a go at this point despite low snowfall.
For up to date information,
go to Meeker Skijor's Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/MeekerSkijor
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~ NEWS FLASH ~
On December 13th, an article appeared in the
Boulder Weekly by Kaylee Harter
entitled
Cowboys and Ski Bums:
Inside the wild west world of skijor
Duffy Counsell, Josh King and Loren Zhimanskova
are interviewed extensively.
https://boulderweekly.com/adventure/cowboys-and-ski-bums-skijor-boulder-weekly/
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~ STREAMHORSE ~
In case you missed the articles
that appeared on the
Streamhorse Blog
from April through October 2023,
light a fire ~ pour a drink
&
settle into a comfortable reading chair.
They can now be viewed
on the SKIJOR website under the NEWS tab.
https://www.skijor.com/skijoring-news
Check out
https://streamhorse.tv/
for more content about
EVERYTHING EQUINE!
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~ MARK LAROWE PHOTOGRAPHY ~
If you need a beautiful Christmas gift
or haven't bought your own 2024 Calendar yet,
Mark LaRowe
has two calendars this year:
Scenic Montana
&
Cowboys and Cowgirls of Western Montana
https://marklarowephotography.com/2024-calendars?fbclid=IwAR0CaFyASwA36f5hYptNcwPmIrxrhgLabCJQ0CJ0fjao7qKjZ8vzrjAgP-Q
Mark has been to more skijoring events
than any other photographer and has a collection
of over 4000 skijoring images on his site.
If you search for "skijor" or "skijoring" the gallery will appear.
You might find some photos you wish to purchase
from an event you have attended in years past
or just take a trip down memory lane!
https://marklarowe.photoshelter.com
See you at 2024 Skijoring Events, Mark!
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JOR ON!
Loren Zhimanskova,
President, SKIJOR, Skijor USA, Inc. & Skijor International, LLC