THE ROAD TO WISDOM & SOLDIER HOLLOW
"Great things come in small packages"
Nearly one year ago to date
SKIJOR USA
was conceptualized in (you guessed it!) Wisdom, Montana.
The founders decided to form
An Alliance
based on the following observation at the time:
"As a community, we need a healthy environment in which to grow and expand, and a body that is event-centric, well structured, firm in their leadership role and non-prejudicial, yet innovative in its approach."
We hope that the skijoring community has found that we have been
true to our mission in the past year.
We feel that we have made great strides in a just a short period of time with
10 solid races in 2019
at which competitors can trust that our standards are upheld.
Our goal is to expand this number in 2020
without compromising the integrity of our organization.
We have also proven that our decision to operate with a small board
and two additional committees made up primarily of
10 highly experienced
members of the skijoring community who are NOT very active competitors
has been an excellent decision.
Our Advisory Committee Members,
Dana Stiles, Bruce Stott, Jerry Kissell, Clay Martin & Josh Abbott
will be meeting with our Corporate Council Members
next week to discuss the 2019 season.
Hall of Fame Committee Members,
Tony Fox, Kitty LeDonne and Paul Copper
are also welcome to attend.
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~ SMALL TALK ~
We know that we all talk amongst each other before, during and after events,
so PLEASE send these observations and comments our way.
We can only improve if your voices are shared.
As the season comes to a close, we will be doing a survey and
as valued members of our skijoring community, we encourage your participation and welcome your responses.
If there are questions you would like us to include, please let us know now.
Write to: info@skijorusa.com
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~ SMALL TOWN USA ~
Our races this coming weekend in
Wisdom, Montana and Midway, Utah
both reflect what is emerging
as most precious to our community as a whole:
When skijoring comes to town, these quaint western towns come alive!
It is VERY important that we support the efforts of organizers who spend
countless volunteer hours planning and executing the events.
They do this, not only for competitors and spectators,
but also to benefit charitable causes within their communities.
Wisdom, a town of only 98 kind-hearted folks,
depends on events like skijoring in the winter months
to pay for certain community services essential throughout the year.
The Soldier Hollow event, at the site of the 2002 Winter Olympic venue,
will be benefitting the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
After the fund raising dinner, Skijoring Utah is hosting their own version of a
"Cowboy Downhill"
at which folks can race down the tubing hill
under the lights of the famous resort!
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~ NOT SINGIN' SMALL ~
Wisdom, Montana may "lay low and sing small" most of the year,
but this weekend, Wisdom is living large!
Check out Wisdom Skijoring's new website
www.wisdomskijoring.com
Rules & Regs are posted, divisions explained
as well as pay out structures for prizes and the Calcutta.
Contact organizer, Diane Havig at The Crossing
406-689-3260
or submit a form online to register your teams or find teammates.
It is not too late!
(You can also show up Friday night at The Crossing until 7 PM.)
Thank you Paula Krugerud for contributing such stunning and evocative photos to make the website reflect the special place Wisdom really is
and what a fun event skijoring can be!
Skijoring Utah's Kristin Bollinger, Joe Loveridge and Brian Gardner
are also working hard to round out teams
and put on a top-notch race after two years of low snow levels.
Contact Kristin at (435) 659-0777 with questions.
They have a prize pot of $15K minimum.
www.skijoringutah.com
Don't forget, Utah is a Friday/Saturday race!
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~ NO SMALL POTATOES ~
Congratulations to riders, horses and skiers
who distinguished themselves in
Helena, Montana & Pinedale, Wyoming
this past weekend!
Last Chance Skijoring
Helena 1D Day 1
1st: Kat Licht/Renegade Rosie/Will Bradford 19.31
2nd: CR Kunesh/Rocky Top/Colin Cook 19.32
3rd: Corie Downey/Whiskey/Aaron Griffen 19.69
Helena 2D Day 1
1st: Scott Ping/Kona Koffee/David Rizzolo 20.46
2nd: CR Kunesh/Ringo/Ryan Griffen 20.95
3rd: CR Kunesh/Rocky Top/Ryan Griffen 20.98
Helena 3D Day 1
1st: Kelly McComb/Coopers Hot Bio/Dane Okerland 21.46
2nd: CR Kunesh/Ringo/Ryan Griffen 21.63
3rd: CR Kunesh/Rocky Top/ Ryan Griffen 21.64
Helena 1D Day 2
1st: Claudia Schmidt/Clyde/Colin Cook 18.73
2nd: Claudia Schmidt/Zeke/Colin Cook 19.27
3rd: Bobbi Neuman/Frosty/Will Bradford 19.49
Helena 2D Day 2
1st: Claudia Schmidt/Clyde/Aaron Griffen 19.79
2nd: CR Kunesh/Rocky Top/Colin Cook 19.96
3rd: Scott Ping/Kona Koffee/David Rizzolo 20.02
Helena 3D Day 2
1st: Corie Downey/Whiskey/Ryan Griffen 20.77
2nd: CR Kunesh/Rocky Top/Ryan Griffen 20.82
3rd: CR Kunesh/Ringo/Brady Smedsrud 20.92
Pinedale Skijoring
Pinedale 1D Day 1
1st: Dave Teichert/Sundance/Ozzie Hay 15.48
2nd: John Hyde/JR/Mike Stauthamer 15.8
Pinedale 2D Day 1
1st: Lenny Hay/Patty/Ozzie Hay 17.01
2nd: Kayla Teichert/Doc/Ozzie Hay 17.24
Pinedale 3D Day 1
1st: Richard Raymer/Jack/Will Faust 17.81
2nd: John Hyde/JR/Will Faust 17.94
Pinedale 1D Day 2
1st: Dave Teichert/Sundance/Ozzie Hay 16.85
2nd: Lenny Hay/Patty/Ozzie Hay 17.11
3rd: Richard Raymer/Jack/Will Faust 17.55
Pinedale 2D Day 2
1st: Parker Greenwood/George/Patrick Tolton 18.03
2nd: Mardy Sleight/Rocky/Neal Nelson 18.04
3rd: Kayla Teichert/Doc/Ozzie Hay 18.66
Pinedale 3D Day 2
1st: John Hyde/Hildago/Jeff Biffle 19.01
2nd: Kyle Choate/Brownie/Lauren Noble 19.06
3rd: John Hyde/Skippy/Darren Hull 19.99
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~ MORE TATER TOTS ~
SKIJOR USA would also like to congratulate winners at other races over President's Day weekend.
Silverton, Colorado
Skijor USA is so happy that
"Notorious Blair Street" once again had horses, riders and skiers
blazing a trail for skijoring!
Saturday
Open
Savannah McCarthy/Tank/Tyler Smedsrud 16.5
Sport
Tim McCarthy/Monster/Dan "Thunder" Peirce 18.06
Novice
Kimber McConnell/Badger/Nate Rock 21.43
Sunday
Open
Savannah McCarthy/Tank/Greg Dahl 16.1
Sport
Ashley Tippets/Nannas/Rob Conaty 17.56
Novice
Kimber McConnell/Badger/Nate Rock 21.98
Hailey, Idaho
To our friends in Idaho, wonderful to see your race continue to succeed
despite challenging road conditions this year!
Open
1st: Josh Abbott/Elvis/Cam Fraser 13.02 & 13.09
2nd: Josh Abbott/Elvis/RJ Klotz 12.9 & 14.07
3rd: Josh Abbott/The Flash/Cam Fraser 13.86 & 13.75
Sport
1st: Rick Farnsworth/Black Cheese/Ed Anderson 15.94 & 17.69
2nd: Rick Farnsworth/Charlie Prince/Ed Anderson 16.87 & 20.06
3rd: Cal Douglas/Joker/Sayre Smith 16.17 & 21.85
Womens
1st: Kat Connell/Pungo/MJ Wright 18.09 & 16.54
Novice
Lydia Miller/DJ/Spencer Blendel 15.69 & 14.74
(No results were posted for Sundance, Wyoming.)
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~ SMALL FRIES ~
Skijor USA would like to applaud
ALL
of our Youth Division competitors who are participating in 2019.
YOU are the future of our sport,
and you make your parents and your fellow competitors very proud!
In Pinedale,
Edgar Faust
captured everyone's hearts.
Elias Griffen, Kirkland Hay and Delaney Day tore up the course,
and sister/brother team
Kayla and Clay Teichert
won the Youth Division Overall
with a 22.82 on Day 1 and a 20.3 on Day 2.
Wisdom, Montana's own
Ali Havig Martin
made history skijoring with her precious little one
Harper Martin, age 1,
who was pulled behind CR Kunesh at Last Chance Skijoring
as proud Papa, Clay Martin, looked on!
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~ LITTLE BLUE BOX ~
SKIJOR USA
will be unveiling the National Championship Finals
trophy in West Yellowstone, Montana
this March 9th & 10th.
Go to: www.skijorwest.com
and click on competitor information.
3D entry fees are $125/team per weekend.
Sign ups are Friday night at the Holiday Inn or
contact info@skijorusa.com in advance.
The crystal horse head, which is the main component of the award,
was made by Tiffany & Company in Italy.
As a precursor,
this weekend in Wisdom,
Skijor USA will be awarding little blue boxes
to winners of the Women's Division!
If you recall, 320 Ranch gave Tiffany necklaces to its Women Division Champions at the suggestion of Skijor International in 2017.
The Tiffany Tradition will continue at Skijor USA events in 2020!
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~ SMALL FROG IN A BIG POND ~
We realize that our sport and organization are new to most people,
so we would like to thank those national sponsors who see our potential
for growth and support our efforts to bring Triple Cross Skijoring to the world!
Honey Stinger
has put many smiles on faces of competitors this year giving them natural energy to fight the bitter cold and excel on the track.
Tres Rios Silver
has wowed competitors with major "bling" by producing buckles for our champions that they will be proud to wear.
Pit Viper Sunglasses
has made us look cooler than cool on and off track and protected our eyes
from the wind and sun and its brutal reflection off the snow.
Equis Feed
is helping our "silent athletes" stay healthy and strong.
Next season is an opportunity to build on these relationships,
so thank you to all who of you who represent our sport with the integrity
and professionalism our sponsors would expect.
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~ IT'S A SMALL WORLD ~
Skijor Canada has gone to extraordinary lengths to make
Skijordue,
this coming Saturday, February 23rd, a reality.
We wish everyone in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada a fun and safe event!
www.skijorcanada.com
Keep your eyes peeled for images and posts from
Extreme Events MN
Skijoring Event at Canterbury Park, Minnesota
also this Saturday, February 23rd
which will be recorded by Shelley Paulson.
https://extremeeventsmn.com/skijoring
White Turf in Switzerland has started the countdown to 2020,
and last Sunday, Franco Moro, of Canon ad fame,
took first place in the Skikjoring Competition.
If you haven't seen the ad, CLICK BELOW:
Horse Nation did a story on it in 2015.
http://www.horsenation.com/2015/11/12/skijoring-featured-in-new-canon-commercial/
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~ DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF ~
None of us should have to be reminded that every day on this Earth is a blessing and not to be taken for granted.
So the next time you are having a bad day, think about this.
At the Pinedale Skijoring event on Saturday,
competitors and friends of
Jared Sayre
walked the track in a solemn tribute to a great man who be sorely missed.
Jared was a dedicated veterinarian, father and friend to many.
His enthusiasm for life and generosity of spirit was noted from the podium
as everyone in this small Wyoming community honored his memory.
Our love and thoughts go out to his daughter, his parents and his friends.
This was a loss to not only them, but to the whole skijoring community as well.
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~ SAVE THE DATE ~
LEADVILLE SKIJORING
The Grand Daddy of 'Em All
(in its 71st year)
is coming up on March 2nd & 3rd!
Corporate Council Tuesday, Feb 26th
Advisory Committee Wednesday, Feb 27th
Organizers' Summit Thursday, Feb 28th
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JOR ON!
Your Team at Skijor USA
Mark, Loren, Dana, Bruce, Clay, Josh and Jerry
&
Your SJUSA Member Race Delegates
Photos courtesy of Paula Krugerud & Loren Zhimanskova