SKIJORLINGS: THE NEXT GENERATION

February 18, 2021

"Skijorlings" is a phrase coined by Skijor Canada recently.
For me, it describes our young competitors to a "t"!
Little Skijor Darlings

This weekend, February 20 & 21,
three races will be giving young riders and skiers
an opportunity to compete before the adults.

Gillette Skijor Derby
Young Guns skiers and snowboarders age 17 and under
http://gilletteskijorderby.com

Skijoring Utah
Rec~Novice Division
"for beginner skiers or kids who just want to give it a try"
https://www.skijoringutah.com

Meeker Skijor
Under 12 Free Division
https://www.meekerskijor.com

Over the past few weekends, two other races included Junior/Youth Divisions.

Saratoga Skijoring
Riders and skiers under 18 years of age

Pinedale Winter Carnival
One participant must be 13 or under

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~ WHO ARE THEY? ~

Well, as it turns out, this next generation is typically the offspring
of adult riders and skiers who skijor!

It is wonderful to see parents either pulling their children behind horses or siblings and young friends competing as a team.
The combination often depends on each race's divisional format.

We would like to share the results of the past two weekends
and thereby, acknowledge these young athletes
who do not collect winnings or buckles in most cases.

In Saratoga, Wyoming

Kayla and Clay Teichert,
who traveled from Cokeville, Wyoming,
and pictured above with their Dad,
took 1st Place Overall posting the fastest times on
both Saturday and Sunday.
Their winning average was 24.48 seconds.
Kayla rode a horse named Doc and Clay skied behind them.
They are siblings and hard to beat!
Their father, Dave, competed in the 3D Open Division.

Wyatt Cox and Jackson Kopasz,
local Saratoga and Encampment, Wyoming kids,
took 2nd Place Overall posting the second fastest times on
Saturday and Sunday.
Their winning average was 40.95 seconds.
Wyatt rode a horse named Lakota and Jackson skied behind them.
Their Dads, Cody Cox and Craig Kopasz, entered the 3D Open race.
Can you guess who rode and who skied? Yep!
Like father, like son.

Halle Downey and Jennings Fraser,
who came all the way from Montana to compete,
took 3rd Place Overall posting the third fastest time on
Saturday and the sixth fastest time on Sunday
but their average beat 11 other teams!
Their winning average was 49.41 seconds.
Corie Downey, Halle's mother, rides in the 3D Open Division
and Cam Fraser, Jennings father, skis in the 3D Open Division.
Often their parents team up as well!

Other participants included
Edgar and Martha Faust
and
Kelsea Raymer
children of the event organizers.

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In Pinedale,
Kayla and Clay Teichert
once again, took 1st Place in the Junior Overall.
Kayla's horse Gossip ran an average of 12.28 seconds.
They called their team Greased Lightning.

Ellie and James Tolson
took 2nd Place with an average time of 14.15 seconds.
Ellie rode a horse named Buck pulling her brother James to victory.

For 3rd Place
Dave Teichert pulled his son, Clay,
and posted an average time of 14.65 seconds.
As in Saratoga, Doc was the horse of choice in this race.

The Sleight family,
Keith, Mardy, Konner, Zaydee, Riggins and Clairee,
of Big Piney, Wyoming,
and Neal, Paige and Rick Nelson
(uncle and cousins)
made a strong showing with multiple entries and combos.
Their best family finish was
Keith and Konnor who took 4th with an average time of 20.37 seconds.
Keith rode a horse named Johnny.

Other familiar names on the roster were
Fiona and Phoebe Alverson and Samuel McConnell.
Parents, Dennis Alverson and Sarah McConnell compete as 3D Open Riders.

There is NO DOUBT that we will be seeing more of these youngsters
at skijoring races across the country!

Congratulations to ALL who participated
even if you were not mentioned this time around.
(In some cases, it is hard to tell who is the adult and who is the child on the roster when races allow for a combination.)

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~ WEEKEND WARRIORS ~

The atmosphere in Saratoga was bitter and cold as was to be anticipated.
The winds were relentless and gusted to over 40 mph on Sunday blowing the rings off the magnetic stands repeatedly making it hard to judge penalties.

Yet, the competitors pressed on, the horses running on a frozen dirt track and their riders wearing goggles and face coverings.
The skiers wove from edge to edge across the hard packed snow or the "ribbon of death", as some jokingly call it, to the right of the horse track.

Saratoga is not for the faint of heart. Before Skijoring events, chariot or cutter races were all the rage and were held on the same treeless moonscape.

Spectators braved Saturday's cold, but dwindled on Sunday.
The most warm and inviting spot was the amazing tailgate
provided by Colorado Skijor Wives
Christina James, Crystal DeCola Decker & Katrina Simmons
(married to Will, Jason and TJ respectively).
THANK YOU! ! YOU GIRLS ROCK! !

The atmosphere lightened up further at the Hotel Wolf
where the Calcutta and Awards Ceremony were held,
and competitors kicked up their heels at Duke's Bar and Grill dancing to a three piece country band on Friday and Saturday and watching the Super Bowl and playing pool together on Sunday.

Congratulations to the Winners

1D Champions
Sarah McConnell/Tyler Smedsrud and Derby
17.45
2D Champions
Kaley McLean/Ben Hessling and Fabio
19.02
3D Champions
Dave Teichert/Joshua Butson and Sundance
21.21
Novice
Dakota Lewis/Travis Lee and Henry
26.69

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Pinedale's conditions were a bit more amenable.
Saturday was overcast, but the sun managed to peak out by Sunday afternoon.
Spectators were able to stand and get close to the action along fencing
or sit on bleachers which were pretty cold on the bum!
Undeterred, Michael Miller's Mom and Aunt
were cheering on Michael who came from Helena, MT to compete.
Michael ended up placing 4th in both the 2D and 3D Overall
riding his horse Tug and pulling skiers Joe Jasper and Duffy Counsell.

After the skijorers left the track, youngsters on small snowmobiles raced around like little speed demons in bumper cars at a fair.
The Pinedale Main Street Association
made folks feel welcome
selling local beer and hot snacks.
There was even a kissing booth in honor of Valentine's Day
in which two donkeys awaited willing participants.
As is traditional, the Awards Ceremony was held at
the Wind River Brewing Company.

Congratulations to the Winners

1D
Josh Abbott/Aaron Griffen and Reb
16.95
2D
Sarah McConnell/Lang Schuler and McLeod
18.53
3D
Josh Abbott/Joe Jasper and Reb
19.96
Novice
Casey Manning/Jep Richie and Hughie
22.20

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~ UPCOMING RACES ~

Two more races will be held before the end of February.
Both events will be held on
February 27, 2021

Buffalo, Wyoming
Johnson County Ski Jor Wars
https://www.facebook.com/jcskijorwars/

The organizers have posted registration and rules
on Facebook
as well as a diagram of the track, which will be straight.

&

Skowhegan, Maine
http://somersetsnowfest.org/skijor-skowhegan/

The Skijoring Event is part of Somerset Snowfest,
a winter carnival beginning this Sunday and lasting the entire week
It also features other activities such as:
Ice Fishing Derby
Cross Country Ski Meetup
Snowshoe Stroll
Snowshoe Headlamp Hike
Campfire Cooking Clinic: Pancakes
Kids Boxsled Race
Snow Art
Kite Flying Derby
Biathlon (X Country Ski and Fat Tire Biking)

WOW! Sounds like a place I'd like to be! ! !

FYI: The skijoring event will be broadcast live.

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JOR ON! and Stay safe and healthy!

Loren Zhimanskova,
President, Skijor USA, Inc. & Skijor International, LLC

Photos courtesy of Nina Galicheva & Loren Zhimanskova