Horses, Cowboys & Skiing Oh My!

**Wisps of steam come out of his nose and mouth. His muscles twitch in excitement, ready for the start of the race. With a strong kick in the ribs, they’re off! The cowboy hat flies off the rider as man, horse, and skier rush through the course, tackling obstacles and turns at lightning speed. What am I talking about? Skijoring! It’s European and Western at the same time. An event the likes most of us have never seen or even heard of!

What The Heck Is Skijoring?

In Europe, people used horses and skis as a mode of transportation. It’s understandable that the term is derived from the Norwegian word kjøring, meaning to “drive.” If you combine that with the term “ski”, Skijoring roughly translates to “Ski driving”, which is a competitive sport where a skier or snowboarder is pulled by a person riding a horse through an obstacle course filled with jumps, bumps, and turns. Talk about an adrenaline rush! It’s pure chaos and just as exciting to watch in person.

Where To Watch Skijoring

Like most other sports, there is a Skijoring tour every winter across North America. The largest race on the schedule is held in Whitefish, Montana. Skijoring has been part of their Winter Carnival since the 60’s but due to insurance problems was stopped in the late 70’s. With the resolve of a mountain town spirit, a local businessman by the name of Scott Ping helped bring back this amazing event in 2003. One of the unique items of the Whitefish event is the Calcutta.

What Is A Calcutta?

It’s an opportunity to bid on teams to see how you think they will do during Sunday’s event. You can buy a team by being the top bidder for the team. If the team you bet on has the fastest time on Sunday, you win! Money is awarded for the top 3 teams in each division: Open, Sport, and Novice.

Whitefish, MT Festival Dates

Saturday – January 28, 2023

11:30 am Opening Ceremony, 12:00 pm Main Event – East Of The Blue Moon On Highway 2

7:00 pm Calcutta – Blue Moon

Sunday – January 29, 2023

11:30 am Opening Ceremony, 12:00 pm Competition – East Of The Blue Moon On Highway 2

7:00 pm Award Ceremony – Blue Moon

Full List Of Skijoring U.S. & Canada Races

If you can’t make it to the Whitefish Skijoring event, don’t worry. There are several stops all across the country! Let us know if you make it to a race and share your experience.

January 14^th & 15^th * Ridgway, Colorado

January 21^st & 22^nd * Pagosa Springs, Colorado

January 27^th & 28^th * Heber City, Utah

January 28^th * Banff, Alberta

January 28^th & 29^th * Lewiston, Montana

January 28^th & 29^th * Whitefish, Montana

January 28^th & 29^th * Jackson, Wyoming

February 4^th & 5^th * Big Sky, Montana

February 4^th & 5^th * Saratoga, Wyoming

February 11^th * Topsham, Maine

February 11^th * Steamboat Springs, CO

February 11^th & 12^th * Pinedale, Wyoming

February 18^th * Sundance, Wyoming

February 18^th & 19^th * Sheridan, Wyoming

February 18^th & 19^th * Silverton, Colorado

February 18^th & 19^th * Hailey, Idaho (Sun Valley)

February 25^th & 26^th * Driggs, Idaho

March 4^th & 5^th * Leadville, Colorado

March 11^th * Crowsnest, Alberta

March 11^th & 12^th * Red Lodge, Montana