FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
January 15, 2026
Image credits:
Mark LaRowe Photography &
San Juan Skijoring, Map showing attendance breakdown.
~ A RIP ROARING START ~
The Skijor Cup
points series got off the ground
in hoof pounding, heart stopping fashion.
At one point, in fact, a rider got his boot
ripped right off his foot when, after being ejected from his saddle,
the rope got wound around his leg and caught on his stirrup!
The skier let go of the rope, and the horse kept going
cowboy boot in tow!
We are happy to report that everyone
including the horse, is ok, and
walked away safely.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This weekend,
January 17th & 18th,
skijoring will be featured during the
SnowDays Festival in Banff,
the world-renowned resort in Alberta, Canada.
With a backdrop of stunning, snow-covered peaks,
Sam Mitchell of Skijor Canada
and her troop of extraordinary riders and sliders
will put on a show SECOND TO NONE!
The fashion element at this gathering
is OFF THE CHARTS cool,
and the athletic feats from trick riding to
aerials on skis and snowboards,
JAW-DROPPING.
This event belongs on everyone's bucket list
of MUST DOs someday!
Check out
https://www.skijorcanada.com/
and follow their socials at
https://www.instagram.com/skijorcanada/
https://www.tiktok.com/@skijorcanada
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
San Juan Skijoring
was the first race of the season.
In the Open Division,
teams raced down the bulletproof track,
with two teams breaking the 20 second mark!
Richard Weber and Jim Ryan
with horse, Lick Em For Luck
(team pictured above)
and Dennis Alverson and Jim Ryan
with horse, Cocaine Bear.
Richard and Jim also took the
Open Overall
by only 0.42 seconds faster than the next team
over three combined runs!
The Sport Division
was one of the most competitive in recent memory
with only one team breaking the 21 second mark
Kristen Beck and Madison Ostergren
with horse, Cheddar Bob,
a 10-year-old American Quarter Horse.
There were only four teams clocking under 22 seconds with
clean runs.
Kristen and Madison also took
the Overall Sport title.
In Open Snowboard
only one team broke 24 seconds
Justin Bailey and Charlie Tyler
with horse, Jezabel.
The Overall Open Snowboard win
went to Branden Nygard and Jakobe Chacon
with horse, Nooney
inching out Justin and Charlie by 0.41 seconds
over two combined runs.
In Twisted Switch
only one team, a father and daughter,
broke the one minute mark with BOTH runs.
Dennis and Phoebe Alverson
rode horse, Raven,
and captured the Overall in this division as well.
We will comment on other divisions
such as Novice, Snowboard Lite, Slope Style and Juniors
more below.
The top skiers in Open and Sport,
Jim Ryan and Madison Rose Ostergren,
are actually great friends and "mountain partners".
Between the two of them, they have excelled in disciplines
such as ski racing, big mountain skiing
and freeride mountaineering.
A humble man, Jim says, "Really, I don't like titles,
(referring to terms like 'professional'),
if it's skiing, I do it."
They have a YouTube Channel called
the Jim and Mads Show.
Last year, they made a 12 minute video about their
first experience with skijoring in
Silverton, Colorado.
Jim is originally from Vermont and
Madison, from Michigan.
They both live in Jackson, Wyoming.
We are thrilled to welcome them to our skijoring family!
It is worth a watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqQnZfpS6Xo
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD ~
Let's get to the point"s"!
Follow the points series and watch as rankings change at
https://www.skijorcup.com/
and follow us on our socials!
https://www.instagram.com/skijor.cup/
https://www.tiktok.com/@skijor.cup
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Open Division ~ Riders
Richard Weber 37.8
Dennis Alverson 23.75
Rosie Rodgers 17.15
Sarah Smedsrud 7
Jed Moore 3.8
Michael Miller 1.65
Courtney Anderson 1.45
Josi Young 1.45
Katherine Licht 1.05
Open Division ~ Skiers
Jim Ryan 54.05
Lane Feldeisen 18.6
Tyler Smedsrud 8.65
Tyler McKnight 7.5
Jack Plantz 3.8
John Anderson 1.05
Ty Free 1.05
Open Division ~ Horses
Lick Em For Luck 10.7
Cocaine Bear 8.35
Seven 6.1
Franks & Beans 2.6
Three 2.5
Chugg 1.3
Bodacious 0.6
Warrior 0.5
Tres 0.5
Babes Last Rascal 0.35
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sport Division ~ Riders
Kristen Beck 12.55
Tate Rogers 8.5
Janelle Urista 6.6
Patrick Smith 2.9
Kimber Cook 2.05
Jed Moore 1.95
Marybeth Soderquist 0.95
Emma Golonka 0.8
Sport Division ~ Skiers
Madison Ostergren 12.55
Malcolm Seamens 6.6
Sherwood Smith 5.95
Kolby Ward 4.95
Brian Erhart 3.85
Lang Schuler 1.6
Colter Fretwell 0.8
Sport Division ~ Horses
Cheddar Bob 4.4
Chief 2.66
Zeva 2.3
Badger 1.45
Lady Porsche 1.05
Zombie 0.7
Ari 0.3
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Open Snowboard Division ~ Riders
Justin Bailey 13
TJ Simmons 8.85
Brandon Nygard 8.15
Courtney Anderson 2.8
Tyler Ferguson 2.3
Monica Plecker 1.6
Cayley O'Dell 1.15
Open Snowboard Division ~ Boarders
Charlie Tyler 14.6
Jakobe Chacon 13.75
Kevin Wilder 11.15
Kalei Pitcher 1.15
Open Snowboard Division ~ Horses
Jezabel 4.6
Turbo 3.1
Nooney 2.9
EZ 1.4
Bird 0.8
Mousse 0.55
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Twisted Switch Division ~ Riders & Skiers
Dennis Alverson 6.4
Phoebe Alverson 6.4
Joey Lane 4.05
Steve Eytel 4.05
Ryan Del Rio 3.35
Leroy Maendel 3.35
Tyler Smedsrud 2.5
Richard Weber 2.5
Josh King 1.5
Jed Moore 1.5
Twisted Switch Division ~ Horses
Raven 2.2
Roy 1.65
Monte 1.4
Sugar 0.5
Roy (2) 0.35
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Novice Division Riders
Olivia Salter 4.15
Kat Prendergass 1.2
Shayda Valdez 0.8
Megan Smith 0.45
Novice Divison Skiers
Leit Schafer 2.45
Richard Weber 2
Byrne Dobrient 1.7
Kendall Delp 0.45
Novice Division Horses
Junior 0.85
Sassy 0.6
Georgie 0.4
Dixie 0.3
Ruskie 0.15
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snowboard Lite Riders
Matt Todd 2.2
Patrick Felberg 1.35
Holly Jones 0.9
Snowboard Lite Boarders
Bryan Felberg 3.55
Martina Goreski 0.9
Snowboard Lite Horses
Chief 0.8
Stormy 0.45
Pedro 0.3
Please note: There is no formal or implied association
or affiliation between events and the Skijor Cup or any other entity,
nor are any races "sanctioned" by Skijor Cup.
This is not our goal or our purpose.
Events remain independently organized and operated.
This is in keeping with the wild spirit we all embrace.
We DO, however, celebrate self-governance throughout the sport
while encouraging the highest standards of safety and integrity.
Our point series and rankings
serve to offer structure and promote unity
throughout the skijoring community.
Points are based on an aggregate of awards
earned throughout each event.
Official results and posted
pay out structures are used to determine points.
If a competitor believes there is an error or discrepancy,
please email: loren@skijorcup.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ PAINTING THE SKY ~
San Juan Skijoring
hosted a spectacular event setting the
skijor season in motion.
True to their high standards, each segment
of the 3-day race was smooth, efficient and safe.
The track stayed solid,
thanks to the hard work and expertise of the organizers,
and also in part to Mother Nature
who dumped a foot of snow on the venue the
night before the racing began
and kept temperatures below zero
each night so that the track could set up properly.
Aerial drone shots of the fairgrounds
and surrounding ranches and landscape showed
what a breathtakingly beautiful part of America this is.
Ridgway, Colorado
is the closest we have seen that compares with
the venue at White Turf in Saint Moritz, Switzerland.
This is the iconic skijoring race which,
since 1907, has taken place
on a frozen lake with a curtain of mountains as a backdrop.
Perhaps this is why Ouray County is called
the Switzerland of America.
~ DREAMERS READY TO FLY ~
San Juan Skijoring
kept the action moving quickly
while still offering competitors ample time to
walk the track between divisions,
review any protests that were raised,
tend to competitor injuries
(thankfully, very few and none too serious)
and pay proper respects to our nation and God
as part of the program.
The Double Match format
in Open and Snowboard was brilliant
in that it created heightened stakes as teams
pushed themselves to "best" their own times and
surpass fellow competitors' challenges.
One Snowboarder
caught an edge, went flying, held onto the rope
and slid on his chest until he was miraculously able to
get his board perpendicular to the course,
right himself again and slide through the finish
upright and in control!
The Sport Division
was INTENSE with times coming in
so close that teams had no choice but to push
the limits and put pedal to the metal.
Many teams Did Not Finish
since they were giving it their all and
quite literally, at the end of their rope as they
navigated the challenging course.
Slope Style
added an element after the Open
that lessened the intensity,
but heightened the altitude and amplitude.
It paid tribute to the direction skiing has gone
over the past few decades,
meaning Freestyle,
especially in nearby resorts like Telluride.
We are still waiting for results of this judged event
to be posted.
~ WILD AT HEART ~
While it may take discipline to train your horse,
hone your riding skills or perfect your turns and rope management,
there is nothing "disciplined" about skijoring.
Every course is different, every run unique and every
team experiences a completely different result
as horse, rider and skier unite as one,
A TEAM OF THREE HEARTBEATS
and race down the track.
Skijoring is truly the Sport of the Wild Spirit
Teams don't wear uniforms
as they do in professional sports, but rather
competitors express themselves individually and boldly.
Riders were seen wearing wooly chaps,
faux fur coats, fringed leather and even sequined smoking jackets.
Skiers wore retro one-piece ski suits, overalls,
flaming shirts à la Garth and, of course, plenty of denim.
The boisterous crowd
mirrored the participants' outfits.
There were LOTS of very young children
strapped to parent's chests or perched on shoulders,
and groups of friends making the most of a time
to gather, relax, cheer and yes, drink.
The temps were chilly, but the skies blue.
The sun had some people stripped down to t-shirts.
A map shown on the livestream
(pictured above)
shows that people came from coast to coast
and from cities and rural areas alike to take in the show.
We counted 28 states!
and we are SURE there were also
Canadians and Europeans in the crowd,
as well as other foreign nationals.
~ BORN TO BE ROCK STARS ~
While credit is due to the organizers
and their hard working staff,
the field of competitors is also to be applauded.
The spirit of community within this very small circle
of athletes is truly, beyond compare.
There were hundreds of competitors who
gathered for what is best described as
an oversized family reunion.
Rivalries dissolve as quickly as runs move down the track.
That said, not everyone wins a buckle and
not everyone takes home a check,
but everyone leaves with a smile on their face
and a happier, fuller heart.
The Junior Division
does not pay money for awards,
but they are included in the points series since
we would like to acknowledge all of our youthful competitors
and their faithful horses, friends and family members
who lead them safely down the track.
Points are 10 for 1st, 9 for 2nd and so on through 10th.
Junior Riders
Olivia Holtzman 10
Kiley Hoyt 9
Gaia Bailey 8
Delphine Etyel 7
Junior Skiers
Rhys Moore 10
Evelyn Gardner 9
Benja Stengele 8
Nicco Pestello 7
Junior Horses
Lemon 10
Izzy 9
Dawson 8
Monte 7
For complete and official results
for San Juan Skijoring
visit their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/sanjuanskijoring
~ SHINING OUR LIGHT ~
The San Juan event was the first time that a photographer
shot a skijoring race at night using
high-speed, high-output strobe lights.
That photographer was
Mark LaRowe,
who has earned the distinction of being the foremost photographer
to capture skijoring races for over a decade.
Anticipating this opportunity,
since San Juan had announced their Friday Night Lights session,
he hauled his equipment down from Montana,
a set of four rodeo strobes (Buff Einstein 640’s), to create stop-action photographs at only 1/200 sec shutter speed and a low ISO.
The results are phenomenal!
Since entering the skijoring scene in 2016 at Loren’s prompting,
Mark now photographs as a full-time profession.
It is skijoring that continues to hold us in a special bond of
creativity, storytelling and friendship.
Mark is the past President of Montana Professional
Photographers Association and is a nine-time photographer of the Northern Rodeo Association Finals.
Visit his gallery by clicking the link below.
Ten percent of all proceeds generated from sales for the
2026 San Juan Skijoring event will be donated
to their scholarship fund!
https://marklarowe.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/2026-Skijoring-Images/C0000nMfQ3KOswvE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This past weekend's event
reached a wide audience through the
Cowboy Channel + App.
The broadcast was well produced,
with multiple perspectives of the track and course.
Instant replays allowed for viewers to
take in the runs a second time,
and they also allowed for penalties to be assessed
correctly especially if a protest arose.
The announcers,
Brandon Edwards and Dusty Sagers,
friends to the whole skijoring community,
did an excellent job providing up-to-the-minute
results and details about teams
as well as sponsorship acknowledgments throughout.
Kimber Cook, also a member of the Weber family,
did a beautiful job of singing the national anthem each day.
The added visuals such as finish times,
end of division score boards and names of competitors
(HORSES NEED TO BE ADDED!)
were also great to see as each run progressed.
We know that none of this can happen
without coordination and direction from the event
organizers, so we raise a glass
to Sarah and Tyler Smedsrud and Richard Weber.
To view the event which is archived, to go:
https://www.cowboychannelplus.com/search?term=skijoring
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ YOU ROCK, BOULDER, MONTANA ! ! ! ~
Skijoring the Big Rock
announced on social media
that some local knights in shining armor,
from Discovery and T + E Cat Equipment,
have come to their rescue and donated a snowmaker
and generator to ensure their race can happen.
The dates are January 31st & February 1st.
Boulder, Montana runs their race in a 4D Open format.
They also offer Switcheroo, Snowboard, Junior
and Buckleless Beginners.
Last year, they had 200 teams compete.
This may get scaled back a bit to ensure an efficient
time table and less stress on organizers.
Go to their Facebook page for more info
and if you are interested in being a vendor,
an application is on the site.
So are pay outs and rules.
https://www.facebook.com/Skijoringthebigrock/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ UPDATE ON REGISTRATIONS ~
Estes Park Skijoring
As of January 6
only a few spots were available in Open,
Snowboard, and Junior (on Sunday).
https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/EstesPark/EstesParkSkijor
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Whitefish Skijoring
Check for updates since
payments had to be made by Jan 9
and some spots may have opened up.
https://www.whitefishskijoring.org/competitors
For questions or issues email
competitors.wfskijoring@gmail.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Grand Lake Skijoring
Registration opened January 13th
and it is FULL.
They are taking Wait List Only entries.
https://www.grandlakeskijor.com/
Wood River Extreme Skijoring
Novice Snowboard and Juniors are FULL.
Website is being updated DAILY
so look at each division to see if it has AVAILABILITY.
Online registration
closes February 12th
or waitlist is available once divisions are full.
https://woodriveresja.com/registration-forms/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Future dates:
Bridger Brewskis & Spurs
Three Forks, MT
opens January 20th.
https://www.bridgerskijoring.com/
Silverton Skijoring
opens January 25th.
https://www.silvertonskijoring.com/racers
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Red Lodge Skijoring
will be following an invitational format,
and more information will be
available towards the beginning of February.
https://www.redlodgeskijoring.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ CANCELLATIONS ~
Lewistown, MT
also cancelled the Skijoring portion
of the Montana Winter Fair,
BUT
on January 16,17 & 18,
there are still MANY activities that
are really fun to explore such as photography
and quilt shows, fiddle contests, chili and cinnamon roll
tastings, a Savor the Flavors of Montana dinner
and a Snowball Bash with live music.
Check out their Facebook page for details!
https://www.facebook.com/MontanaWinterFair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Saratoga Skijoring
announced with a heavy heart
that their 10th Annual Race is cancelled.
There is not sufficient snow on the ground or in
the forecast to build a safe track.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Teton Valley Skijoring
The first clinic for January 11th was cancelled.
Go to their Facebook page for updates.
https://www.facebook.com/tetonskijor/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Marsh Valley, Idaho
was postponed due to lack of snow,
but they remain optimistic and will "throw something
together" in 2026 if Mother Nature cooperates.
Go to their Facebook page for updates:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563807863043
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JOR ON!
Loren Zhimanskova,
Founder, Skijor USA & Skijor International