2023 Winners circle
April 20, 2023
Photograph from video by Josh King
~ A NEW PARTNERSHIP ~
SKIJOR and Skijor USA is excited to announce
a Media Partnership with
StreamHorse
EVERYTHING EQUINE ENTERTAINMENT
StreamHorse is a premier digital media network that is everything equine,
and the foundation of their mission is to increase accessibility
for everyone who loves horses
and horse related sports and activities.
Skijor USA will be contributing articles
twice a month on skijoring.
The first article, entitled,
SKIJOR: A Dynamic and Unusual Equine Sport,
which just posted on April 17th,
discusses the origin and history of skijoring.
Both vintage and contemporary images accompany the text.
We hope you will take the time to go to
www.StreamHorse.tv
to read it!
https://streamhorse.tv/blog/f/skijor-a-dynamic-and-unusual-equine-sport
Please check out, follow and like
StreamHorse's social media pages, too!
https://www.facebook.com/streamhorsetv
https://www.instagram.com/streamhorsetv/
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~ THE BROADER PICTURE ~
Our partnership with StreamHorse is timely
since this summer, a new brand is launching called
SKIJOR
The new logo is featured above.
Like StreamHorse, our mission is to make skijoring
more accessible to all horse enthusiasts
and anyone wishing to experience the thrill of the sport
either on a competitive or recreational level.
A new website is under construction
which will feature equipment, tutorials, travel opportunities,
merchandise and Club Skijor,
a membership opportunity to expand our community and
bring fellow skijor enthusiasts closer together.
We will be promoting skijoring as a year round activity,
(yes, it is possible to skijor on turf,)
with an emphasis equipment and training.
We will be supporting both the "driving style" and "Western style",
meaning with or without a rider on the horse.
Watch for more updates in future newsletters
and social media posts!
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~ THE GRAND FINALE ~
Skijoring at its best. . .
The Little Jennie Ranch
in
Bondurant, Wyoming
A first year event, in a spectacular setting, with TONS of snow
proved that anything is possible
if you are willing to put your mind, muscle (and machinery) to it.
Over the weekend of March 18th & 19th,
Faith Hamlin and her ranch crew,
with the help of numerous outstanding skijoring community
members from Gillette and Pinedale. Wyoming,
carved a track in a hay field, set a course, and yelled, "Bring It On!"
Faith worked tirelessly to recruit competitors from
Jackson and neighboring towns,
and before she knew it, word had spread
and her roster was full
with 120 teams spanning 6 divisions.
The weather cooperated
warming up from a frigid 25 below Saturday & Sunday morning
to a balmy 27 above by the end of each race day.
Roads stayed clear for participants and spectators alike
to drive in from Pinedale and Jackson
since Bondurant, itself, population 93, doesn't have
many accomodations to speak of, only hunting and fishing cabins
open during sporting seasons.
Skijor USA enjoyed a long conversation with
organizer, Faith Hamlin,
last week, and we could still hear the enthusiasm in her voice.
She gave lots of credit to her boyfriend,
Kade Greer,
who helped organize the race and the crew.
The Greer family also organizes the event in Gillette.
The majority of Kade's fellow ranch crew members, who were indispensable
in making the event a success, elected not to compete
so that they could focus on the race, volunteering, officiating
and above all, keeping the course safe
throughout the weekend.
Exhausted from the event, Faith and her team started calving operations only three days later.
When Faith held her skijor follow up meeting
she was wondering, "Would they want to go through all of this again?"
The answer was a resounding, "Heck, yeah!"
Faith gained a lot of exposure for her event through an article in Buckrail.
It is a great interview
and we encourage you to read it by clicking on the link below.
Other first time organizers can learn a lot from Faith,
and we have a feeling she is very willing
to connect and help whoever takes the time to reach out.
https://buckrail.com/the-little-jennie-ranchs-skijor-race-invites-everyone-to-celebrate-community/
Faith shared several heartwarming anecdotes from the weekend.
Kelli Hyde and Tayler Stobaugh
took home their first buckles of the season.
Tayler won Open with Cam Fraser as her skier,
and Kelli won Sport with Ozzie Hay as her skier.
Randy Greer won Novice.
Walden Campbell and Casey Manning,
ranch hands on neighboring properties in Bondurant,
were so excited about participating that they got up extra early
despite the extremely cold temperatures
to complete their chores so that they could team up and race.
Walden rode and Casey skied.
Though their combined times did not allow them to place overall,
on Sunday they clocked the fasted time of the day
with a blistering 16.09!
John Hyde and Bernie Wackerman
entered the Century Division
and finished second behind team "Not Dead Yet".
Faith recalls that Bernie fell before the finish line but insisted
that John drag him over the line screaming with delight.
What a classic moment that must have been.
The Wackerman children also enjoyed
participating in the Kids Division
with Bryanna and Ally finishing first for the weekend
with an average time of 19.605,
nearly a full second faster than the second place team.
Faith also noted that
Jack Greer and Tommy Ford,
who play a very serious role in 307 Horse Racing
at the track in Gillette, Wyoming,
enjoy skijoring for the pure fun of the sport and camaraderie.
Tommy placed 3rd in the Open in Sheridan
with his horse Acorn pulling skier Carson Long.
They went on to place 2nd the next weekend as a team in Gillette.
Josh King,
a competitor and talented videographer,
captured the spirit of the Bondurant event perfectly.
Click to view below:
https://vimeo.com/810712292
Josh attended Pagosa Springs and Leadville
where he also captured and edited some outstanding video content.
He managed to do this while also competing in the Sport Division as a skier.
He placed 2nd and 3rd on Sunday in the 2D in Leadville
behind Noah Gregory and Dev Gru (a Match)
and Katie Coker and Echo (a Draw).
Katie Coker, of Driggs, Idaho, also has some great skijoring photos
on her Instagram page.
As Faith and I talked, we found ourselves speaking more and more
on the "unsung heroes" of skijoring, at her race, and beyond.
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~ 2023 UNSUNG HEROES ~
Tayler Stobaugh & Michael Miller
take the prize for
representing our sport in the most spirited manner possible.
They each attended 7 races, overlapping on 5 of these.
Each took home one Open Division 3rd place win
before Bondurant
where Tayler placed 1st place in Open
and Michael took 3rd.
Pictured above in a still from Josh King's video,
their love of skijoring is unmistakable
in their smiles, their gestures and their attire.
Thank you, Tayler and Michael for inspiring everyone to skijor!
You embody the very spirit of the sport.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kevin Wilder
Skier & Snowboarder
Kevin moved up from Sport early in the season
after placing first in Meeker behind Lauren Urista and Tarzan
and first in Saratoga behind TJ Simmons and both Luigi and Turbo.
In subsequent races, Kevin moved up to Open.
He paired up with Lauren Urista and Tarzan, Tate Rogers and Seven,
and Jed Moore and Zombie at every race he entered,
then for his fourth run added
Michael Miller and Gus in Ridgway
Erin Luks and Ferdinand in Pagosa Springs
Richard Weber and McCloud in Craig
and Richard Weber and Juicy Fruit in Silverton.
Kevin placed 10th in Ridgway behind Jed Moore and Zombie,
6th in Pagosa behind Erin Luks and Ferdinand,
5th in Craig behind Tate Rogers and Seven
(missing 4th by 1/100th of a second).
9th behind Tate Rogers and Seven in Silverton,
and 10th behind Lauren Urista and Tarzan in Silverton.
When Kevin competed in Leadville,
he achieved two 2nd place finishes in the 1D behind Jed Moore and Zombie.
Jed and Kevin entered Switch-A-Roo in San Juan and finished fourth.
Kevin finished first in the two Snowboard Divisions
in San Juan and Pagosa Springs
proving that he is not only a talented skier, but one heck of a snowboarder, too.
We applaud Kevin, as well as his "go to" riders Lauren, Tate and Jed,
for competing in a field that is currently so "tight"
it is neither welcoming nor conducive to skiers moving "up".
Skijor USA sees Kevin as a champion skier,
and appreciates the example that he sets for others.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
John Hyde
takes the prize for being there to help with whatever is needed
for fellow competitors and fellow organizers alike.
Skijor USA spoke to John the day before the race in Pinedale
as he pounded T-posts into the frozen snow.
He was all alone. He knew he might have to take
them all out single-handedly after the race was over, too.
It didn't matter.
John pulled skiers in five different divisions
across five different events
because he can't imagine someone not being able
to experience the thrill of skijoring.
John brings extra horses, not because he necessarily
thinks this will increase his odds of winning,
but because he knows he will be able to ride more
and pull more skiers of every age and ability.
Because of people like John, our sport will only grow stronger.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Greer Family
Skijor USA met the Greer family in Gillette at their inaugural event three years ago.
The family's enthusiasm for the sport was immediately apparent.
Randy, Jack, Ashley, Hunter and Kade
are determined to see skijoring grow in their home state of Wyoming.
They supported Faith Hamlin in Bondurant and John Hyde in Pinedale.
Skijor USA and Randy speak of the future of skijoring
on a regular basis, and we both believe the sport is really going places.
With people like the Greers behind it, no doubt it will!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jerry Kissell
While Jerry should first be thanked for serving on Skijor USA's
Advisory Committee, this is not why he is an unsung hero in 2023.
After surviving two knee replacement surgeries that led to multiple, life threatening
infections, Jerry rehabilitated his body until it was strong enough to compete as a skier once again.
He has been skijoring for over 30 years.
This year Jerry declared it will be his last since he plans to retire in 2024.
Jerry attended 7 races placing 1st in two Sport Divisions.
Besides being a "bionic man", Jerry loves to mentor
other skiers, especially those new to the sport or looking for advice.
Jerry, you are an inspiration to us all.
Thank you for being such an important part of the skijoring community.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Stan Olsen, Brittany Delehant & Colter Fretwell
This trio took it upon themselves
to tackle the never ending challenge of recruiting
volunteers to work on the course.
Stan traveled to many races under all kinds of weather conditions
to round up a crew and teach them the ropes
before they manned their posts along the track
standing on their feet for 8 hours or more
in cold and windy conditions.
Stan found himself at the start gate a few times, which for
anyone who has "been there and done that", is no easy task.
Skijoring needs more people like Stan who bring with them
a TON of enthusiasm and a determination to
GET THINGS RIGHT.
Our events are getting more and more sophisticated
when it comes to track designs and thus, they are more dangerous.
The stakes are also getting higher at events
because prize pots are increasing
so officiating is more and more important.
Stan has enough integrity that he doesn't even bet
on the Calcutta because he sees this as a conflict of interest.
He would never want his integrity questioned or compromised.
Stan treats his team of volunteers with respect,
but also keeps them in line.
Stan asked that we also mention
a young lady named
Anna Kendall
who competed in Driggs, Idaho in Novice.
Stan didn't recognize Anna at the race
because when he first met her he was nearly unconscious
and seriously injured after being thrown from his horse.
Anna was there that day. She was the sweet, cool voice
that spoke into Stan's ear and told him
to stay calm and keep breathing.
Had Anna not been there, Stan says he might not have made it.
He sees her as a true angel in his life
and thanks her for her role in helping him at this crucial moment.
Thank you Stan, and Brittany & Colter, and every other volunteer.
The sport is better because of you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Brandon Francis
Skijor USA knows Brandon best from
Skijoring Utah
where he is now an organizer of this premier event.
We also got to spend some time together in Clark's Fork, Idaho
at the Chapman Springs Skijoring event.
Brandon traveled to Bondurant
and helped Faith with her race this season.
He is a positive force in the sport,
a great announcer and a competitor to boot.
After a serious injury in Utah a few seasons ago, he has proven
that he can come back swinging!
If you have an "unsung hero" story you would like to share,
email loren@skijorusa.com
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~ CRUNCHING NUMBERS ~
At the end of every season, Skijor USA
compiles data for analysis
by creating a spreadsheet recording the names, divisions, placements and races attended
for each competitor: rider, horse and “slider”.
We also gather valuable insight from organizers, competitors and
experienced voices
within our community including our Advisory Committee Members.
It is promising that our sport is growing
and continues to attract hundreds of new participants.
So far our data shows that in 2023
over 1000 riders competed,
over 1000 skiers/snowboarders competed
and close to 750 horses competed.
This is a substantial increase over previous years.
And the number is even larger since
this number does not include
all competitors from
Topsham, Sundance, Bear Lake, Blackfoot Nation,
Thunder in the Pines and Pole & Spur
since their results did not post all entries. only winners.
We are requesting more detailed information from organizers.
So a final count is still to be determined.
It is also promising that many races are “stand alone events”,
such as Canterbury Park in Minnesota, Skijordue in Calgary,
Sundance in Wyoming, Bear Lake, Utah and Skijoring Utah in Heber City.
Most athletes who compete are exclusive to these venues,
and the registration rate is high enough to fill every spot available.
Many competitors are having to be turned away.
These events also have the highest attendance rates
and the biggest “national” sponsorships.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In our next newsletter,
we will have official numbers
and a breakdown of how many competitors
entered each division, so again, we can see how our sport is growing.
We will also announce
2023 Skijor USA Champions
and discuss the future of skijoring
and what might be done to improve its growth.
These recommendations will be based on conversations we have had
with our Advisory Committee Members
and Skijor Organizers.
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~ RESULTS ~
Congratulations to everyone who entered each division.
We LOVE seeing new names on the rosters
and
we hope you keep coming back for more skijoring fun!
Bondurant, Wyoming
(Combined Times)
Open
1st: Tayler Stobaugh and Cam Fraser
2nd: Harlee Manning and Sean Boylan
3rd: Michael Miller and Cam Fraser
Sport
1st: Kelli Hyde and Ozzie Hay
2nd: Dennis Pawlidowski and Calen Carron
3rd: Dave Teichert and Ozzie Hay
Novice
1st: Randy Greer and Bryson
2nd: Paige Collins and Nikki Eremita
3rd: Clint Grimes and Joe Shanefelt
Century
1st: Gina Spangler and Troy Houston
2nd: John Hyde and Bernie Wackerman
3rd: Karsten Shumway and Troy Houston
Snowboard
1st: Jessica Jorgensen and Sean Riley
2nd: Katie McCullough and Jordan McCullough
3rd: Braiden Jorgensen and Sean Riley
Kids
1st: Bryanna Wackerman and Ally Wackerman
2nd: John Hyde and Scarlett Smith
3rd: Kelli Hyde and Ciara Grimes
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JOR ON!
Loren Zhimanskova,
President, Skijor USA, Inc. & Skijor International, LLC