Still time to sign up for skijoring competition

The Daily Inter Lake

It's not too late to saddle up for this year's skijoring competition at the Whitefish Winter Carnival.

Organizer Scott Ping said contestants still have time to sign up for the event, scheduled Feb. 4 and 5 at the Whitefish Airport.

"Two years ago we had 75 teams. I think we'll get more than that this year," Ping said.

Last year's skijoring event was canceled because there was no snow, but conditions are looking good for this go-round.

Riders race through a horseshoe-shaped 800-foot-long course, pulling their skiers over a series of jumps. Skiers are towed behind the horse with 50 feet of rope, and they maneuver around a number of gates by lengthening or shortening their holds on the ropes.

Prizes are offered in four divisions: open (advanced), sport (novice), women (both riders and skiers) and senior division (riders and skiers older than 40). It's a North American Skijoring Association-sanctioned event. Professional skijorers will compete in the open division for money and points to qualify for the national skijoring competition in Red Lodge.

Entry fees are $150 a team for the open division and $100 a team for the sport, women and senior divisions. Participants must be at least 18 to compete in the open, sport and women divisions.

Contestants can obtain event rules at the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, 520 E. Second St., in Whitefish.

Volunteers are needed to build the course a couple of days before the event. Call Ping at 862-7725.