Whitefish set to host skijoring races

Late January in the Flathead means its skijoring time in Whitefish.

The 16th annual Whitefish Winter Carnival World Invitational Skijoring races up the ante this year with teams traveling from all over the West to compete for more than $20,000 in cash and prizes.

The skijoring event will be held this weekend at Big Mountain Ranch, located on the historic Voerman homestead just east of Whitefish.

While a lack of snow in the valley postponed the skijoring event in late December at Rebecca Farms to early March, nearly a foot fell in the Whitefish area late Tuesday into Wednesday.

Committee member Mike Righetti said there’d be no cancellations.

“It’s never been cancelled and we have great snow,” Righetti said.

Skijoring is a traditional Winter Carnival event that pairs a horse and rider with a skier being pulled through a course that includes gates, hitting jumps and grabbing rings. The duo with the fastest time wins.

While there aren’t changes to the event, Righetti said Voerman Road was widened and it will be one way, so the traffic flow should be better than it was a year ago. Free parking is at the ranch, but Righetti stressed that dogs aren’t allowed.

“Dogs and horses in this setting don’t mix,” he said.

There will be a number food trucks at the Ranch and adult beverages will be available.

Signup for competitors, who will vie for more than $20,000 in cash and prizes, is from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish.

At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, the opening ceremony and introduction of the Whitefish Carnival royalty will be held. The competition begins at noon.

A Calcutta will perform at Casey’s Bar in Whitefish Saturday evening.

The schedule for Sunday has competition beginning at noon with live music at 6 p.m. at the Great Northern Bar & Grill. The awards ceremony will be at 7 p.m.

Admission is $5. Kids 12-and-under are free.

Big Mountain Ranch is located at 1895 Voerman Road, just south of Whitefish.

Visit www.whitefishskijoring.com for more information.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com