There was no time for skier Josh from New Zealand, who not only fell before crossing the finish line but also dropped his tow rope and lost several rings during Saturday’s skijoring competition in Saratoga.
Skier Will Faust, pulled by Marie McClaren on her horse "Annie," clears the last jump during Saturday’s skijoring competition in Saratoga.
SARATOGA – There was plenty of snow for this year’s fourth annual skijoring competition held at Buck Springs arena Saturday through Sunday just east of Saratoga.
Attendance is hard to gauge at this event, but it drew a good crowd, with lots of fresh snow and sunny blue skies and temperatures in the 40s and only a light wind. Some 230 vehicles were counted in the parking area along the racetrack.
In this competition, the three participants, one skier, one horse and his rider compete in each sprint race against the time clock, while the skier preforms a variety of tasks.
In this 700-foot-long course the skiers must clear two jumps, traverse one small “roller” hill, a snowbank and two different ring retrieval obstacles while staying upright on their skies and not dropping any rings or letting go of the tow rope until they cross the finish line.
This year’s event was so popular that contestant teams had to be limited to the first 100 to sign up. Entries closed three months ago, said founding organizer Will Faust.
The prize money total this year was $10,600, with $4,600 from entry fees. The purse was sweetened by the addition of $6,000 in prize money from local sponsors and the Carbon County Visitors’ Council. The prize money is divided equally between the rider and skier.
“All racer registration fees, and sponsors’ money will be paid back to the competitors as prize money,” according to the event website.
No list of individual winnings or hometowns of the winners was provided by press time.
Taking first place in this year’s adult team competition, with a winning time of 16.41 seconds, was Richard Weber riding “Serge,” pulling skier Tyler Smedsrud.
The second-place adult team, with a winning time of 16.67 seconds, was Sarah McConnell, riding “McLeod” and pulling skier Tyler Smedsrud. This gave Smedsrud both a first- and second-place win as the skier on the teams.
Third place, with a winning time of 17.02 seconds, went to Weber. again riding “Serge,” but pulling a different skier, Aaron Griffin. This made Weber both a first- and third-place rider.
After the Saturday competition the revelry continued with a live music concert by Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band performing at the Platte Valley Community Center in downtown Saratoga.
The second day of competition was on Sunday. To win this competition each team’s best times in two days of racing are totaled, with the quickest time being the winner. The winner of each of the three racing classes was declared and the prize money given out at an awards party at the Saratoga Hot Springs resort on Sunday evening.
There are also junior and novice divisions in this competition, with winners getting bragging rights and a little prize money.
This event is sponsored by the Saratoga Lions Club and the Platte Valley Jaycees. Each year’s event begins on Friday evening at the Wolf Hotel with registration and a welcoming party.
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