Public Project
Snow Rodeo
Summary
Scenes from a skijoring competition in Idaho February 26 2025
County fairgrounds in Driggs, Idaho this weekend to watch the
annual Skijoring competition, known as the Grand Showdown - a
reference to the Grand Teton mountain a looming a few miles to
the east.
The sport of skijoring is a combination of skiing and “joring” or
being pulled by an animal, in this case, a horse. The sport is
gaining popularity Loren Zhimanskova of Skijor USA says. In
Europe, the horse is controlled by a rider behind the horse. In the
United States its done more “western Style” with a rider on a
horse, pulling a skier or a snowboarder towed by a single rope
through an obstacle course with gates, jumps and collecting rings.
Twenty five years ago there were about 8 to 10 races a year. This
year there were 40 and next year there may be 50.
In addition to the races, the atmosphere at the event is ever more
festive - think ski resort meets rodeo. Spectators tailgate with
propane heaters, barbeques and charcuterie boards from the local
grocery store, and they are dressing up in vintage fur coats,
combined with leather and whatever the most popular weather
resistant clothing available at the moment is, with a dash of
Pendleton.
“The general public is really getting into it, hey are hearing about it
on social media. Everyone is really enjoying dressing up,” says
Zhimanskova , “Skijor fashion is really catching on. It's a big part
of it, spectator participation.”
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