February 2, 2024 |
Photo – Skijoring participants from previous competition – Bigfoot99 file photo
Tomorrow the eighth annual running of the Saratoga Skijoring Races kicks up at the Buck Springs Arena.
For the past eight winters, the Saratoga Lions Club has partnered with the group formerly known as the Carbon County Visitor’s Council (now Discover Carbon County Wyoming) to hold a two-day long winter-race event involving horses and skis east of town.
Event organizer Richard Raymer told Bigfoot99 that the Saratoga Lions Club wanted to continue hosting winter events after participation in chariot races dwindled.
Raymer said the Saratoga Lions Club held chariot races for 37 years before switching over to skijoring.
For those that don’t know, skijoring involves towing a skier behind a horse. The skier must navigate jumps while collecting rings suspended above the course.
This year’s Saratoga Skijoring Races have attracted over 100 skiers and riders of all ages. Raymer said having the younger generation participate is important to the longevity of the event.
Raymer said the 900-foot-long course consists of four to six jumps and bumps. The event organizer said skiers must collect rings on their arms and then navigate a series of slaloms before reaching the finish line. Raymer said riders and skiers must work in unison to achieve the lowest times.
Speaking of wipeouts, last year, Will Faust, another Saratoga Skijoring Races organizer, failed to make a large jump while competing and broke his leg. Raymer said on doctor’s orders, Faust will sit out this weekend’s event.
Raymer said the races are separated into divisions based on qualifying times and levels of experience. The timed events are further divided into three different classes. Raymer said the novice division is for people who don’t want to compete against professional skijorers.
Raymer said racer registration ended last week. The event organizer said the Saratoga Lions Club limits the number of races over the weekend to 100. However, Raymer said a limit is never set on the number of kids that can participate. He said no kid will be turned away from the event.
This winter’s lack of snow won’t stop the Saratoga Lions Club from holding the skijoring event. Raymer said he collected enough snow from stockpiles all around Saratoga to pack the course. The event organizer said Streets Department Supervisor John Lasco also loaded trucks full of snow collected from around town to pack the racetrack.
The Saratoga Skijoring Races begin at 10:30 this Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Buck Springs Arena just outside of Saratoga. Raymer said the event typically ends by 3:00 in the afternoon.
Admission is $5 a person. Kids 12 and under are free.
Raymer said he hopes to see everyone at the track enjoying the fun.
