Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/20776
Ski The of Downhill ski racing got you down? Winning rodeos just not enough adrenaline for you? Well, why not kill two rushes with one crazy hobby? Strap on your skis, tether yourself to a speeding horse, pound through slalom gates, and fly off six-foot jumps at 25 mph instead. Adrenaline deficit solved. Welcome to the mad, mad world of ski joring. Pioneered in Scandinavia long ago, the venerable sport of competitive ski joring, which some might describe as sheer madness, has quietly gained in popularity stateside over the past 30 years, attracting hordes of loyal fans and racing teams in snow-prone states nationwide and—not surprisingly—right here in Montana. Recreational ski joring is a simple idea, really. You have a horse and a pair of skis. Attach a harness to the horse with 14 Rush Joring BY DAVE RICHARDSON a tether hooked to another harness around your waist, and you are ready to go. The horse does the work while you ski behind, a human sleigh enjoying an effortless ride to wherever you want to go. No horse? No problem: One or more hardy dogs will do in a pinch. Competitive ski joring is another animal altogether, though. You’ll need an experienced rider to guide the horse, and instead of a leisurely romp through the snow, the idea is to go fast—very fast—through and over obsta- cles arranged in a mane-raising course designed to test the skills, courage, and insanity of horse, rider, and skier. Though many people may never have heard of the sport, dedicated devotees have been enjoying its adrena- line-fueled action for decades. Organized competitions on the East Coast, in the Midwest, and the Rocky Mountain states draw competitors ranging from professional skiers DISTINCTLY MONTANA • WINTER 2011 MERV COLEMAN