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WHITEFISH \u2014 With snow everywhere, nearly all outdoor sports are on hold for winter, but at the end of January skijoring gears up for the first big event of the year, making Montana its own. sport has just started.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s rodeo, water skiing and downhill racing all rolled into one,\u201d said Leah Mitchell, who has been competing skijoring for 10 years. “And we call it the Extreme Winter Event in Montana.”<\/p>\n
An extreme event that continues to expand year by year.<\/p>\n
“I think it started kind of in the backyard. From the paddock you have, grab a trail horse, a western horse, and run,” Mitchell said.[Now] There are people who are actually buying Thoroughbred racehorses off the track to push the bar even higher. \u201d<\/p>\n
Skiing and horseback riding are thrilling, but there’s more to sports.<\/p>\n
“Honestly, the number one thing for me is people. We have a very close-knit family in skijoring,” said fellow competitor Kristen McAsek. When you go to the races, you meet the same people, but it’s like you haven’t seen them in a year and you have to start all over again.It’s a lot of fun.”<\/p>\n
Skijoring means community, but more than that… it means family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ended up racing behind my mom,\u201d said 27-year-old Dave Rizolo. “She started skiing, and the next year she said, ‘I don’t have any skiers, can you go skiing?’ I’ve been doing that’ ever since. \u201d<\/p>\n
After the last eight years of competition, Rizzolo continues to see the community grow each season.<\/p>\n
“More and more and more and more people, and it’s great to see it right,” Rizzolo said with a smile. “I want to involve as many people as possible to grow the sport. We love to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sport’s extremes may seem intimidating, but Scott Ping, often called the godfather of skijoring, affirms that anyone can participate.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had people come here who’ve never played the sport before and won the beginner’s division,” Ping said. “They love it, they can’t quit like I do, and they end up succeeding.”<\/p>\n
And competitors of all levels will have a chance to compete in the annual Whitefish Skijoring event later this month.<\/p>\n
“There are world-class skiers coming, world-class jockeys coming. It’s going to be really remarkable,” said an excited Ping. It will be a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n