Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Skijoring at the 320 Guest Ranch: Like waterskiing on snow

in Arts & Entertainment
Skijoring at the 320 Guest Ranch: Like waterskiing on snow

Skier Chris Plank navigates a banked gate at 320 Ranch with ease. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE REEVES PHOTOGRAPHY

Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
February 19, 2017

By Doug Hare EBS Staff

BIG SKY – The sport of skijoring returned to the 320 Guest Ranch for the seventh consecutive year on Feb. 4-5 with 50 teams competing for cash prizes in three sections: open, women’s and sport.

Originating in Norway, skijoring is an increasingly popular sport where skiers are pulled by dogs, horses or motorized vehicles. At the 320 Ranch, skiers were pulled by horse and rider through a 400-yard course as spectators looked on and cheered. 

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad

Equine skijoring resembles waterskiing if you squint hard enough. The skier has no poles, only a rope to hang on to as they navigate gates, jumps and other obstacles on short skis, reaching speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

Competitors raced the course twice on both Saturday and Sunday. The best times from each day were then averaged to determine the overall winners in their respective sections.

On Saturday, many teams had trouble navigating a banked gate near the end of the course, causing many skiers to lose their grip on the rope and, as a result, have their times disqualified. Some teams chose to intentionally miss a gate, taking a five second penalty to ensure they had one run that counted towards their overall score. By Sunday afternoon, many teams had figured out the right way to successfully make the final turns without missing a gate or dropping the rope.

It was local Carrie Lee’s third time competing in the event as a skier at the 320 Guest Ranch. “This was my first overall win after lots of second places skijoring. Now I’m on the hunt for a belt buckle,” Lee said.

On-the-fly decision-making, rope management, and staying balanced are allies when you’re trying to go as fast as you can, Lee added. She plans to compete in other Montana skijoring events this winter, one in Wisdom and another in Red Lodge.

Thanks to the 320 Guest Ranch and Skijor International, skijoring has become a welcome winter tradition just south of Big Sky. Combining our state’s strong skiing heritage and cowboy roots, this action-packed event is worth putting on your calendar next time it comes to town.

Results

Open Division
1st Place: Ebbie Hansen pulling Aaron Griffen
2nd Place: Richard Weber pulling Tyler Smedsrud
3rd Place: Cal Douglas pulling Sayre Smith

Sport Division: 

1st Place: CR Kunesh pulling Colin Cook
2nd Place: Richard Weber pulling Ryan Griffen
3rd Place: Kristi Herbig pulling Jarid Gibson

Women’s Division: 
1st Place: Kristi Herbig pulling Carrie Lee
2nd Place: Mariah Rys-Sikora pulling Jill McNamara
3rd Place: Krissi Block on Baxter pulling Alex Estes

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes

Upcoming Events

May 30
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

Jun 5
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Birds and Brews: Explore MOR Adult Exploration Series

Jun 6
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

Jun 13
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

Jun 20
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

A snapshot of Big Sky’s seasonal workforce: Q&A with filmmaker Fischer Genau 
Arts & Entertainment

A snapshot of Big Sky’s seasonal workforce: Q&A with filmmaker Fischer Genau 

May 28, 2025
Montana Media Act signed by governor, supports Montana filmmakers
Arts & Entertainment

Montana Media Act signed by governor, supports Montana filmmakers

May 16, 2025
Big Sky Community Theater brings first-ever original production to the stage
Arts & Entertainment

Big Sky Community Theater brings first-ever original production to the stage

May 12, 2025
Six bands to perform for Music on Main summer series 
Arts & Entertainment

Six bands to perform for Music on Main summer series 

May 1, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube