Skijoring

Save the Date, Skijoring Returns to Rebecca Farm,
December 28-29, 2019 .

Rebecca Farm is excited to present their 3rd annual skijoring competition on the weekend of December 28th- 29th.This will be the first race of the 2020 Skijoring Season, ensuring that many top skiers, riders and horses from Flathead Valley and the entire Western Region will be on hand to compete. Enjoy the spirit of the holidays and come out for some family-friendly, cold weather fun!

Opening ceremonies will begin at noon on both days, followed closely by the start of this competition that will include Open, Sport, Novice and Costume Classes.

Joe Warner, the popular Western rodeo announcer, will be on hand to provide colorful commentary as horse and rider teams pull alpine skiers along a challenging, curved course, navigating gates, grabbing rings and soaring over snow jumps up to 6 feet high.

Competitors will race on Saturday and Sunday, vying for a piece of a total prize purse in excess of $10,000. A portion of the Saturday evening Calcutta proceeds will be donated to Halt Cancer at X, an initiative created by organizer Sarah Broussard that raises funds for breast cancer research and local nonprofits providing support services for cancer patients. For more information, visit rebeccafarm.org/halt-cancer.

This family-friendly event is open to the public and promises to be fun for all ages. Admission is $5 per person. Children 12 and under admitted for free. Spectators can enjoy the beautiful scenery and vistas of Rebecca Farm, while watching the fast-paced action. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from several local vendors.

Offsite Evening Events

Friday Night - Team Registration
Where: The Brass Tap
85 Treeline Rd., Kalispell, MT 406-309-2345
When: Friday, December 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Who: Competitors and friends

Please join us Friday evening at The Brass Tap to register to compete, locate a teammate, and enjoy friendly camaraderie ahead of the next day’s fierce competition. Be sure to arrive thirsty and with an appetite, since The Brass Tap offers over 150 craft beers and a menu of delicious complimentary food items. Plenty of adjacent parking is available and horse trailers are welcome.

Please note that this Team Registration event is mandatory for all competitors. There will be no on-line registration this year, although blank forms will be available on-line if you’d like to complete them in advance and save time Friday evening.

Saturday Night - Calcutta
Where: Midway Tavern
1985 Hodgson Rd., Whitefish, MT
When: Saturday, December 28 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Who: Competitors, Volunteers, Friends and Fans

Skijoring at Rebecca Farm will hold a Calcutta on Saturday night from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. at Midway Tavern, with Joe Warner serving as the auctioneer. The Calcutta is open to the public and all are welcome to join in the fun as teams from the Open, Sport, and Novice classes are auctioned off to the highest bidders.

Eighty percent (80%) of the money raised for each class will be paid out to the bidders who purchased the top three teams in each class, based on Sunday's race times. Come out to bid on your own team or on someone else you expect to place well. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Midway Tavern’s full bar and restaurant.

Sunday Evening - Awards
Where: First Avenue Taphouse
139 1st Avenue West, Kalispell, MT
When: Sunday, December 28 at 6pm
Who: Competitors, Calcutta winners, Volunteers, Friends and Fans

Come and celebrate as the winners of each class are announced and presented with their cash and swag prizes. Winning bids from Saturday evening’s Calcutta will also be paid out at this event. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Competitors

Class and Competition Criteria:

OPEN CLASS (Pro) Teams are considered to be the highest skilled competitors with the fastest horses. A team consists of horse, rider and skier.
SPORT CLASS (Amateur) Teams are considered to be intermediate level skill participants riding horses that may not be fast enough to be in the Open Class.
NOVICE CLASS (Beginners) Teams are considered to be, new to the sport, beginning level competitors riding horses that may not have speed enough to be competitive in the Open or Sport Class.

Competitor Information Flyer (PDF)

Rules and Regulations for the 2020 Skijoring Season (PDF)

Registration

All competitors are required to attend Friday evening’s Team Registration at The Brass Tap (5pm-8pm) to complete registration paperwork, pay fees, and provide profiles for the announcer. Competitors will also receive instructions, team numbers, goody bags and parking passes for the competition. PDF forms will be available online and can be filled out prior to arrival.

Registration fees

Open Class: $100/person
Sport Class: $75/person
Novice Class: $50/person
Costume Class: $50/person

Use this link to print Registration Forms and/or make Reservations for Stabling at Rebecca Farm.

COMING SOON!

Looking for a skijoring teammate? Request access to our Facebook group and connect with others who want to team up. Click HERE to get started.

Will there be a junior competitor category? There will not be a junior competitor category but all ages are welcome to compete. Those under the age of 18 must wear a helmet and have a parent/guardian's written permission to participate.

Spectators

Rebecca Farm is located just two miles west of Kalispell on over 600 picturesque acres of rolling hills surrounded by mountains. The Farm provides an ideal location for warmly bundled spectators to enjoy the exciting winter sport of skijoring. Designed to accommodate large sporting events, Rebecca Farm offers ample parking along with outstanding vantage points from which spectators can view the competition.

Admission:

$5 per person, children 12 and under admitted free of charge.

Food and Beverage Concessions:

Several Food and Beverage vendors will be located on-site.

Directions

From the South:
Take Hwy 93 bypass north. Take Exit 5, Three Mile Drive. Turn left onto Three Mile Drive. Continue around bend to the right and when the road bends to the left (~1 mile) continue straight onto W. Springcreek Rd. Turn left at the T and immediately right to continue on W. Springcreek. The entrance to the farm (1010 W. Springcreek Rd.) is ~100 yards on the left. Follow drive until the fork and go right. Continue and you will see the course on your right. Spectator parking is on the left.

From the North:
Take Hwy 93 South. Turn right onto Reserve/Hwy 93 Bypass south. Take Exit 7, Old Reserve. Turn right onto Old Reserve. Continue straight through the roundabout. Continue straight for about 1 mile, then turn left onto W. Springcreek Rd. Entrance to the farm (1010 W. Springcreek Rd.) is 3/4 mile on the right. Follow drive until the fork and go right. Continue and you will see the course on your right. Spectator parking is on the left.

Schedule & Venues:

Friday, December 27th: Team Registration, 5-8pm, at The Brass Tap, 85 Treeline Rd, Kalispell.

Saturday, December 28th: Race Competition, First Go: Opening ceremony at noon, followed immediately by First Go, Rebecca Farm, 1010 W. Springcreek Rd Kalispell.
Calcutta Party, 7-10pm, at Midway Tavern, 1985 Hodgson Rd., Whitefish

Sunday, December 29th: Race Competition, Second Go:Opening ceremony at noon, followed immediately by Second Go, Rebecca Farm, 1010 W. Springcreek Rd, Kalispell.
Awards: 6pm at First Avenue Taphouse, 139 1st Avenue W., Kalispell

Volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to help with warm-up, course maintenance, starting gate, gatekeeping, back-up timing and a few other areas. Volunteers will need to arrive by 11:30am to receive instructions and get into position for the scheduled noon start of competition.

If you’d like to be part of our volunteer team for this exciting winter event, please use the link below to go to a SignUpGenius page where you can choose the day and job you’re interested in.

If you have questions or specific assignment requests not listed, you may also contact our volunteer coordinator Heidi directly at 406-270-3889 or RFdressageHeidi@gmail.com. Heidi will be in touch with all volunteers in late December.