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HEBER CITY — More than 300 skiers and snowboarders wearing cowboy outfits, animal onesies and neon snowsuits raced while being pulled by horse riders through a slalom course in Heber City on Friday and Saturday.
"I love how the horse goes quick and you're just able to feel what the horse is doing and just it's way fun," 13-year-old skier Zoey Balser said. This weekend was her first time competing in skijoring.
Skijoring is an event that combines "Wild West" cowboy history with ski racing. A snowboarder or skier is pulled by a horse through a U-shaped course, passing slalom gates, going off jumps and grabbing rings hung on the side of the course.
"We love the fact that it brings everyone in the community together. It brings the heritage of skiing and the greatest snow on earth and along with that western heritage we have always had in the state of Utah together. So we are bringing people from two different ways of life, but we are bringing all of Utah together in one fun event," event organizer Brandon Francis said.
If the skier drops the ring or passes a gate on the wrong side they receive a two-second penalty.
Zoey's race time was 28 seconds with two penalties. Participants race both days and Zoey said her run on Saturday was "much more fun" because she improved and got more used to being pulled by a horse.
Francis got involved with skijoring as a horse rider competitor a few years ago. He still competes, but he has now joined the founders to help grow and make the sport bigger.
The skijoring competition has been going on for seven years, but this year was the first time it was held at the Wasatch County Event Center. Previously the event was held at Soldier Hollow and once in Kamas.
"The event has grown and grown. We needed a facility that can handle horses and trailers, and parking and the growing amount of people that want to come and check out this action-packed, fast-paced, Western crazy extreme winter sport," Francis said.
We are bringing people from two different ways of life, but we are bringing all of Utah together in one fun event.
– Event organizer Brandon Francis
Races included a "buckaroos" kids division for competitors under 12, and novice through pro divisions with different age classes.
Peggy Light was a barrel racer for 50 years and Amy Lanzel was a ski racer for more than 20 years. They decided to team up and compete for the first time in skijoring as the Rockstar Barndoggers.
"It's a lot of fun," Light said.
Light rode her horse named Rock and pulled Lanzel behind her on skis. Lanzel said she is grateful the competition had age divisions because she didn't want to try and compete against young spry 18-year-olds.
"They really put a great show on here, I think, with a lot of sponsors and they're doing a great job. It's just a lot of pomp and pageantry and a lot of fun and I'd encourage anybody to come out and certainly watch it because it's a hoot," Lanzel said.
Right at the end of the Barndoggers' race, Light fell off her horse and Lanzel took a tumble. Lanzel popped up quickly after rolling, and Wasatch EMT responded to help Light get off the course to treat her for her injuries.
The two-day competition ends Saturday evening with a big-air jump contest after the races are finished.
