THE NEXT CHAPTER IS COMING!
WHITEFISH SKIJORING
Big Things Are on the Horizon!
Whitefish Skijoring is gearing up for an exciting new chapter, and we can't wait to share what's ahead!
We're building on the traditions, adrenaline, and incredible community that have made this event a Flathead Valley favorite for decades.
Stay tuned for some big announcements. You won't want to miss what's coming!
Our Story
Whitefish Skijoring is a Non-Profit organization that has hosted Skijoring events in the Flathead Valley since 2003. You are invited to join the festivities! Check out the Competitor Information and Spectator Information to explore how you can be part of the fun, or volunteer to really be a part of the action! We can't put on the race without our Sponsors, so consider getting your business name in front of hundreds of spectators and competitors at the race!
Whitefish Skijoring History
As reported in the London Independent, Pamplona may have its running of the bulls, St Mortiz its tobogganing maniacs, and Warren Miller its cast of crazies but Skijoring has been part of the local tradition since the 1960s.
Founding Father of Whitefish Winter Carnival, Norm Kurtz, challenged local ski legends of the Big Mountain Ski Resort, Martin Hale, Dale Evenson, Gordy Taylor, Dick Maddox, and others to take part in the high-speed event. He also recruited Mountain Trails Saddle Club horsemen, Elmer Smith, Herb Knuth, the Morris brothers, Doc Kauffman, and others to saddle up their fastest horses to pull the skiers. There was no cowboy chic to it--just dally up and go!!
How It Expanded
The event was held on Central Avenue in the early years but later moved to the Mountain Trails Saddle Club on Wisconsin Avenue, where Stumptown Ice Den now stands. Great fun continued every year until the mid-seventies. In the early 2000's a local businessman spearheaded a successful campaign to bring this exciting event back to the Flathead Valley. It is more exciting than ever. Faster horses, higher jumps, and more fun!!