The 6th Annual Best In The West Skijoring Competition: Big Sky, MT To Host The Best Skijoring Teams In North America

    BIG SKY, MT, January 25, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The team at Big Sky Skijoring has been turning the skijoring world upside down. Now in its 6th year, The Best In The West Showdown has a reputation for pushing the envelope of competitive skijoring by pairing cutting edge course design, showmanship and elements of mountain culture never seen before. The results speak for themselves.

Last year's event attracted over 150 of the best teams in North America with 4000 spectators. The highlight of the Showdown culminated with the Keith Sayers FMX team performing the world's first ever snowmobile backflip over a live skijoring race. In their final run in the open division the team of Colin Cook (skier), Richard Webber III (rider) and Serge To Paradise (horse) put together a smooth clean run through the berms, jumps and flames just in time for pro freestyle snowmobiler and Winter X Games champion Willie Elam to hit the throttle and lay out a huge backflip over the team as they dashed through the finish line. The crowd went wild, as did the internet with millions of views as the spectacular moment went viral.

"When our team here at Wrangler saw that video, we had to learn more about this event," says Clay Hanback (Sr. Manager of Western Content Marketing & Partnerships, Wrangler). "Our brand is grounded in the spirit of people who work hard, have fun, and showcase courageous individuality. After seeing the coverage of The Showdown, meeting with their team, and hearing their vision for the future, we clearly found that spirit. We are very excited to be part of the event this year and can't wait to get out to Big Sky."

The culture of this event is something special, said Erik Morrison, one of the producers of Big Sky Skijoring. "It's the inclusivity of it all. Big Sky Skijoring is carrying on the tradition of skijoring while actively expanding the sport to appeal to new competitors and audiences across all generations. You have cowboys and cowgirls, ski racers, freeride competitors, die hard dirtbag skiers/riders, celebrities, families, and everyone in between on the edge of their seats enjoying the show together. Everyone is part of the culture of the event, and everyone is a VIP. The best seats in the house are anywhere with a great view of the course to cheer on the competitors, a cozy fire pit and enjoying some food and drinks with the colorful company. That's the Big Sky vibe our team is working to cultivate with The Showdown."

This year's event will feature two action packed days of racing. A total of 154 skijoring teams will leave it all on the course for their chance at a piece of the $15,000 prize purse. The Keith Sayers FMX team will be back again to perform their big air exposition during intermissions. This year's lineup includes X Games athlete and Snowmobile Freestyle Gold winner Brett Turcotte. There will be an opportunity for the public to meet and greet with many of the skijoring and FMX athletes at the vendor village. Similar to last year, the village will offer ticket holders numerous options for local food, beverage, retail, and a comfortable atmosphere overlooking the race.

"This Big Sky venue and the community that is helping pull it all together is something special." says Justa Adams (Executive Director of BSSJ). "Our community partners don't just help sponsor the event. They roll up their sleeves, dig in and build it! Thanks to the teamwork of Delzer Diversified, RentBiz and Lone Mountain Land Co. working to stockpile snow, we are able to build a quality course in the face of a lean start to the winter season. I'm really proud of our team and how things are coming together for The Showdown. I can't wait to see what our course designers Patrick McVey (Course Groomer and General Manager at Lone Mountain Ranch) and Jeremy Ueland (Program Director of the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation) come up with this year."

For ticket info and a complete itinerary of the weekend's events please visit bigskyskijoring.com.

Big Sky Skijoring is a non-profit organization created to bring the wild, western combined sport of horseback riding and skiing, aka skijoring, to Big Sky, Montana.

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