Coal Mountain skijoring

Registration

Space is limited to ensure that the quality of our track stays safe through the weekend, so be sure to register as soon as possible. All registration payments and signing of waivers will be due at registration on Friday, February 7th, 2025. We will accept cash or card. If you do not show up for registration, you will not be entered for the races, unless previous arrangements have been made with the race producer. 

Race fees due at registration:

Open - $/participant ($200/team)

Sport - $60/participant ($120/team)

Novice - $50/participant ($100/team)

* Snowboard - snowboards WILL be allowed and will be ran with the novice division and will run on the novice course. 

* Youth runs are free

Rules are solely for the competitors’ safety, both horse and human, and to ensure a fair competition at the Coal Mountain Skijoring Races.  All rules are required to be followed by race competitors.

In our races, the producer has the ultimate say in determining participant and equine safety. We reserve the right to disqualify any competitor in the event unsafe actions are observed.  We also reserve the right to cancel or postpone the entire event should dangerous conditions arise.  

TEAMS

A team consists of a horse, rider, and skier and will get one run each day. A skier cannot ski behind the same horse more than once per day, and a horse may only run two times per day. All teams are pick your partner. If you are in need of a pull or a skier please contact us and we will do our best to find you a partner. 

Local Team: Both rider and skier must reside in Moffat County

Novice Team:  Novice teams are teams that are new to the sport, or are not reasonably competitive enough to compete in the Sport or Open Classes. A Novice rider can compete in other divisions on a different horse. Novice skiers may not compete in Open or Sport divisions.

Sport Team:  Sport teams are the next level of competitors. A Sport team may not have the horse power and or experience of an Open team yet is still a highly competitive division and requires much skill. 

*** New to this race. If you are a Sport skier or rider you may ALSO enter the Open division with one or more of your teams, thus putting you in two different divisions for the weekend if you choose. You will still be limited to your 4 entries. Entering the open will not permanently move you to this class. You may enter with any rider/horse combo.

Open Team:  Open teams are considered to be the highest skilled skiers with the fastest horses. Open riders may compete in other divisions with a different horse. Open skiers may not compete in Sport or Novice divisions. Horses that run in the Open every weekend also cannot compete in the Sport or Novice. 

*** Open teams are limited to only TWO runs with the SAME rider/skier combo. 

Youth Team: Skier must be 12 yr or younger. May be pulled by an adult already entered in the event and will not count towards the horse’s two run limit. Youth skier may also be pulled by youth rider. Youth skier is limited to one run per day. There will be a youth buckle and prizes for every kid that enters. 

SKIERS

A skier may have four runs.

All skiers must wear approved snow sport helmets.

Any skiers under 18 must have a parent/guardian sign parental consent forms, and parents/guardians must be on site during race. 

It is suggested that bindings be inspected by a professional prior to skiing.

RIDERS

If a rider has more than one horse, they may be entered in the same or multiple divisions. 

Riders have 4 minutes to begin the run once the track is clear. All riders must be on time for their runs. Any rider that cannot be ready on time due to running too many horses or horse difficulty will be moved to the bottom of the order. The second failure to be ready will result in a DQ for that run.

HORSE

A horse may not run more than twice per day.  

Horses can cross divisions as long as they are going UP a division from where they usually run. Example- a Sport horse can run in the Open but not in the Novice. Open horses must stay in the Open class. 

It is recommended that horses have leg protection. 

The shoeing method is up to the discretion of the horse owner. Borium, ice nails, studs, snow pads or barefoot are all accepted.

GENERAL COMPETITION

Each team gets one run per day. There will be day money paid each day and an average of the two times combined will be ranked after Sunday's race.  A Did Not Finish (DNF) on any day will be ranked lower than a team with two qualifying times. 

Ropes will be 33’ long with no boat handles at the end for the skier to hold.  One knot at the end of the rope is accepted.  

1. Attachment to the saddle is behind the cantle area. It must be secured to the primary rigging rings of the saddle via a narrow diameter, non-elastic rope, so that the pulling rope is within an approximate six inches of the cantle, carabineer included. The start line track manager must approve any attachment to the saddle. 
2. Dallying or any attachment to the saddle horn will be difficult and not suggested. If you choose to attach your rope in this manner you are accepting the risk of the skier pulling you off the side of your horse. 
3. Here is a great video to show attachment options: https://www.facebook.com/skijoringamerica/videos/sja-horse-rigging-tutorial/1422293494564336/

PENALTIES

1. A five (5) second penalty is assessed for each missed jump
2. A five (5) second penalty is assessed for each missed gate
3. A two (2) second penalty is assessed for each missed/dropped ring

NO DOGS will not be allowed at the Moffat County Fairgrounds/event location with spectators. 

If contestants bring their dog for the weekend it must stay at your vehicle and on a leash at all times.

DRONES- There will be a drone at this event that will video a select few of the runs. It will be flown by a professional in a way that will not interfere with anyone else's run. Drones are used successfully to video horses every day across the country. 

If your horse is not scared of birds flying, flags or banners on the track, loud music, people screaming, cow bells, the announcer (all commonly seen at these events) then he will likely not be bothered by a drone 90 feet in the air.

There will be absolutely NO drones allowed by anyone other than our hired videographer. 

- If a horse, rider, skier, or any equipment is deemed unsafe, that individual will be asked to leave at any time. This includes anyone intoxicated/under the influence.

- If a skier drops the rope before crossing the starting line, he/she will be allowed a restart immediately. 

- If the skier drops the rope a second time, the team will be disqualified for the run.   

- If the horse runs the course without stopping for the skier, the team will be disqualified.

- The skier must finish in an upright position and on at least one ski, with rope in hand when crossing the finish line. Both ski boots must cross the finish line.

- Both ski tips and boots must go around a gate, or the gate is considered missed. 

- Participants may use batons to spear rings. Batons are not required, thus no penalty if the baton is dropped.

- All competitors must be informed of their time at the end of their run before the start of the next run. Times will be announced over the PA system. 

- If there is a protest on time due to missed rings/gates, the protest must happen IMMEDIATELY. Competitors must notify a race official. Once the next team starts, you cannot protest your run.

- All performance-enhancing drugs for humans/horses are prohibited and will not be tolerated.  

- If a ring falls off the ring stand due to wind or other forces caused by mother nature, a deduction will NOT be taken.  

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The following will result in a No Time and Disqualification from the event:

1.  Infraction of any state or federal law which exists pertaining to the exhibition, care and custody of horses within the State of Colorado and Moffat County.
2. Abuse of an animal on premises and/or evidence that an act of abuse has occurred prior to or during the event. 
3. Use of illegal equipment. Ex: rope longer than 33'
4. Participant under the influence.

SUBSTITUTIONS

In the event that a horse, rider, or skier is injured on day one and is unable compete the next day, a substitution will be allowed IF someone has an open hole to compete. No duplicate teams allowed and horses are still restricted to 2 runs/day and skiers 4 runs/day. 

* Substitution teams will only be running for day money on Sunday and won't be eligible for the average

CALCUTTA

Only Open and Sport teams will be sold in the calcutta. Should a bidder not pay at the closing of the Calcutta, the bidder will forfeit the bid(s) and will not own the purchased team(s). The Coal Mountain Skijoring Board will then purchase said team(s) for $10.00/team.