For the week of December 4 - 10, 2002

Ski joring plans 
for 2003 season

Hailey races Feb. 15-16

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A weekend of racing at Hailey’s Rotarun Ski Area Feb. 15-16 is planned as part of the eight-event 2003 schedule of the Smokey Mountain Ski Joring Association.

That’s one of the big bits of news announced by the local Ski Joring Association.

This past spring, at the spring meeting held in Jackson Hole, Wyo., local Smokey Mountain Ski Joring Association directors Jeff Schroeder and Kurtis Stutz were appointed to the North American Ski Joring Association (NASJA) Board of Directors.

Also representing Idaho on the NASJA board is Rusty Bennett—race director for the Cascade/McCall race.

The 2003 race season consist of eight NASJA sanctioned races:

Jan. 11-12 at Cascade, Idaho; Feb. 1-2 at Jackson Hole and also at Durango, Colo.; Feb. 8-9 at McCall; Feb. 15-16 at Hailey; Feb. 22-23 at Cody, Wyo.; March 1-2 at Leadville, Colo.

The national finals are set for March 8-9 at Red Lodge, Mont. The 2003 Idaho State Ski Joring Championships are in McCall March 15-16.

There have been a few changes made in the Idaho circuit this season.

The three NASJA sanctioned races will be point races for both the NASJA National Title, and for the Idaho State Championship.

There is a catch to keep this from becoming a horse race. Race organizers Rusty Bennett, Jeff Schroeder and Kurtis Stutz have decided to award race points on combined times.

It won’t matter what division you’re racing in, open or sport; everyone races on the same track.

Points from Cascade, McCall, and Hailey races will be combined and at the end of the State Championships, the most consistent team of the 2003 season will be awarded a pay check, and custom hand made belt buckles. Day money will also be awarded.

 

Rotarun race

Smokey Mountain Ski Joring Association will be holding a NASJA sanctioned race Feb. 15-16 in Hailey.

The association is proud to announce it will be working with Rotarun Ski Area.

According to the association’s press release, the primary goal for the 2003 Hailey race is to raise money to help Rotarun build a shop for storage of its grooming machines.

Last season Smokey Mountain Ski Joring Association raised $2,000 for the Sagebrush Equine Training program for the Handicapped, and another $1,200 for lights for the Fairfield football field.

If you are interested in competing this season contact Smokey Mountain Ski Joring Association via e-mail: [email protected], or race administrator: Jeff and Shellie Schroeder 764-2642, Kurtis Stutz 764-3033, Andrea Roche 578-0997, Tim & Cheryl Bennett 764-3334, Greg and Bobbie Wooten 764-2141.

For information on the national circuit contact North American Ski Joring Association at www.nasja.com.

 

 

 

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.