Best in the West Showdown Shatters Records with Thrilling Skijoring Performances
TL;DR
Top skijoring teams battle for $15,000 prize money, showcasing speed and precision for competitive advantage.
Skijoring event features challenging course with tight gates, steep turns, and flaming jumps, attracting 6,000 spectators.
Big Sky Skijoring fosters vibrant culture, blending tradition with modern freestyle to create an authentic and charming event.
X-Games athletes showcase thrilling snowmobiling and aerial maneuvers, leaving spectators amazed at the Best in the West Showdown.
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The 7th Annual Best in the West Showdown in Big Sky, Montana, demonstrated the rising popularity of skijoring, a dynamic winter sport where horse-mounted riders pull skiers and snowboarders through challenging courses. Drawing over 6,000 spectators and broadcast nationally on the Cowboy Channel, the event featured competitive performances across multiple divisions.
Richard Weber and Jim Ryan dominated the Open Ski Division with a winning run of 37.26 seconds, while snowboarder Kurt Layton swept the Pro Snowboard Division with his team. The Switcharoo Division saw Dennis and Phoebe Alverson claim first place, and the Junior Division was won by Sawyer Anderson and Kate Thompson.
Beyond competitive racing, the event introduced innovative elements like the Slopestyle Expo, which integrated freestyle skiing and snowboarding with traditional skijoring. Professional athletes performed tricks while being pulled by horse-mounted wranglers, showcasing the sport's evolving nature.
The event also featured spectacular exhibitions, including the Keith Sayers FMX team's freestyle snowmobiling performance and X-Games athletes Brett Turcot and Willie Elam's dramatic aerial maneuvers over the infield area.
The Best in the West Showdown represents more than a competition; it embodies a cultural celebration that bridges western traditions with modern extreme sports. With record attendance and expanding programming, the event signals the growing appeal of skijoring and its potential to attract diverse audiences.
As Erik Morrison from the Big Sky Skijoring production team noted, the event successfully blends cultural heritage with contemporary freestyle culture, creating an authentic experience that resonates with participants and spectators alike.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
