Competitor Guidelines
Pre-Registration Guidelines
Bridger Brewskis & Spurs is focused on building the skijoring community here at home. That’s why we’re prioritizing registration for folks who live in SW Montana.
We’ll offer in-person pre-registration before registration becomes available online:
Tuesday, 1/20/26 | 6–8 PM
Bridger Brewing — Bozeman
Thursday, 1/22/26 | 6–8 PM
Bridger Brewing — Three Forks
Any remaining spots will be available for online registration on Saturday, 1/24.
Pre-registration guidelines:
We’ll fill no more than half of the available entries per division at each pre-registration event.
Each rider will be limited to two entries total during pre-registration.
Pre-registration will be first-come, first-served at each event.
Payment will be required at pre-registration. We will accept cash, check, or Venmo.
Registration is not refundable but can be transferred at competitor check-in on Friday, February 27.
Participation & Registration Rules
A team consists of horse, rider and skier or snowboarder. Each team may enter once in any division.
Each horse may run no more than twice per day (i.e. be part of no more than two teams). A rider may compete up to two times on the same horse, but must have different skiers for each run. A rider may compete up to four times in a day.
A skier or snowboarder may compete up to four times in a day.
Award Overview
There will be four divisions:
Open Ski 4D (80 teams): 1D will consist of the fastest times. 2D will start 1.5 seconds after the 1D time. 3D will start 3 seconds after the 1D time. 4D will start 4.5 seconds after the 1D time. The top three times in each D level will be awarded.
Snowboard (10 teams): The top three times will be awarded.
Switcheroo (10 teams): In the switcheroo division, one person must ride the horse on the first day, while another person skis. The second day, the roles must be reversed. The top three times will be awarded.
Youth (20 teams): Both the rider and skier/snowboarder must be 14 years old or younger on race day to qualify for the youth division. The top three times will be awarded.
For each division, there will be winners on each day and an overall weekend winner.
There will be a sidepot in the Open 4D division for residents of Townsend and Three Forks.
Racing Rules
The skiers and riders will be allowed to inspect and walk the track prior to race time at the discretion of the organizers.
All participants must sign waivers. If skier is under 18, parent/legal guardian must sign parental consent forms and be physically present during the event.
Ropes must be inspected & approved before competing and cannot be longer than 33' for straight tracks.
The team has four minutes to start once the course is deemed clear.
Both ski tips and both boots must go around a gate, or the gate is considered missed.
The skier must finish in an upright position on at least one ski, with rope in hand. When crossing the finish line, both skier boots must cross the finish line.
If the Skier drops the rope BEFORE crossing the start line, he/she will be allowed a restart.
Horse, Rider, & Skier/snowboarder should be in good physical shape to participate in an extreme sport. No performance enhancing drugs are allowed.
The following penalties should be assessed, but this is at the discretion of the Race itself.
2 second penalty for each missed jump or gate.
2 second penalty for any horse breaking the plane of any jump, dislodging a gate, or hitting a timing device at the starting line or finish line.
No excessive whipping of horses or use of a crop.
Ambulance, EMT, and Veterinarian crews will be on site during competition. Race organizers and veterinarian reserve the right to prohibit a horse from competing if it is not deemed fit.
Competitors should immediately bring their concerns to the Arena Judge if they feel the course is unsafe for competition.
Skier must wear a protective helmet.
Run Dispute Protocol: ****If a team member has a concern regarding their run, that team member may immediately tell the finish line judge of that concern and may declare a protest. The finish line judge immediately notifies the referee to bring the protest to their attention. If a team member has a concern regarding their run but does not notify the finish line judge immediately, that team member may still protest as soon as possible after the run on the same day, but will be required to pay a $100 protest fee if their protest is not upheld.
If a competitor verbally and/or physically abuses a fellow competitor, a race organizer, a race official, a volunteer or another person affiliated with the production of the event, or an animal, this person will be disqualified and removed from that day’s competition and banned from the following day’s competition at the discretion of the race organizers.
Horse and Spectator Safety Protocol
The start gate area will be roped off, with only the competitor who is starting allowed in the start area.
Spectators are not to be allowed in the horse starting area or the staging area.
An adequate horse run out will be provided.
Horse leg protection is strongly recommended. Horses should have shoes that will increase their traction.
Officials have the authority to disqualify horses at the start that pose a danger to the volunteer staff or to the rider or skier especially at the start or staging area.