Winter in Idaho’s Wood River Valley has its own kind of Western magic. For one weekend each year since the late 1990’s, that magic gathers at 81 Browning Lane in Bellevue, Idaho, for the annual Wood River Extreme Ski Joring Association (WRESJA) event, where neighbors, friends, and visitors line the fence to watch riders and racers kick up snow. On February 14 and 15, the WRESJA will host this community‑built event that is full of action and small‑town charm. Bring a lawn chair, dress wild and warm, but leave the dogs at home so everyone can enjoy the races safely and comfortably.
About the Event
Starting at 11AM each day, fast horses will tow brave skiers and snowboarders down a 600–900-foot snow-packed course, where competitors tackle one to three jumps and reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour. All while spearing salad plate size rings with a “free” arm. A clean run means hitting the jumps, grabbing rings from both rider and skier, and crossing the finish in one piece—missed rings and skipped jumps cost precious points, and winners are crowned on their combined times over both days. This year’s races also include a couple’s division—with a special surprise, a century division where the rider and skier’s ages equal 100years or more and Pee-Wee races for kids ages 5 to10, keeping the action going for every age.
Despite this winter’s unseasonably warm temperatures and low natural snowfall, organizers are committed to a full, snow-packed track. In the days leading up to the event, WRESJA will truck snow into the race venue as needed so competitors and spectators can count on a true Skijoring experience, even if Mother Nature does not deliver.
Spectator admission for this popular community event is $10, with kids 12 and under free, and a portion of ticket & swag sales goes right back into local youth and winter programs, including the Wood River High School Rodeo Team, Lead ‘em and Feed ‘em 4-H club, and new this year, Rotarun Ski Area joins the list of benefactors to round out WRESJA’s community outreach and the full sport of Skijoring.
With the addition of Rotarun Ski Area, WRESJA is also adding a fun new element called the RotaRING. The RotaRING is a purple ring that turns one of the 10 rings on the course into a donation: every purple RotaRING that’s purchased sends an automatic $25 gift to Rotarun, and when the purple ring is speared and carried all the way to the finish line, WRESJA will match the donation—giving sponsors a reason to cheer even louder from the fence line. RotaRINGs are available at shop.rotarun.org/products/wresja-x-rotarun-ring
The fun doesn’t stop when the last horse crosses the line. Concessions, raffles, and vendor offerings keep the infield buzzing during the day, while the evenings turn into a local gathering of riders, volunteers, sponsors, and fans. The weekend kicks off with a pre‑race party and team check‑in on Friday night at Mahoney’s Bar & Grill —a classic Wood River Valley hangout where familiar faces and new friends meet up to swap stories from the track.
Saturday’s race will be followed by the traditional team auction and party on Saturday night at River Sage Stables located at 20 Prairie Road just south of Bellevue and the awards ceremony will be held on Sunday at River Sage Stables.
For event information, race registration, sponsorship, volunteer information, or online sign‑ups, visit woodriveresja.com.
Race Location: 81 Browning Lane, Bellevue, ID
