STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Forget the chairlifts! All you need is a good fast horse for the Wood River Extreme Ski Joring Races.

The exciting races featuring a team comprised of a horse, a horse rider and a skier take place today and Sunday—Feb. 15-16—at a race course on 81 Browning lane south of Bellevue. They start at high noon each day, with races going on for a few hours.

Admission is $5 per spectator with children 12 and under free. A portion of the fees will be donated to the Wood River High School Rodeo Team.

Concessions, including a beer garden, will be provided by Smokey Bone BBQ. And the Crisis Hotline will have coffee and hot chocolate. There’ll be a raffle, as well.

Skijoring generally involves skiing behind a horse or dog. In this case, skiers ski behind a horse as the horse pounds its way down a 600- to 900-foot course.

Skiers must negotiate a couple jumps ranging between three and six feet tall, all while grabbing rings that are posted along the way. The horse rider must also grab a ring.

Points are deducted for missed rings and jumps.

This year’s competition will include a Couples Race and a Kids Stick Horse Race for competitors 10 and under.

Competitors are vying for a $5,000 added purse.

Spectators are invited to bring lawn chairs. It’s asked, however, that you leave dogs at home.

Awards will be handed out at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at 7 Fuego Restaurant in Bellevue.

Questions? Call 208-720-7798.