A kick of the spur, a flurry of powder and they're off.
Horseback riders, skiers and boarders raced a snowy course at Freedom Equine Association's second annual skijoring fundraiser on Feb. 15 at the Lion's Club Derby Grounds in Fernie.
The stands were packed with people who came to cheer on their friends and family, as they made their way through an obstacle course of berms, small gate markers and hanging objects. Skiers and boarders showed off 360 spins, pops, tucks and ollies, as they were pulled around the course by a speeding horse.
Rider Francesca Ter Poorten and boarder David Golls circled the course in 52.84 seconds to claim first place in Division A.
Ter Poorten is a local counsellor who hosts therapeutic horseback riding sessions with Freedom Equine Association. She and Golls decided to donate their $1,500 winning prize back to the non-profit.
Ter Poorten and Golls said their run went smoothly and they managed to keep a consistent pace. When they reached the finish line, the timekeepers already knew it was a winner.
"We just felt that that run was pretty perfect. It was wild," she said.
Ter Poorten's quarter horse Freckles is known for his gentle yet energetic disposition. He was named after southern star Colonel Freckles, who was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2004.
"He's a very unique horse. A lovely spirit," said Ter Poorten.
Chase Soderburg and Casey Coutts crossed the finish line not far behind Ter Poorten and Golls. In third place were Jessica Horne and Chanel Leger.
Attendees wore their finest western attire and bright neon 80s-themed vintage ski apparel. There was an undercurrent of Canadian patriotism at the event and many spectators and participants showed up in red and white. The date of the event coincided with the 60th anniversary of Canada's flag, and the national symbol was skied around the course.
The event aims to raise money for therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted learning, but a total count has not been released yet.
Former Division A winners Sam Edge and Ryan Lindeman and their horse Doc returned to the course for another go. The pair won the very first skijoring event in Fernie last year and have won the Crowsnest Pass skijoring event for a few years in a row.
Lindeman said it was a more difficult course this year, with tighter turns and larger berms. They ended up getting a penalty on their first run, which prompted them to switch up their technique for their second go-round.
"It's not all about the horsepower here this year. You've got to almost slow your horse up because you're skiing so tight. You can't go too fast because it's way too fast for the skier to get through," said Lindeman.
