A Weekend Out West with Smithey

Many may not know this, but our founder, Isaac, is an avid outdoorsman who is obsessed with learning new things. During the summers, he spends his time chasing trout and hiking the Teton Mountain Range, where he has fallen in love with a town called Driggs, Idaho. Naturally, Isaac has made a handful of friends in town, including our newest product developer, Ben.

Earlier this winter, I received an email from Isaac connecting me with Neal, a friend from Driggs who had an interesting request for us. Neal runs the Grand Teton Showdown, a skijoring competition in Driggs.

Skijoring? No one on our South Carolina–based team had heard of it, nor did we know how to pronounce it. (Apart from Ben, of course, who casually informed us that his mom is a skijoring rider.) But Neal came to us with a simple request. He invited us to join him at the Showdown and learn about the sport firsthand. Yes, it is a sport, by the way.

Skijoring has roots in Scandinavia, where skis were once used behind horses for winter travel. In the American West, it has evolved into a high-speed competition. The simplest way to describe it: waterskiing, but on snow and behind a horse.

We had to see it for ourselves and were immediately enamored by the idea of Americans doing something new and testing their limits. So we “saddled up and sent it,” a phrase coined by the Showdown.

Seeing skijoring in person is something else. Horses run at full stride down the course. Skiers hold tight through turns and launch off small jumps. Competitors range from young children to seasoned professionals. It moves fast and keeps your attention.

Just off the course, we hosted a tailgate and cooked throughout the weekend, Smithey style. Chili simmered in cast iron Dutch ovens. Brats and sausages from Bovine and Swine grilled over a fire that kept spectators warm and competitors fed. Sunday morning brought pancakes and bacon, served hot to the athletes and the loads of friends we made throughout the weekend.

We wrapped up the weekend in awe of this part of the country and the people who inhabit it. We are so fortunate to have a team that fosters a spirit of excitement and encourages us to get out and do new things, push the limits, and have a bunch of fun. Stay tuned for more Smithey adventures, and do not forget to saddle up and send it!