Skijor circuit kicks off in Bangor

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Saturday saw the first round of Maine’s skijor circuit, kicking off in Bangor and featuring 44 professional and novice teams.

This marks the Queen City’s second year hosting one of Maine’s three races. It was brought in by Skijor Bangor organizer Jodi MacGregor.

“When Skowhegan started it, I was there at the very first one and fell in love with it. I think 10-ish years ago, and they have just built on it,” recounts MacGregor. “Topsham picked it up five or six years ago, and then I came on board to make it a circuit so we could do a Triple Crown.”

Skijoring, or having a reindeer or horse pull you on skis, originally came out of Central Asia thousands of years ago. Derived from the Norwegian word snörekjöring, the practice was first used as a mode of transportation.

Nowadays, it has transformed into a highly competitive equestrian sport.

“With the horse and rider pulling a skier, it’s an 1,000 foot track,” MacGregor describes. “Pros have to navigate gates and jumps and grab rings around the down the track and go over rollers at the end.”

Horseback rider Brighton Sawyer summarizes the sport as “where the horsepower meets the hang time!”

For participants saddled up or strapped in skis, the experience can be described as “pure adrenaline.”

“It’s really kind of cool because it does bring two communities together, right?” comments skier Matt Lush. “So, you got the horse community, you got the skiing community.”

Orono resident Zoe Maltese says this is her first year skijoring.

“I’ve been skiing and riding horses my whole life. It’s like the perfect sport for me, you know?” Maltese explains. “It’s both of them, both the things I love and it’s just super cool.”

On frigid days like Saturday, skijoring brings the community together, giving people a reason to celebrate the season.

Despite the low temperatures, Saturday’s skijor competition saw a high attendance.

“Because it’s something different,” MacGregor cites for the excitement. “And in the middle of the winter, I think at this point, people want to get outside and get some fresh air and get off the couch, so, and it’s exciting to watch!”

Whether it be cheering on successful ring grabs and jumps or supporting skiers who fall, Lush says it’s the high energy horsepower that rev crowds up.

“Mainers are hardy people. They want to get out and they want to have fun,” comments Lush. “They want to see something kind of crazy, and that’s what we’re giving them!”

MacGregor adds that the creation of the circuit not only brings the sport of skijor to more places, but it also elongates the season for competitors.

The skijor spree is just getting started in Maine!

Next week, the circuit moves to Topsham.

The week after will see the Triple Crown, hosted at Skowhegan Fairgrounds.

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