PRO Skijor · Official Rules

Rules &
Regulations

Official rules for all PRO Skijor tour events - covering divisions, eligibility, equipment, safety, penalties, and more.

Applies to: The official 2027 PRO Skijor qualifiers at Bozeman Gallatin Skijor, Boise / Nampa, Denver and Heber City, and the Championship Finals at Lake Tahoe. Review each event page for its Tour and Community competition schedule.

Tour points: Only the four official 2027 qualifiers count toward qualifier standings and Finals qualification. Exhibitions, Community competition and races outside those official qualifiers do not earn 2027 Tour points.

Note: "Skier" refers to both skiers and snowboarders throughout these rules.

Core Divisions

  • PRO: Elite teams with fast horses, advanced riders, and top-tier speed and technical skill. Intended for athletes and horses with significant skijoring or ski racing experience.
  • Sport: Strong, experienced competitors developing toward PRO. Horses typically have competitive speed but not yet consistent PRO pace.

Non-Core Divisions

  • Women's: Female skier and rider division. Skill levels range from intermediate through elite.
  • All-Around (Switch-a-Roo): Rider and skier swap roles - each rides once and skis once. Skill levels range from intermediate through elite.
  • Snowboard: Dedicated division for snowboard athletes. Requires excellent edge control, line choice, and rope management at speed.

Tour Membership

Tour membership (PRO Card) is optional. You can enter any stop without joining the Tour and still win that event's buckles, prizes, and cash payouts. Tour membership is only needed for season points, rankings, and Championship Finals eligibility.

Division Entry and Crossover Limits - Rider

How team limits work: Participation limits refer to the number of registered teams a horse, rider or skier/snowboarder may compete on at an event. Each team generally receives two competition runs: one on day one and one on day two. An official-approved rerun belongs to the same registered team and does not count as another team or use another team-entry allowance.

  • Up to eight registered Tour teams per event
  • Up to four teams combined in PRO and Sport; riders may split those teams between the divisions, subject to horse and skier eligibility
  • Up to four additional teams combined across Women's, Snowboard and All-Around

Skier and Snowboarder Team Limits

General limit: four teams per event. Skiing and snowboarding share one allowance. A person's skier/snowboarder teams are counted together whether they compete on skis, a snowboard or both.

  • PRO, Sport or Snowboard exception: A skier/snowboarder entering PRO, Sport or Snowboard may compete on up to six teams total per event, including eligible Century entries. No more than four of those teams may be combined across PRO, Sport and Snowboard. The remaining entries may be any eligible combination of Women's, All-Around and Century within the six-team total. PRO/Sport crossover remains prohibited as a skier. Each team must meet the applicable division and horse/skier pairing rules.
  • Snowboard allowance: Snowboard teams share the four-team PRO/Sport/Snowboard allowance with any PRO or Sport skier entries. Eligible Women's, All-Around and Century entries count toward the same six-team total; switching equipment does not create a separate allowance.
  • Without PRO, Sport or Snowboard: Enter up to four teams combined across eligible Women's, All-Around and Century divisions. The six-team exception applies when entering PRO, Sport or Snowboard.
  • Community only: Enter up to four teams combined across Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century, subject to age, skill, pairing and horse eligibility.
  • Century crossover is permitted: A person competing as a skier or snowboarder in a Tour division, including PRO or Sport, may also enter Century at the same event if the rider and skier/snowboarder have a combined age of at least 100. Century entries count toward the same applicable four- or six-team skier/snowboarder limit, not a separate allowance. All horse and pairing limits still apply. Century remains a Community division with no Tour points or cash payouts.
  • Novice crossover is prohibited: A person competing as a skier or snowboarder in a Tour division, including PRO or Sport, may not also compete as a skier or snowboarder in Novice at the same event. Century is the only exception to the Tour/Community crossover restriction; Lil Buckaroo eligibility and restrictions are unchanged. These rules apply whether or not a team holds a Team PRO Card.

Examples: One Combined Skiing and Snowboarding Allowance

Tour example: Sally may ski on four PRO teams and two Women's teams, provided every team meets the eligibility and pairing rules. Women's teams must have both a woman rider and a woman skier. Sally has used all six skier teams and may not add another skier or snowboarder entry.

Snowboard example: Johnny may enter four Snowboard teams and two All-Around teams. That is six skier/snowboarder teams total.

Mixed-equipment example: Johnny may enter three Sport teams, one Snowboard team and two All-Around teams. The Sport and Snowboard entries share the four-team allowance, and the All-Around entries use the two additional opportunities. Johnny may not enter four Sport teams plus four Snowboard teams plus two All-Around teams.

Community example: Bobby may enter two Novice teams and two eligible Century teams, or four Novice teams. His total is four Community skier/snowboarder teams. All horse limits, pairing restrictions and division eligibility still apply.

Century crossover example: A competitor may ski in Sport and also in Century when his Century team meets the combined-age requirement. Four Sport teams plus two eligible Century teams use the six-team maximum. Two Sport teams, two Women's teams and two All-Around teams are also permitted when every team is eligible. None of these combinations permits a Novice entry or PRO/Sport crossover.

Role-Specific Human Limits

The eight-team limit applies to horseback riders. Skiers and snowboarders are limited to four teams as a general rule, or six under the PRO, Sport or Snowboard exception above. These are role-specific limits, not a universal eight-team allowance for every human competitor. A person participating in both roles must follow the applicable rider and skier/snowboarder limits.

Example: Different Horses for Each PRO Team

Bobby may ski on up to four teams in PRO, but may not ski behind the same horse more than once in that division. Four PRO entries therefore require four different horses and four separately registered, named teams. Changing the rider does not allow Bobby to enter behind the same horse twice in PRO.

Horse Participation Limits

Four teams total: A horse may compete on no more than four registered teams combined across PRO Tour and Community divisions at one event, except for an approved Lil Buckaroo exception.

PRO Tour divisions: PRO, Sport, Women's, Snowboard and All-Around.

  • A horse may compete on up to two Sport teams OR up to two PRO teams, but may not compete in both PRO and Sport.
  • Additional eligible Tour or Community entries count toward the same four-team combined limit.
  • A horse competing in PRO or Sport may not also compete in Novice.
  • A PRO or Sport horse may also compete in Century if eligible, provided the four-team combined limit is respected.

Examples: Sharing the Four-Team Allowance

Trigger the horse may compete on two PRO teams plus two Women's teams; two PRO teams plus two All-Around teams; or two PRO teams plus one Women's team and one All-Around team. Eligible Snowboard entries count toward the same four-team allowance.

Trigger the horse may compete on two Sport teams, one Women's team and one eligible Century team. That uses all four teams. Trigger may not add a Novice team.

Horse and Skier/Snowboarder Pairings

PRO Tour: The same horse and skier/snowboarder may compete together on only one registered team per division in PRO, Sport, Women's, Snowboard and All-Around. They may compete together again in another eligible division, provided all participation and crossover limits are respected. Changing the rider or team name does not permit a second entry with the same pairing in the same Tour division.

Community: The same horse and skier/snowboarder may compete together on up to two separately registered, named teams per division in Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century. The four-team combined horse limit and all applicable competitor limits still apply.

Tour example: Sally may ski behind Trigger the horse on one Sport team and one Women's team, but not on two Sport teams.

Community example: Bobby may ski behind Trigger the horse on two Novice teams and two Century teams, provided both are eligible. That uses Trigger's four-team combined allowance.

All-Around Entries

An All-Around team counts as one team entry for the horse. For each human participant, it counts once toward the applicable rider allowance and once toward the applicable skier/snowboarder allowance, because both people ride and ski. Swapping roles does not create another horse entry or exempt either person from a role, division or pairing limit. The eight-team limit is a rider limit; the applicable four- or six-team limit applies to skier/snowboarder participation.

Lil Buckaroo Exceptions

PRO Skijor officials may approve additional Lil Buckaroo teams beyond a horse's four-team combined limit to give young competitors an opportunity to participate. Approval is subject to the horse's fitness, condition and welfare.

Example: Trigger the horse is entered on three Novice teams and one Century team. Officials may approve an additional Lil Buckaroo team, allowing Trigger to participate on five teams total. The pairing and competitor limits must still be respected.

Your Horse's Welfare Comes First

These are maximum limits, not a recommendation that every horse should compete on the maximum number of teams. We trust owners and riders to know their horses and make responsible decisions about their conditioning, health, recovery and ability to participate safely.

If you know Trigger the horse should compete on only two teams, enter only two teams, even when the rules permit more. Consider preparation, travel, course conditions and recovery when planning entries. Reduce participation or withdraw your horse whenever its condition warrants it.

PRO Skijor officials and the attending veterinarian retain authority to rest or withdraw a horse when there are concerns about fitness or welfare. No placing, payout or championship takes priority over the horse's health, care, safety and well-being.

Advancement from Sport to PRO - Effective for 2027

Promotion follows the horse and the skier independently. A horse or skier must advance to PRO for the following season if, during one PRO Skijor season, it or they meet any of these requirements:

  • Compete on the team that wins first place overall in Sport at the PRO Skijor Championship Finals.
  • Compete on the team that finishes first in the official Sport season points standings.
  • Win first place overall in Sport at two or more different official PRO Skijor qualifying events during the same season.

2026 results determine 2027 eligibility. Horses and skiers who met any of these requirements in 2026 must compete in PRO beginning with the 2027 season. The same requirements apply to subsequent seasons.

Once advanced, that horse or skier may not compete in Sport at future PRO Skijor events, even with a different teammate, horse, rider or team name. The requirement does not apply to the rider.

Qualifier wins are tracked separately for each horse and skier. Two overall qualifier wins count even when earned on different teams. For the season-points requirement, the relevant result is membership on the official first-place Sport team; points from different teams are not added together.

The two-qualifier requirement applies whether or not the teams hold Team PRO Cards. Only official, finalized overall Sport results at PRO Skijor qualifiers and the Championship Finals count. One qualifier win alone, fastest-time day-money wins, Community results, exhibitions and results at races outside the official PRO Skijor Tour do not trigger automatic advancement.

Promotion takes effect the following season. A horse or skier meeting a requirement during the season may finish that season in Sport, including the Championship Finals, subject to eligibility and safety rules.

Why Horses and Skiers Advance, but Riders May Cross Over

A qualifying Sport result demonstrates the skier’s competitive ability and the horse’s speed and performance. Their advancement remains with them when they join new teams. An experienced rider may also be training or developing younger or newer horses, so the rider may compete in both PRO and Sport, provided each horse and skier is eligible for its division and all entry limits are respected. A rider’s experience alone does not require every horse they ride to enter PRO.

Examples: Promotion Stays with the Horse and Skier

Sally wins the Sport Championship Finals with Jack riding Trigger the horse. Sally and Trigger must advance to PRO the following season. Sally cannot remain in Sport by skiing behind a different horse, and Trigger cannot remain in Sport by pulling a different skier. Jack may still ride an eligible developing horse in Sport.

Johnny wins Sport at two qualifiers with different partners. Johnny must advance the following season. Each horse’s results are checked independently: a horse that has only one qualifier win and meets no other promotion requirement has not automatically advanced under this rule.

Community Divisions and Age Requirements

Community divisions compete for first-place buckles and awesome prizes from our sponsors. They do not receive cash payouts, earn Tour points or qualify for the Tour Championship Finals. Standard Community divisions are Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century. Additional Community divisions may be offered at an event as specified on its registration page.

Lil Buckaroo: The rider and the skier or snowboarder must each be 12 years old or younger. Both teammates must meet this requirement. Teens age 13 or older must enter Novice rather than Lil Buckaroo, subject to Novice eligibility requirements.

Century: The combined ages of the rider and the skier or snowboarder must total 100 years or more. Johnny is 58 and Sally is 42; their combined age is 100, so they meet Century's age requirement. Eligible PRO, Sport and other Tour competitors may also enter Century, subject to the shared team limits above. Century entries do not earn Tour points or cash payouts.

Pairings: The same horse and skier/snowboarder may compete together on up to two separately registered, named teams per division in Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century.

Limits: A horse may compete on four teams total across Tour and Community divisions combined, subject to approved Lil Buckaroo exceptions. Community-only skiers/snowboarders may compete on up to four teams combined across Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century. Eligible Century crossover with Tour divisions is permitted within the same applicable four- or six-team skier/snowboarder limit above. Tour competitors may not also enter Novice as a skier/snowboarder at the same event; other Community crossover remains restricted. The same person may use skis, a snowboard or both within that four-team allowance. Community riders may compete on up to four Community teams, subject to their applicable eligibility and participation limits. The eight-team rider maximum applies to riding participation; it does not increase the four-team Community skier/snowboarder allowance. Approved horse exceptions do not automatically change a human competitor’s limits.

Separate Tahoe Community Sport, Women's and Snowboard competition does not form part of the Tour Championship field. The two-team pairing allowance above applies specifically to Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century.

Emerging Talent Invite: Stand out in a Community division and you could be invited to showcase at the Championship Finals. $2,500 in prizes set aside for invited JFF teams.

  • Helmets: All skiers must wear an approved snow-sports helmet. Eye protection recommended.
  • Riders: Helmet and protective vest recommended. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.
  • Minors: Parent/guardian must sign consent and be present at the event.
  • Horse Workload: Secondary entries are at the owner's discretion with priority on fitness and health.
  • Substitutions: See the Team Identity and Substitutions policy below. Changes require official approval and a request received at least 24 hours before the event’s first scheduled competition run. No roster substitutions between competition days. The Entry Fees, Withdrawals and Event Credits policy below governs entry-fee relief.
  • Staging / Start (Sparby Rule): After "Clear Track" is declared, each team has 2 minutes to stage and start. Exceeding time results in one additional attempt at end of division. Exceeding again = disqualification for that day.
  • Finish Requirements: The skier must finish upright on at least one ski, or the snowboarder upright on the snowboard, with the rope in hand and both boots crossing the finish line.
  • Gates: Both leading edge of ski/board and both boots must pass the correct side of each gate (right of red, left of blue) or the gate is missed.
  • Rope Drop Before Start Line: One immediate restart is allowed.
  • Fitness to Compete: Officials may withdraw a competitor or team when safety or fitness requires it. A horse may not compete while a veterinary or official safety withdrawal remains in effect. Owner discretion does not override the veterinarian's authority to scratch a horse for health or safety concerns.
  • Anti-Doping: Performance-enhancing drugs are prohibited. Enforcement at organizers' discretion.

Team Identity and Substitutions

Points belong to the registered team in its division. Points cannot be transferred or combined between teams or divisions. A team name change does not reset or transfer its identity, results or obligations.

  • Permitted reasons: PRO Skijor officials may approve a horse, rider or skier/snowboarder substitution for injury, illness or other documented extenuating circumstances. Routine roster changes to strengthen a team do not qualify.
  • Deadline: Requests must be received at least 24 hours before the event's first scheduled competition run. No substitutions are permitted inside that deadline. Medical or veterinary documentation is required for injury or illness requests.
  • Points and Finals eligibility: Approved substitutions preserve the registered team's earned points and earned Finals eligibility, subject to all other qualification requirements. Every replacement must satisfy division eligibility, promotion, pairing and participation limits.
  • Two-day roster: The approved roster must remain the same for both competition days. Horses and partners may not be changed between day one and day two to combine results from different combinations. The scheduled All-Around role swap is part of that division's format and is not a roster substitution.

No-Times, Disqualifications and Day Money

Overall podium results: A team must record a valid time on both competition days to receive a combined two-day placing. A no-time, did-not-finish (DNF) or disqualified run on either day removes eligibility for that combined placing.

Each day's money is a separate opportunity. A day-one no-time, DNF or disqualification limited to that run or day does not automatically prevent the same registered team from competing on day two or earning day-two money. Day money is awarded for the fastest valid time in the division that day, including all assessed time penalties. A poor result or no-time on the other day does not affect daily eligibility.

Scope of Disqualification: PRO Skijor officials reserve the right to determine whether a disqualification applies to a single run, one competition day or the entire event, based on the nature and severity of the violation. Officials will clearly communicate the scope of the ruling and whether the team remains eligible for subsequent competition and day-money payouts.

Safety and roster requirements: A team may not continue while an event disqualification or safety withdrawal remains in effect. Horse welfare and competitor safety take priority over payout opportunities. The approved roster must remain unchanged between competition days.

Example: Sally and Trigger the horse receive no time on day one after missing the finish. Their team cannot receive a combined two-day podium placing, but may return on day two and earn day money with the fastest valid, penalty-adjusted time, provided the team remains eligible and fit to compete.

Weather-Shortened Competition

Officials may pause, postpone or end competition when conditions prevent safe racing. Results and payouts are determined separately for each division using completed rounds.

Completed round: Every eligible team must have had its scheduled opportunity to compete. An individual no-time, did-not-finish or withdrawal does not make the whole round incomplete.

  • Two completed rounds: Normal combined-time podium results and daily awards apply.
  • One completed round: In PRO, Sport, Women's and Snowboard, overall podium results use that round's official penalty-adjusted times. The full published podium cash amounts and that completed round's day money are paid.
  • Incomplete round: Officials will seek to resume it safely where possible. If it cannot be completed, that round is excluded from overall podium results and day-money awards. A partial round may not rank teams who ran against teams who never received their scheduled opportunity.
  • All-Around: One completed round may earn its day-money award, but no overall All-Around winner or podium placing is declared without both partners having the opportunity to perform both roles in the complete competition format. Normal valid-result requirements still apply.

Officials will clearly communicate which rounds count and the resulting award basis. Safety and horse welfare remain controlling.

Cancelled-Round Day Money

When a competition round is cancelled or cannot be completed, and the same division has valid finishers occupying all four paid podium places, that round’s unawarded day money is added to the same division’s overall podium cash: 40% to first, 30% to second, 20% to third and 10% to fourth. This includes four paid places occupied under the cash tie policy. These additions are paid on top of the published podium amounts and preserve that division’s advertised purse. This provision does not award an overall All-Around placing when the required two-role format has not been completed.

Overall Podium Cash Payouts When Fewer Than Four Teams Qualify

At each PRO Skijor qualifier and the Championship Finals, if fewer than four teams in a PRO Tour division meet the requirements for an overall podium placing, that division’s full overall podium cash pool will be distributed among its qualifying teams.

Each qualifying team receives its published placing payout plus a proportional share of the money allocated to unfilled places. First place participates in this redistribution along with the other qualifying places.

For example, if only three teams record the required valid times, the unused fourth-place money is distributed among first, second and third in a 4:3:2 ratio. If only two teams qualify, the unused third- and fourth-place money is distributed between first and second in a 4:3 ratio. If only one team qualifies, that team receives the full podium cash pool.

Teams without a qualifying overall result do not receive podium cash through this redistribution. Day money remains a separate award. Apply the cash tie policy first, then allocate unfilled-place money proportionally to the resulting qualifying payout shares. Calculations use exact proportions, with rounding reconciled so the full pool is paid.

This provision requires at least one qualifying team. It does not declare an overall All-Around placing without completion of that division’s required two-role format.

Redistribution of Unawarded Prize Money

Prize money that cannot be awarded at a qualifier because of cancellation or the absence of qualifying results will remain allocated to competitor cash payouts. The unawarded amount will be divided equally among the remaining scheduled qualifiers and Championship Finals, within the same division.

At each receiving event, this money will be added to the division’s overall podium cash pool using the established 40% / 30% / 20% / 10% payout percentages. Published day-money amounts remain unchanged. PRO Skijor will publish the redistributed amounts and updated payout schedules.

Cash awards already earned remain payable and are excluded from redistribution. If a receiving event subsequently cannot award its allocated cash, that unawarded amount will be redistributed again among the remaining events.

If qualifier stop one is cancelled, its unawarded cash is split equally among stops two, three, four and Finals. If stop three is cancelled, its unawarded cash is split equally between stop four and Finals. Calculations and rounding preserve the full amount.

Where a shortened event can award valid overall podium results, the applicable same-event payout provisions apply first. This rollover applies to cash that remains unawardable; it does not move money already payable to qualifying teams.

Championship Finals Completion and Cash Fallback

PRO Skijor will first make every possible effort to complete competition or safely reschedule the affected competition. Horse welfare, competitor safety and safe course conditions remain the priority. The season-standings cash fallback applies only if the affected Finals competition ultimately cannot be completed or safely rescheduled, or cannot produce qualifying results under the applicable competition format.

All cash awards already earned remain payable and are excluded from this fallback. Existing completed-round, day-money, cash tie and unfilled-podium-place policies apply first.

Any remaining cash that cannot be awarded through Finals competition, including cash previously redistributed from qualifiers, will remain in its original division and be distributed to the top four Finals-qualified teams in that division's final official qualifier standings. The allocation is 40% / 30% / 20% / 10%, with the approved cash tie and fewer-than-four-recipient provisions applying.

These payments are season-standing cash awards. They do not create a Finals race result, an overall Finals podium placing or a Finals champion title. PRO Skijor will publish the affected division, amount, standings used and resulting cash distribution.

Cash Payout Ties

Cash ties are determined using official penalty-adjusted times at the published timing precision. Teams tied for the fastest daily time split that division’s day-money award equally. For an overall podium tie, combine the published cash payouts for the places occupied by the tied teams and divide that amount equally among them. Places outside the paid top four add no money to the pool. The next team takes the placing after those occupied by the tied teams. For example, two teams tied for first split first- and second-place money; the next team places third. Two teams tied for fourth split the fourth-place payout. This policy covers cash payouts; buckles, sponsor prizes, Tour points and qualification tiebreakers are governed separately.

Honesty and Good Sportsmanship

These substitution provisions are intended to provide a fair solution when a horse, rider or skier/snowboarder faces a legitimate injury, illness or other extenuating circumstance. The sincere expectation is that a registered team will compete together throughout the season and finish the season as that team. Competitors must act honestly, provide accurate information and uphold good sportsmanship. False claims, misleading information or tactical roster changes intended to gain a competitive advantage are not permitted. Substitutions are a hardship provision, not a way to bypass eligibility rules, transfer points or replace a qualifying team with a stronger roster.

  • Missed jump or missed gate: +2.00 seconds each
  • Horse contact with a jump/gate: +2.00 seconds (No-Time if the timing device is struck)
  • Rings: +2.00 seconds per ring missed or dropped
  • No penalty if a ring falls off its standard before the approach or breaks on course
  • Collected rings must cross the finish line with the skier and rider as applicable
  • Veterinary Authority: The on-site veterinarian may scratch any horse for health/safety concerns. The organizing committee may require a pre-race vet check.
  • Protective Legwear: Bell and splint boots on all four legs are strongly recommended.
  • Veterinary Presence and Treatment Charges: PRO Skijor provides veterinary presence at professional competition events for general equine wellness and emergency response. Individual medical or veterinary treatment, if provided or used, is billed to the beneficiary. Veterinary presence does not mean that individual treatment is included in an entry fee.

Officials use official timing, course observations and available video evidence to determine results and penalties.

Formal immediate penalty review is available only in PRO Tour divisions, regardless of PRO Card status. Remain in the designated finish area and raise a sincere, specific concern before leaving. The ruling following review is final. There is no numerical protest limit. Community competitors may request an explanation or report recording or calculation errors; judgment calls are final. Frivolous requests, false claims and repeated challenges to reviewed rulings are not permitted.

  • Length: Approximately 700–1,200 ft (start to finish); may include wide sweeping turns
  • Run-Out: Varies by venue; competitors must be aware of space, snow, and surface conditions
  • Gates: Breakaway/whisker style; skier passes right of red and left of blue
  • Fencing: Spectator and safety fencing used at the discretion of organizers and course setters
  • Rope: 25–33 ft recommended; ≥ 3/8 in diameter. No handles, loops, or knots. Teams encouraged to bring their own rope.
  • Attachment: To the saddle horn or behind the saddle secured to primary rigging rings, pull point ~6 inches from the cantle (carabiner included)
  • Inspection: The Start Master must approve rope length and attachment prior to racing

By registering, you pledge humane treatment of horses and respectful conduct toward competitors, officials, volunteers, and spectators. Violations may result in disqualification and/or ban from future competitions.

  • Main Tour Divisions (PRO, Sport, Women's, All-Around, Snowboard): Tour points, buckles, prizes, and cash payouts
  • Community Divisions (Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century): No Tour points. Eligible for buckles/prizes. No cash payouts.
  • Tour Points & Finals Qualification: See the Points System page for how points are awarded and how teams qualify for the Championship Finals
  • On-Site Policy - Dogs: Dogs are not permitted inside event grounds for safety around horses

The four official 2027 qualifiers are Bozeman Gallatin Skijor, Boise / Nampa, Denver and Heber City. These qualifiers lead to the Championship Finals at Lake Tahoe. Eligible named Team PRO Card teams earn qualifier points under the published Tour points policy.

Jackson Hole and Winter Round Up are exhibitions. Exhibitions, Community competition and races outside the four official qualifiers do not earn 2027 Tour qualification points. Exhibition participation is subject to the published application and approval process.

Use Register to Compete for the official event-by-event pathway and competition schedules.

More Opportunity for Traveling Athletes

We understand that traveling event to event is expensive. Fuel, horse transportation, lodging, boarding and time away from work all add up. Skijoring is a growing and emerging sport, and PRO Skijor is building a growing league around it.

For athletes who commit to traveling the Tour, we want to provide as many meaningful opportunities as possible to compete in the PRO Tour divisions: PRO, Sport, Women's, Snowboard and All-Around. Allowing multiple eligible team entries gives competitors more opportunities to race, pursue podium finishes and earn cash payouts while they are already making the investment to be at an event.

This is why fans may see the same rider, skier or snowboarder, or horse competing on more than one team. Each entry is a separately registered, named team that must satisfy the applicable division, pairing and participation rules. Our aim is to build opportunity and earning potential for the athletes helping this sport and Tour grow.

Opportunity comes with responsibility. Multiple entries remain subject to horse welfare, fitness, eligibility and all participation limits. Maximum allowances are not a recommendation that every horse or competitor should enter the maximum number of teams. A Team PRO Card is required for season points and Championship qualification; eligible teams may compete for qualifier cash payouts without a card.

Quick Summary

Main Tour Divisions

PRO, Sport, Women's, Snowboard, All-Around → points, buckles, prizes, cash

Community Divisions

Lil Buckaroo, Novice and Century → buckles/prizes only, no points or cash

Helmets

Required for all skiers. Riders under 18 must wear helmets.

Finish Requirements

Upright on at least one ski or on the snowboard, rope in hand, both boots across the finish line.

Penalties

+2 seconds per missed gate, jump, or ring. No-Time if timing device is struck.

Division Eligibility for Penalty Review

The formal immediate penalty-review process applies only to PRO Tour divisions: PRO, Sport, Women's, Snowboard and All-Around. Eligibility follows the division entered, regardless of whether the team holds a PRO Card.

Community divisions do not offer formal penalty protests. Competitors may respectfully request an explanation of a call or report a recording or calculation error. Officials may correct an identified error, but their judgment calls are final. Entries designated as Community divisions at the Championship Finals follow this Community policy.

Immediate Penalty Review

After finishing, the skier or snowboarder must remain in the designated finish area until officials communicate the team's time and any penalties. A competitor who believes a penalty was called incorrectly must raise the concern immediately, before leaving that area, and identify the specific call being contested.

Officials, with production-team support as needed, will promptly review official timing, course observations and available video evidence and communicate a final ruling. The ruling following review is final.

Good-Faith Requests and Sportsmanship

Request a review only when you have a sincere, specific reason to believe a penalty was assessed in error. Frustration with a run, disappointment with a time or a desire to improve a placing are not sufficient reasons. Competitors must raise concerns honestly and respectfully. Frivolous requests, knowingly false claims and repeated challenges to a ruling already reviewed are not permitted.

There is no numerical limit on good-faith review requests. Each request must meet the immediate-review requirements above.

Results Corrections

The published 72-hour results-correction window allows errors in recorded times, team identification, calculations or points to be reported after results are posted. It does not extend the deadline for contesting a penalty or reopen a final ruling made through the immediate-review process.

PURPOSE

Producing events requires advance commitments for venues, staffing, course preparation, timing and safety. Entry fees are generally non-refundable except for timely early withdrawals and the limited cash-refund exceptions below. Event-entry credit is the standard remedy for other eligible situations. The policy balances those commitments with fair treatment of teams facing legitimate hardship or organizer cancellation.

SCOPE

Applies to paid competitor team-entry fees, including Community entries. It does not govern spectator tickets, travel payments, stalls, merchandise or Team PRO Cards. Championship-qualified Tour teams pay no Finals entry fee, so no entry-fee credit arises for a free entry. Prize-money redistribution is separate from entry-fee relief.

1. TEAM WITHDRAWALS

A team that submits a written withdrawal request at least 21 calendar days before the event's first scheduled competition run may choose either a full credit toward eligible future PRO Skijor team entries or a cash refund of the entry fee actually paid. Any separately charged, non-refundable third-party fees must have been clearly disclosed before purchase.

Later voluntary withdrawals, missed call times, no-shows, failure to meet published eligibility requirements and disciplinary disqualifications do not ordinarily receive refunds or credits.

An eligible approved substitution may preserve the entry under the separate substitution policy. A credit does not transfer team points or qualification rights.

2. INJURY, ILLNESS AND LEGITIMATE HARDSHIP

If a horse or registered human team member suffers injury or illness before that team first competes, PRO Skijor may approve a full entry-fee credit upon medical or veterinary confirmation that participation is not appropriate. Other documented extenuating circumstances may be reviewed consistently on their merits.

Notify PRO Skijor promptly and before the team's scheduled first run; supporting documentation may follow within seven calendar days. A genuine emergency preventing timely notice may receive individual review. Only documentation necessary to establish inability to participate is required.

Once a team has competed, its personal withdrawal, injury, illness or no-time does not ordinarily generate a credit for that entry. Safety always takes priority; competitors must never continue with an unfit horse or athlete to avoid losing an entry fee.

Hardship-credit review does not waive the separate 24-hour substitution deadline or allow roster changes between competition days.

3. ORGANIZER CANCELLATION OR RESCHEDULING

PRO Skijor will first make every possible effort to conduct, complete or safely reschedule competition.

If PRO Skijor cancels the affected division before any complete round can be delivered, each affected paid entry receives a full entry-fee credit.

Entries automatically carry to an announced replacement date. If the team cannot attend that new date, it may request a full credit within 14 calendar days of the announcement and before it competes on the replacement date.

4. SHORTENED COMPETITION

If PRO, Sport, Women's, Snowboard or a Community division completes at least one full round in which every eligible team had its scheduled opportunity, no automatic refund or credit applies solely because a later round is cancelled. Individual DNF or no-time results do not make a round incomplete.

If no complete round can be delivered, full entry-fee credit applies to affected paid entries.

For All-Around, one complete round followed by organizer cancellation of the second-role round receives a 50% entry-fee credit. If no complete round is delivered, full credit applies. This recognizes the missing half of the required role-swap format. Personal withdrawal is governed by sections 1-2.

Earned awards remain payable under the separate payout policies; receiving an organizer-cancellation credit does not erase a valid earned daily award.

5. CREDIT TERMS

Credits equal the entry-fee amount actually paid for the affected entry, rather than its undiscounted list price. Credits do not promise reimbursement of travel, lodging, horse transport or other personal expenses.

No new credit issuance or redemption fee is charged. A separately charged third-party fee may be excluded only if the exclusion was clearly disclosed before purchase; ordinary merchant payment-processing expenses are not deducted as a new fee.

Credits are issued to the original purchaser's registration account and may be used for eligible paid team entries at PRO Skijor-managed events, subject to division eligibility, published caps and availability. Independent affiliates must expressly agree to accept PRO Skijor credit.

Credits may be used across more than one entry until exhausted. A higher entry price requires payment of the difference; unused balance remains available.

Credits remain valid through the end of the following PRO Skijor season and for at least 12 months from issuance, whichever is later. Credits do not guarantee a place, carry results or confer Finals eligibility.

Credits are not redeemable for cash and may not be sold or transferred to another purchaser without written approval.

If PRO Skijor again cancels a credit-funded entry, its value is restored and validity extended under the same terms. A voluntary cancellation of a credit-funded entry does not automatically create a new expiration date.

6. LIMITED CASH REFUNDS

In addition to the cash-refund option for timely early withdrawals, cash refunds remain available for duplicate or erroneous charges, where required by applicable law, and for an organizer-issued cancellation credit if PRO Skijor cannot provide a reasonable eligible redemption opportunity during its validity period. A refund replaces the unused credit; there is no double recovery. It is returned to the original payment method where feasible.

This policy does not restrict statutory rights or legitimate billing disputes.

7. REQUESTS AND GOOD FAITH

Requests must identify the purchaser, order, event, division and affected team entry and be submitted through the competitor-support contact published on the website and confirmation email.

Decisions and credit amounts are recorded in writing. Competitors must provide accurate information. False claims, fabricated documentation or attempts to obtain both a refund and a credit are prohibited.

This policy applies to purchases made under these published terms. Existing purchases are handled under the terms in effect when purchased unless the purchaser agrees to a change.

Finals Qualification Ties and Alternate Invitations

After the qualifier series, eligible teams are ranked within their division using their official qualifier points. Finals results are not used to decide who qualifies. When eligible teams have equal qualifier points, officials apply the following tiebreakers in order:

  1. Best-3 result countback: Compare the teams' counted Best-3 qualifier results. The team with more first-place finishes ranks ahead. If still tied, compare second-place finishes, then third-place finishes, continuing through subsequent placings until the tie is broken. The dropped fourth result is not used.
  2. Completed qualifiers: If still tied, the team that recorded at least one valid official time at more qualifiers in that division ranks ahead. Each qualifier counts once. A slow valid time counts; a DNF, disqualified run or no-time result does not count as a valid time.
  3. Documented draw: If the teams remain tied and invitation or alternate priority must be decided, officials conduct and document a random draw. The draw determines invitation or alternate priority only. It does not change earned points or cash awards, and the approved division invitation cap remains in effect.

Invitation Acceptance Deadlines

  • Initial invitations: Teams have 48 hours from issuance of their invitation to accept.
  • Alternate invitations: Teams have 24 hours from issuance of their invitation to accept.
  • Late vacancies: When a place becomes available close to Finals competition, officials may set a shorter response period. The exact deadline and its timezone will be clearly stated in the invitation.

Every invitation will state its acceptance deadline and timezone. If a team does not accept by the stated deadline, officials may offer the place to the next eligible alternate in that division. A team should promptly decline if it cannot attend so the next eligible team has time to arrange travel.

Provisional Invitations and Results Corrections

Invitations issued while the published 72-hour results-correction window is still open are provisional. Acceptance confirms the team's intention to attend; it does not override a valid results correction or guarantee a place before qualification standings are finalized. Officials will confirm final invitation eligibility after the correction window closes and any timely corrections are resolved. If a correction changes qualification order, invitation and alternate priority will be updated accordingly.

Alternate Invitations

If an invited team declines, is ineligible or otherwise gives up its Finals place, the invitation is offered to the next eligible team in that division's official qualification order, including the tiebreakers above. The process continues in order as places become available. Invitations cannot be transferred to another team or moved to another division.

Eligibility still applies: Alternates must meet the same Team PRO Card, minimum participation, division and team-identity requirements as other qualifiers. Approved hardship substitutions remain governed by the published substitution policy.

Example: Sally's team and Jill's team have equal qualifier points at the Women's invitation cutoff. Sally's counted Best-3 results include a first-place finish, while Jill's best placing is second. Sally's team receives priority. If Jill's team is next in the official qualification order, it becomes the first alternate.

View the points and qualification policy.

Season Points Championship Ties

After the Championship Finals, teams with equal final season points in their division are separated in the following order:

  1. Counted-result countback: Compare the teams' counted qualifier results (up to three under the cancelled-qualifier policy) plus their official overall Finals result. The team with more first-place finishes ranks ahead. If still tied, compare second-place finishes, then third-place finishes and subsequent placings until the tie is broken. The dropped fourth qualifier result is not used.
  2. Finals placing: If still tied and official overall Finals placings are available, the team with the higher valid overall Finals placing ranks ahead. A team with a valid overall Finals placing ranks ahead of a team without one. If neither has a valid overall Finals placing, continue to the next tiebreaker.
  3. Completed qualifiers: If still tied, the team that recorded at least one valid official time at more qualifiers in that division ranks ahead. Each qualifier counts once. Slow valid times count; DNF, disqualified and no-time results do not count as valid times.
  4. Co-champions: If the teams remain inseparable, they are recognized as co-champions of the division's season points championship. Each co-champion receives a season championship buckle. No additional competition run or random draw is used to decide the season points title.

Finals points and wins: Finals placement points are doubled in the season total. A Finals win counts as one win, not two, for this tiebreaker comparison.

Separate from event awards: This policy determines season points standings and titles. Finals event placings, event cash payouts and day money remain subject to their separate published policies.

Cancelled Qualifiers: Points and Finals Eligibility

PRO Skijor will first make every reasonable effort to complete competition or safely reschedule it. If a qualifier cannot be completed or safely rescheduled, the following adjustments apply separately to each affected division:

Qualifiers completedPlacement results counted+4 series bonus requirement
FourBest threeCheck in and record at least one valid official time at all four
ThreeAll threeSame requirement at all three
TwoBothSame requirement at both
OneThat resultNo series bonus

Minimum Finals participation: When at least two qualifiers are completed in the division, the minimum remains check-in points at two qualifiers in that division. If only one qualifier is completed, the minimum reduces to one qualifier check-in. All other Team PRO Card, division and team-identity requirements remain in effect.

No completed qualifiers: If no qualifiers are completed in a division, there is no automatic points-based Finals qualification. A separately approved and published Finals qualification plan is required.

Earned Points and Shortened Events

Check-in and completion points already legitimately earned remain credited. Placement points are awarded only from official division results; placements or points will not be invented for competition without official results. The +4 series bonus is awarded once to a team meeting both the check-in and valid-time requirements at every completed qualifier in its division, provided at least two qualifiers are completed.

A qualifier conducted to completion under the normal format or the approved shortened-event format counts as a completed qualifier. An individual team's DNF, disqualification or missing time does not make that qualifier cancelled. Cancellation adjustments apply to the affected division rather than automatically to every division at an event.

Rescheduled competition: A safely rescheduled qualifier remains the same Tour event. Its official placement results count once, and check-in and completion bonuses are each available once per team in its division for that event.

Example: If Denver cannot be completed or safely rescheduled, a team that checks in and records at least one valid official time at Bozeman, Boise / Nampa and Heber can still earn the +4 series bonus. All three completed qualifier placement results count.

Prize-money redistribution and entry-fee credits remain governed by their separate published policies.

Tour Placement Points for Tied Event Placings

When two or more teams tie for an official overall event placing, each Tour-points-eligible team receives the full placement points for that placing. Placement points are not divided or averaged between tied teams. The following placings skip the positions occupied by the tie.

  • Qualifier example: Two teams tied for first each receive 15 placement points. There is no second-place team; the next team is third and receives 10 placement points.
  • Finals example: Two teams tied for first each receive 30 placement points. The next team is third and receives 20 placement points.
  • Win countback: Each official tied first-place finish counts as one win for the published qualification and season-standing tiebreakers. A Finals win counts as one win even though Finals placement points are doubled.
  • Participation bonuses: Check-in and completion bonuses remain individually earned under their published requirements. A placing tie does not automatically award those bonuses.

Cash is handled separately: Under the approved cash tie policy, the cash payouts for the places occupied by the tie are combined and divided equally among the tied teams. That cash-sharing calculation does not reduce their placement points.

2027 Frontier Tour

Enter the Tour. Earn Your Finals Spot.

Qualifier Entry Caps

Bozeman has 282 entries: 170 PRO Tour, 30 OPEN and 82 Community. Boise / Nampa, Denver and Heber City each retain 220 entries: 146 PRO Tour and 74 Community. Caps apply separately by event and division.

DivisionBozemanOther qualifiers
PRO4036
Sport5045
Women's3025
Snowboard3025
All-Around2015
OPEN30Not offered
Novice5050
Century1212
Lil Buckaroo2012
Total282220

Bozeman OPEN: $200 per team. OPEN is available only at Bozeman Gallatin Skijor. This event-only division offers additional racing and podium prize money, but does not award PRO Skijor Tour points or qualify teams for the Championship Finals. To pursue Tour points, enter PRO, Sport, Women's, Snowboard or All-Around and meet the Team PRO Card and Tour eligibility requirements. A Team PRO Card does not make an OPEN entry eligible for Tour points.

Championship Finals Invitations

Up to 76 eligible PRO Tour teams earn invitations through the official qualifier standings in their division.

PRO Tour DivisionFinals teams
PRO21
Sport25
Women's10
Snowboard10
All-Around10
Total Tour invitations76

Finals Community competition is separate from Tour qualification. These invitation caps do not set Community Finals entry limits.

A qualifier entry does not guarantee a Championship Finals invitation. Teams must meet the Team PRO Card and qualification requirements. Review points and Finals eligibility.