Competitors race to the finish line at Skijordue, at the Calgary Polo Club, February 2019. Calgary, Alberta. Photo: Billie-Jean Duff It takes a while for us to get the all-clear. I stretch while my teammate Jake walks our horse Bruce in circles. It’s bluebird and 40 degrees—the cold won’t be an excuse today. We splay the rope out and I grab it somewhere in the middle. I hear Brian the announcer shout our team name over the PA system: “Bruce on the Loose!” When the starter drops the orange flag, Jake gives a slight look back and takes off. I squeeze with all the strength my hands can muster, and for an instant it feels like the rope might rip me right out of my bindings. Then we’re moving. We nail the slingshot start and I carve high up on the berm, sending me into the first jump. I land, then yell to Jake—and Bruce—to hit it. I pull myself up the rope, hand over hand, as I’d seen the fastest racers do last night. It’s a good line through the first couple of gates. By the time I’m setting up for the second jump, we’re at full speed. And damn, does it feel fast. The second jump is sloppy and I’m late into the next gate. While I play catch-up, Bruce keeps right on accelerating. I let rope slide through my hands until I’m at its knotted end, carving toward the first of the rings. I swipe at it and miss, but that’s OK. We are cruising and can afford a small deduction. Now I just have to hold on for a few more gates. I eye up the last jump—and the sharp left turn beyond. I’m way out of position. Out of instinct, I speed check—no big deal on a GS course, but when you’re at the other end of a rope from 1,200 pounds of muscle at full gallop, it’s problematic. The tug jolts me off balance, and as I hit the jump, I know I’m screwed. My skis are still in the air as my hip slams the ground, sending up a fine cloud of snow and a crowd full of groans. “You all right, buddy?” I hear Brian say over the loud-speaker. I give the biggest thumbs up I can muster before standing and gingerly skating off. Anybody who came for carnage didn’t have to wait long today. Skijoring 063
The Ski Journal Volume 14, Issue 1: Page 63
