Winterfest draws big crowd

The Sundance Winter Festival may have attracted its largest crowd yet when it returned to Main Street on Saturday. After a couple of years of cancellations caused by a lack of snow, and a brief period in which its future was in question due to a lack of volunteers, organizer Tony Barton estimates that up to 3000 people attended, which was the biggest turnout he can remember.

"I was really pleased at how well this community came together to get this event back downtown. I was fortunate to step into this with an absolutely awesome bunch of past volunteers who stepped up to the plate when I asked them if they could help. I would encourage everyone to thank them when you see them and buy 'em a cup of coffee or a beer," Barton says.

"We have some great repeat sponsors that are crucial to making this happen. I would encourage you to use them and thank them when you see them for stepping up to the plate year in and year out."

A beautiful winter morning saw 58 teams sign up for the ski joring competition. A total of $7300 was paid out in prize money, plus buckles.

The winners in the snowboard category were Michael Roberts with Zach Steele on Jazzy. Brittany Leafe with Jacy Todd on Ryder topped the girls' category, while Zack Pautz with Shorty Fosheim on Little Shit won the Young Guns and Les Wilson with Jacob Fosheim on Gizmo won the classic round.

In the open round, the winners were Zack Pautz with Jacob Fosheim on Drifter.

"Awesome job Sundance Wyoming for showing off what a great community you have," says Barton.

"It's events like this that will allow us to attract and retain young families to move to Crook County and raise their families here."