Women competitors come out for inaugural Indian Day race challenge
ST Smokeshow 1st place team with Willow Kipp & Tiffany Tone
Willow Kipp from team ST Smokeshow finishes the kayaking portion of the race on Sunday, September 20.
By LORI ANN EDMO
& YVONNE WARJACK
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL – The team of ST Smokeshow consisting of Willow Kipp and Tiffany Tone won the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Day Women’s Race Challenge on September 20.
ST Smokeshow team member Tiffany Tone finishes the horse riding
portion of the race.
Placing second was Kuh-tah Nookeyed Nahyahnih – team with J’Shon Shaw and Tia Buckskin. Spring Creek with Sadee Nappo and Sammie Neaman was third. Gib Huntaz consisting of Jamie Moss and Prairie Caldwell was disqualified because of a bike malfunction but finished fourth.
The winners received jackets, long sleeved sweaters were given to second place and third place.
Indian Day Women’s Race Challenge competitors take off in kayaks on the morning of September 20.
After the race Sadee Nappo said the difficult part for her the kayak, “I never kayaked before but my brother he really helped me – we went out a couple of days and tried to get the hang of it.”
Juan Rodriguez, Recreation manager said the women were happy to be able to have a race that they can compete in. “It was a very beautiful morning, but definitely cold. It was awesome to see so many families out there supporting our tribes, strong women, we have so many, very capable, athletic and strong women in our tribe.
He said this race allows them to be able to show it. “We have a lot of people ask about doing a race like this and so I’m glad we were able to just do it to see what the experience was like,” he continued. “I think Rec staff will definitely be more prepared, knowing where things are at seeing where we can improve.” He said their awards are going to be better for next year and intends to get money for participants. “When the race didn’t happen for the Bannock Warrior, we were able to do it for the Indian Day so that allows us to still have an event and just let people see that it’s okay to have a women’s race.”
Tia Buckskin takes off on her horse in the challenge.
J’Shon Shaw said she waited for the challenge to happen and was glad everybody was able to finish, no accidents and everyone was safe.
The women took on a combination of water, trail and road challenges with the race starting at Tinno Bridge, the two-person relay challenged participants through four stages — kayaking, biking, horseback riding and running — for a total course of approximately 11.3 miles. Mist rose from the ground when the participants gathered. Competitors began on the water in Spring Creek with the kayak portion before transitioning to bicycles at Sheepskin Bridge, then horses at Stock Trail Road and finally finishing the challenge on foot at the softball field.
Third place winner Sammie Neaman finishes the race.
Open to women ages 18 and older who are enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, the event brought together teams and helpers who assisted with the transitions between each portion of the course. Four teams competed, with kayaks provided while participants supplied their own bicycles and horses.
The Women’s Race Challenge was part of Shoshone-Bannock Indian Day activities and was coordinated through Fort Hall Recreation with the assistance of the Tribes Language & Culture Department.
Indian Day Women’s Race Challenge competitors, from left: Sammie Neaman, Sadee Nappo, J’Shon Shaw, Tia Buckskin, Willow Kipp and Tiffany Tone.
