Helena Events Jan 22-29: First Skimo Race, Gymnastics Open, Carroll Hoops

Helena expanded its winter-sport calendar with the city’s first Skimo race and a busy weekend of family-oriented athletics, offering residents new ways to get active and bringing local venues into play.

The Chili Ski Skimo race took place Thursday evening at Great Divide Ski Area, running from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event marked the first-ever Skimo competition in Helena, introducing ski mountaineering - often shortened to skimo - to local outdoor recreation. As an inaugural event, the race highlights growing interest in winter endurance sports on Helena-area terrain and signals potential for more organized backcountry and ski-mountaineering activity in future seasons.

Over the weekend the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds hosted the Gym 406 Mount Helena Open from Friday through Sunday. Talented gymnasts from the region showcased routines across several levels, and organizers offered a family day pass to encourage broader attendance. The multi-day meet created an indoor winter alternative for active families and youth, reinforcing gymnastics as a developmental pathway for local children seeking structured physical activity.

Carroll College brought collegiate competition to town Friday night at the Carroll College P.E. Center, with both the men’s and women’s Fighting Saints facing Rocky Mountain College. The men’s game tipped at 5:00 p.m., followed by the women’s game at 7:00 p.m. Hosting both teams on the same night concentrated local fan energy on campus sports and supplied community social activity during long winter evenings.

These events matter beyond recreation. Regular access to physical activity helps reduce chronic disease risk and supports mental health during winter months when seasonal affective conditions often rise. Local venues such as Great Divide Ski Area, Gym 406, and Carroll College serve critical public-health roles by offering safe, supervised spaces for exercise. At the same time, organizers and policymakers should weigh issues of access and equity - transportation, entry fees, adaptive options for people with disabilities, and childcare availability can all shape who benefits from these offerings.

Smaller communities like Helena rely on a mix of volunteer labor, campus facilities, and municipal infrastructure to stage events. Strengthening partnerships between public health officials, recreation providers, and schools could boost participation from lower-income families and increase investment in safe trail maintenance, warming shelters, and emergency-response coordination for outdoor events.

With the Gym 406 Mount Helena Open still underway through Sunday, Helena’s athletic calendar this week shows momentum. If organizers build on the Skimo race’s debut and prioritize equitable access, these events can broaden winter recreation participation and deliver both health and economic benefits to Lewis and Clark County.