Mark Your Calendars for Grand Lake Skijoring: Rodeo Meets Ski Racing in this Epic Winter Event! 

Home to a ranching community that dates back to the mid 1800s as well as one of the top ski resorts in North America, Grand County is the epitome of mountain culture in the western U.S. What's a more natural way to celebrate our "wild west" roots and vibrant ski culture than combining the two in winter's wildest sport? Skiing meets (literal) horsepower in skijoring: part skiing, part rodeo, and all adrenaline. You might just have to see it to believe it, so mark your calendars for Grand Lake's (hopefully annual) skijoring competition March 8-9, 2025. 

WHAT IS SKIJORING? 

Skijoring gets its name from the Norwegian word skikjoring, meaning “ski driving.” Equine skijoring involves three participants: a skier, a rider and a horse. It's a heart-pumping, high-intensity competition in which horses tow skiers by rope through a course with banked turns, jumps as high as 8 feet, and a series of obstacles and challenges at speeds that can top 40 miles per hour. Spearing rings with batons (typically just a ski pole that's been cut in half), hitting the jumps, and making the gates prevents time penalties. A mix of speed, skill, and bravery (with a little chaos for good measure), skijoring is a true celebration of winter sports culture and, per the Grand Lake Skijoring event website, "a testament to human and animal collaboration" as the skier, rider, and horse navigate the course for a sure-to-be wild ride.  

The same skills that benefit a ski racer can be applied on a skijoring course. Skijorers use slalom carving skis and focus on speed and timing. A successful jump is contingent on building enough speed to put slack in the rope, enabling skiers to navigate jumps and rings without the horse dictating their movements. A relatively unlikely pairing of horses and snow skiing, skijoring is a creative winter sport that offers a unique experience of unpredictability and excitement for contestants and spectators alike. It's no wonder it's the fastest-growing winter sport!

HISTORY OF SKIJORING

Skijoring is believed to have originated hundreds of years ago in what is now Scandinavia as a practical mode of transportation among Indigenous people who were pulled on skis behind reindeer. It became popular as a recreational sport in the Alps around 1900. American tourists brought the pastime back to the U.S., and it quickly became a staple of many winter carnivals, including the Hot Sulphur Springs Winter CarnivalLeadville and Steamboat Springs are home to two of the oldest skijor races in the country, with annual races dating back to 1949 ad 1913. The sport made its first and only Olympic appearance in the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, but there are plenty skijoring organizations doing their best to bring it back as an Olympic sport as it grows in popularity. Today, there are skijoring races all over the US and Canada, taking place mostly in the western US. Leadville and Steamboat Springs are home to two of the oldest skijor races in the country, hosting races since 1949 and 1913. And now we can add Grand Lake to the list of Colorado skijor hosts!

GRAND LAKE'S SKIJORING EVENT

The vibrant atmosphere coupled with Grand Lake's breathtaking winter scenery makes for an ideal way to spend a winter weekend in Grand County. The adventure-filled event is a celebration of the sport, the animals, and the community that has grown around it - it is guaranteed excitement as teams race down Grand Avenue through the quaint little town's main drag. 

The opening ceremonies will be at 9:45am on both Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9. Races start promptly after at 10am moving through the divisions: youth, snowboard, novice, sport, and open. Saturday's awards ceremony will start at 6pm at the Wild Bear Tavern at Gateway Inn. The Calcutta will follow at 7pm and is an opportunity to bid on teams to see how you think they will do during Sunday’s event. Sunday's awards ceremony will be at Charlie's Bar & Grill as soon as the last race ends. 

Go see this wild sport in action, or if you're feeling brave, learn more about the rules and divisions to sign up to compete! Online registration opens February 10 at 8am. Or if you want to be a part of the event but aren't ready to compete, you can sign up to volunteer! Keep in mind - for the safety of competitors and spectators, this is a dog-free event

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!

Events and opportunities continue to grow in Grand County, making it an even more desirable place to put down roots and invest in real estate. If you already own a mountain home and are considering cashing in on its equity, we'd love to run a complimentary comparative market analysis to give you an idea of what your property is worth in today's market! Or if you're ready to get in on Grand County real estate, let's connect - we can't wait to sharing our love and knowledge of this beautiful county and learn more about your real estate goals! 


Posted by Leah Bishop on

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