One of the most unique winter events in the area will be held in Silverton Colorado —the 8th Annual Silverton Skijoring Contest. On Saturday and Sunday, February 18th and 19th, 2017 – Silverton will be overtaken by horses, skiers, and riders.
This amazing sport uses a horse and rider to pull a skier behind the horse, who holds on with a tow rope. Imagine waterskiing, but behind a horse and on top of snow! During the race, the skier encounters jumps and gates, and also has to collect rings with a stick. The entire route is timed to determine the winners, and the route actually takes place on Silverton’s notorious Blair Street! It’s such a fun concept to have this sport take place in our area, and it’s the perfect solution to enjoy our cold winter weather. This is quintessential Colorado!
Skiing behind a horse actually originated as a form of transportation, and now functions as a unique winter sport. Its origins began in Norway and Sweden, and early contests occurred at the Nordic Games in the early 1900s, and in 1928 in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Contests have been in place in Montana since 2009, and Leadville has actually had an equestrian competition since 1949. Silverton has hosted its contest since 2010, and last year an estimated 2,500 spectators attended the event!
We are so excited to see the turnout for this year’s event. If you’re looking for a fun event for the whole family, take a day trip over to Silverton for the competition. Here’s the website for times, routes, and other details: https://www.silvertonskijoring.com/
This post has been provided courtesy of The Durango Team Real Estate.
