Estes Park Skijor is an action packed competition where a horse and rider pull a skier as fast as possible through a course including gates, jumps and obstacles.
Estes Park Skijor combines Colorado's skiing heritage with its Cowboy roots, merging these two worlds into the best of both.
Competitors race for cash and prizes throughout the weekend.
You will not find a better place to spend a winter weekend than Estes Park and everything we have to offer around the Estes Park Skijor Weekend!
Register to compete
Purchase spectator tickets
Estes Park Skijor combines Colorado's skiing heritage with its Cowboy roots, merging these two worlds into the best of both.
Competitors race for cash and prizes throughout the weekend.
You will not find a better place to spend a winter weekend than Estes Park and everything we have to offer around the Estes Park Skijor Weekend!
Register to compete
Purchase spectator tickets
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Sponsors
In June of 2024 the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve 3 years of funding for the Estes Park Skijor weekend. VEP will be spearheading satellite events throughout the Estes Valley during our race weekend. If you are a business owner in the Estes Valley and would like to be a part of Skijor weekend please contact
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
WHO CAN COMPETE?
Skijoring is an equal opportunity event open to any and everyone who has a passion for horses or skiing or both. All ages and ability levels are welcome. If your love for these two also includes fast speeds and friendly competition, then skijoring may just be your calling. If you are a beginner, you can enter our Novice division and if you are ready for the big leagues sign up for the Open division. We offer 5 classes Youth, Novice, Snowboard, Sport & Open.
Competitor Information can be found here
WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO COMPETE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED?
Yes PLEASE! We love volunteers & they are crucial to running a successful event. If you are interested in volunteering please email [email protected]
DOES MY HORSE NEED SPECIFIC TACK OR SPECIAL HORSE SHOES?
Most riders use a western saddle to skijor, although it is uncommon to see riders in the Rocky Mountains competing in an english saddle, competitors do use them in New England and Europe. A breast collar is a good idea to stabilize your saddle during the initial start. If you have never pulled before, once the skier is moving, there is actually not much pull on the saddle.
Different riders have different opinions regarding shoeing horses for skijoring. Many competitors chose to compete in borium-tipped horseshoes with a snow-pad inside of the shoe. However, most weekend competitors will successfully compete barefoot.
Ropes often are provided by the competitions, though most serious teams chose to bring their own preferred regulation rope. Ropes generally are 33 feet in length and 3/8 inches or larger in diameter. Handles on ropes are not permitted.
HOW DO I ATTACH THE ROPE TO MY SADDLE?
The rope is attached to the saddle horn or behind the saddle. If the attachment is behind the saddle it must be secured to the primary rigging rings of the saddle via a narrow diameter, non elastic rope, so that pulling rope is within an approximate four (4) inches of the cantle, carabineer included.
ADVICE FOR FIRST TIMERS?
For beginners to skijoring, it is recommended that your horse be familiar with having a rope across their hind quarters, any exposure to ponying or having skiers behind them will be a good place to start. Skiers should practice "working the rope" and figuring out exactly how to hold tension to optimize their speed and turning ability. This can also be practiced behind a snowmobile or ATV.
Skijoring is an equal opportunity event open to any and everyone who has a passion for horses or skiing or both. All ages and ability levels are welcome. If your love for these two also includes fast speeds and friendly competition, then skijoring may just be your calling. If you are a beginner, you can enter our Novice division and if you are ready for the big leagues sign up for the Open division. We offer 5 classes Youth, Novice, Snowboard, Sport & Open.
Competitor Information can be found here
WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO COMPETE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED?
Yes PLEASE! We love volunteers & they are crucial to running a successful event. If you are interested in volunteering please email [email protected]
DOES MY HORSE NEED SPECIFIC TACK OR SPECIAL HORSE SHOES?
Most riders use a western saddle to skijor, although it is uncommon to see riders in the Rocky Mountains competing in an english saddle, competitors do use them in New England and Europe. A breast collar is a good idea to stabilize your saddle during the initial start. If you have never pulled before, once the skier is moving, there is actually not much pull on the saddle.
Different riders have different opinions regarding shoeing horses for skijoring. Many competitors chose to compete in borium-tipped horseshoes with a snow-pad inside of the shoe. However, most weekend competitors will successfully compete barefoot.
Ropes often are provided by the competitions, though most serious teams chose to bring their own preferred regulation rope. Ropes generally are 33 feet in length and 3/8 inches or larger in diameter. Handles on ropes are not permitted.
HOW DO I ATTACH THE ROPE TO MY SADDLE?
The rope is attached to the saddle horn or behind the saddle. If the attachment is behind the saddle it must be secured to the primary rigging rings of the saddle via a narrow diameter, non elastic rope, so that pulling rope is within an approximate four (4) inches of the cantle, carabineer included.
ADVICE FOR FIRST TIMERS?
For beginners to skijoring, it is recommended that your horse be familiar with having a rope across their hind quarters, any exposure to ponying or having skiers behind them will be a good place to start. Skiers should practice "working the rope" and figuring out exactly how to hold tension to optimize their speed and turning ability. This can also be practiced behind a snowmobile or ATV.