Skijoring Takes Centre Stage in Calgary Winter Festival
Skijoring, a winter sport involving horses towing skiers, will be showcased at the Skijordue event in Calgary on February 15 and 16, highlighting speed and style.
Born in the backyards of bored ranchers and farmers, skijoring features horses towing skiers, snowboarders, and anything on skis.
Participants call it the "fastest growing winter sport in North America." While that claim is difficult to prove, it is certainly one of the fastest.
"A few weeks ago we were clocked at 45 to 57 kilometres an hour down Banff Ave," says Skijor Canada organizer Sam Mitchell. "So that's about our speed out there!"
Skijoring is a cowboy culture-infused prairie party sport that is part water skiing, part horseback riding, and all style. This weekend, you can witness the spectacle in Calgary.
In recent years, the sport has garnered attention from some of the most talented freestyle skiers and boarders in Canada and now features several annual competitive events that include highly technical acrobatics alongside speed.
Perhaps the most recognizable part of Skijordue, the event taking over the Confluence historic site in downtown Calgary on February 15 and 16, is the fashion — and the cheese.
