Richard Weber III proudly comes from a protracted line of Western Slope ranchers, and on a recent bluebird day with temperatures below freezing, he looked the exact same. Weber stood amongst a crowd on the Ouray County Fairgrounds, wearing a red button-down shirt and blue jeans with a sparkling silver belt buckle.
However, there have been a pair of ski boots on his feet.
Weber has been organizing the event for nine years Saint John Skijoring Competition consisting of races by which horse-drawn skiers and snowboarders attempt to finish a snow obstacle course. It's Colorado's version of a winter rodeo with added adrenaline events like Big Air, where competitors hop over cars.

Organizers used 1.2 million gallons of water to create snow for this 12 months's Ridgway course. The fastest participants accomplished runs in lower than 25 seconds.
Weber has spent a few years pulling athletes through the courses and is currently competing in skilled level competitions on the helm of his trusty horse partner. But recently he decided to strap on a pair of skis and take the position in tow. He competed last Friday within the Novice division, which is specifically designed for those latest to the game.
“This is the most fun you can have with pants,” said Weber enthusiastically after his first ride. “People want to go out and buy a Corvette that has a lot of horsepower. Give me one horsepower on a skijoring course and I’ll be happy.”
Skijoring is claimed to have originated in Scandinavia, where residents used the historical equivalent of skis pulled by horses as a way of transportation. The sport made its first and only Olympic appearance within the 12 months 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. More recently, it has turn out to be popular amongst skiers and riders since it is a seemingly uncanny combination.
Salt Lake City resident Jackie Nadel was first introduced to skijoring through a friend who was competing in a contest in Utah. Nadel couldn't consider what she saw, but as an avid skier who grew up riding, she couldn't resist the urge to try it out.
“The closest thing I could say is that it's like water skiing, with a little more excitement and a little more unpredictability,” she said.
As Nadel stepped onto the Ridgway track and adjusted the rope in her hands, she felt her stomach turn. She has competed before, but few things compare to the sensation when the rope is tightened and into motion. Seconds later she cleared the primary obstacle and gained some air that just about knocked her off balance.
“It’s similar to cycling in general, it’s a showstopper and a prayer,” Nadel said.
Nadel is committed to attracting more women to skijoring, particularly young women who competed in sports throughout highschool and college. Recruiting young professionals seems pretty easy.

Lacey Andersen of Durango competed in San Juan Skijoring's beginner class for the primary time last week after a friend's skier who rides horses dropped out of the competition. Andersen, a ski patrol member at Purgatory Resort, volunteered to fill the position without completing a single training session.
“You’re not allowed to do any training runs or anything like that. “You literally just look at the track and then you run behind the horse for the first time,” she said. The cheetah-print jacket and fringed chaps over her ski boots didn't officially win her any style points, but they did boost her confidence.
Likewise, Cam Stark had “a good friend who is a horse lover” and decided to present skijoring a try. Before the primary run of his budding skijoring profession, the Montrose resident said he was a little bit nervous, but in his faux fur coat and telemark skis he barely shook. However, after completing the course it was pure exhilaration.
“The centrifugal force in the first two corners, you really felt it,” said Stark. If the rope goes slack, it creates a whiplash feeling when it tightens again, he added.
Grand Junction skier Mike Ramsden donned a neon green jumpsuit and tried skijoring for the primary time along with his girlfriend. On his second run he fell heavily over the guidelines of his skis.
“This will probably hurt tomorrow,” he said afterwards. So would he do it again? “Absolutely.”
San Juan Skijoring was the primary of several upcoming competitions in Colorado. Here you’ll be able to watch the motion all winter long.

Skijoring events in Colorado 2025
Skis and saddles: 18th-Nineteenth January on the Archuleta County Fairgrounds, 344 Highway 84, Pagosa Springs. Admission is $10 for a day pass or $15 for a weekend pass. Children as much as 12 years have free entry.
Estes Park Skijor: Twenty fourth-Twenty sixth January on the Estes Park Event Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park. Admission is $17.30 for a day pass or $28 for a weekend pass.
Silverton Skijoring: Fifteenth-Sixteenth February in downtown Silverton. Entry is free.
Leadville Ski Joring: 1st-2nd March in downtown Leadville. Entry is free.
Originally published:
image credit : www.mercurynews.com
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