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Photos: Skijoring in Leadville mixes speed, skill and bravery. A little bit of crazy helps, too

By Hart Van Denburg

· Mar. 7, 2022, 4:18 am

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Ski joring, a timed competition in which a horse and rider pull a skier who runs slalom turns, snatches rings from poles and launches off jumps taller than most humans, returned to Leadville Saturday and Sunday March 5-6, 2022, for the 74th annual time.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Ski joring, a timed competition in which a horse and rider pull a skier who runs slalom turns, snatches rings from poles and launches off jumps taller than most humans, returned to Leadville Saturday and Sunday March 5-6, 2022, for the 74th annual time.

Skijoring, a timed competition in which a horse and rider pull a skier who runs slalom turns, snatches rings from poles and launches off jumps taller than most humans, returned to Leadville Saturday and Sunday March 5-6, 2022, for the 74th annual time. Here's a taste of what it looked like.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — The skijoring jumps on Leadville's Harrison Avenue can be taller than most humans, and competitors speed through the air almost at eye level with spectators watching from second-floor windows.

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220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — A skijoring competitor soars off a jump on Leadville’s Harrison Avenue.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Skijoring horses, riders and skiers can reach speeds of 40 mph during competition, which technically means they break the speed limit on Leadville’s Harrison Avenue. The street is covered with snow for the event, and onlookers can get very close to the action.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — After a run, a skijoring competitor gets a ride back to the start of the course on Harrison Avenue in Leadville, holding his rope and skis, as as spectators applaud. In the “open” category each rider gets five runs down the timed course.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Skijoring is said to have its roots in Scandinavia, but it’s become a popular winter sport up and down the Rocky Mountains. A rider in patriotic garb in Leadville on Saturday.

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220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Cowboys wear hats, racers wear helmets and spectators wear … something during the 74th annual skijoring competition in Leadville.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Riders and horses in Leadville’s 74th annual skijoring competition wait their turn to pull a skier down the Harrison Avenue course.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — A skier tries to snag rings on his arm as he’s pulled by a horse running down Harrison Avenue during Leadville’s 74th annual skijoring competition.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Falls are not uncommon in skijoring: this skier takes a tumble about half way down Leadville’s Harrison Avenue on Saturday, March 5, 2022.

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220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — A skier navigates a jump in front of a Leadville crowd that stretched several deep on both sides of Harrison Avenue Saturday, March 5, 2022.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — A smiling skijoring competitor is all smiles as he’s given a ride back up to the start of the course.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — Skijoring has taken place in Leadville since 1949. Last year the competition was run with no spectators, due to the pandemic.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — For a few days every winter, Harrison Avenue in Leadville returns to a feeling of the Old West during the skijoring competition.

220305-LEADVILLE-SKIJORING — A rider enters the starting area on Harrison Avenue during Leadville’s 74th annual skijoring competition.

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