History
Silverton residents, Pete Maisel and Rob Conaty, brought Skijoring to Silverton in 2010. The great annual event drew riders, skiers and audience from Durango, Cortez, Pagosa Springs, Grand Junction as well as from the Red Mountain Pass communities of Ouray, Ridgway, Montrose and beyond. From humble beginnings with a few hundred spectators attending the inaugural year of Silverton Skijoring thanks to Pete and Rob’s efforts coupled with the overwhelming support from the Town of Silverton, Silverton residents, the surrounding community, volunteers, businesses, sponsors, donors and more Silverton Skijoring has been showing substantial growth every year with recent years drawing over 2,500 spectators. The 2024 edition promises to show even more growth, as its popularity increases.
What is Silverton Skijoring?
SILVERTON SKIJORING presented by The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Gloden Block Brewery & Grand Imperial Hotel is comprised of a single horse typically guided by an insane person occasionally called a cowboy, cowgirl or a rider, pulling a crazy person on skis who simply hangs onto a tow rope in a manner similar to water skiing but at 35-45+ mph racing through Historic Downtown Silverton Colorado on Notorious Blair Street covered in snow while attempting to get the fastest time with the skier trying to fly over jumps and catch rings on a baton while not crashing and burning!
Community. Heritage. Support.
Silverton Skijoring is a 501(c)(3) Enterprise Zone Contribution Project which is run 100% by volunteers. Silverton Skijoring hosts an annual family friendly event for the Town of Silverton with the intention of supporting Silverton’s winter economy.
