LEADVILLE, Colo. — The annual Leadville Ski Joring event was back this weekend in North America’s highest incorporated city.
Ski Joring brings skiers and horses together for an action-packed sport.
Horses and riders pull skiers via ropes down a snow-packed Harrison Avenue in downtown Leadville. As the horse gallops, the skier flies over jumps and spears rings set up along the course.
Leadville Ski Joring
According to event organizers, Leadville Ski Joring's history goes as follows. Two close friends sat in a booth at the Golden Burro Café discussing Leadville's winter festival known as the Crystal Carnival.
It was 1949, and they were to come up with something new to add to the event list for the festivities. The two decided to take a trip and see whether they could bring back any ideas from Steamboat Springs' winter carnival.
Steamboat was where Tom Schroeder and "Mugs" Ossman witnessed ski joring where a horse-and-rider pulls a skier.
Their idea was to add speed to the game and now the competition is held annually in Leadville during the first full weekend in March.
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Snow in Colorado
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.