Throw on your skis, grab the tow rope, and send the horse down the track at blazing-fast speeds. You’ll definitely want your helmet for this adventure! What crazy activity is this? It’s skijoring! Skijoring and the Crystal Carnival is returning to Leadville, Colorado, on March 1-3, 2024.
Skijoring
The first time I learned about skijoring was from a Warren Miller film. I’d first been exposed to the ski-cult movies in college. During that time, I started to get into snowboarding, and these types of films inspired me to improve my snowboarding skills. It is hard not to be a mountain person when the ski area is only 15 minutes away from your house, and lift tickets could be had for only $10.
Right after I moved away to Colorado, Warren Miller released “Children of Winter.” In the movie, Chris Anthony decided to visit Leadville and throw on his skis to try out skijoring. What impacted me the most was how insane it appeared. There are rings to collect, turns to make, and jumps to survive, all while trying to keep your shoulder in its socket as you’re being dragged down the course by horse. I knew I had to attend this event sometime in the future.
SKIJOR USA
I quickly learned that SKIJOR USA, the organization that runs skijoring competitions, holds several competitions all over the West (with a couple of midwestern and eastern stops) every winter. Best of all, there are several stops in Colorado, which gave me numerous opportunities to check it out. However, I wouldn’t attend my first skijoring competition until I finally stepped away from coaching in 2019. If you don’t think that the people who coach your children don’t make a lot of sacrifices, you’d best think again.
The Skijoring competition in Leadville on March 2-3 is the final stop of the 2024 tour. Besides Leadville, the SKIJOR Tour makes several other Colorado stops. This includes Meeker, Steamboat Springs, and Silverton. The dates for these events have passed for the 2024 season, but they’ll likely return in 2025. For the full SKIJOR schedule, you can check out their website here.
What to Expect at the Crystal Carnival Weekend?
The Leadville Crystal Carnival weekend is jam-packed with exciting events for the winter-inclined. The Crystal Carnival takes place the first weekend in March. The highlight is the Skijoring completion, which runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The race course is set up on Harrison Ave, the main drag through the heart of Leadville. Spectators can watch the action unfold anywhere along the race course. The best part is that this event is free to watch.
On top of the skijoring competition, there are other winter outdoor adventures in which you can partake. If you are a biker, there is an 11-mile fat bike race, which begins at 6 p.m. The coolest part about this race is that it happens after dark. For those bikers who want to sign up, the fee for this race will run you a cool $26.25. More details can be found on the Cloud City Wheelers website. Even if racing isn’t your thing, it is pretty cool to watch the start of this race, which begins on Harrison Ave at 6:15 p.m. Check it out before you head to dinner or the saloon for the evening.
Is Nordic skiing your jam? If so, you’ll want to check out the Harrison Nordic Knockout Sprints on Friday, March 1st. It’s a head-to-head 400-meter sprint down Harrison Ave. The fastest skier advances to the next round. This event is free to participate and welcomes competitors of all ages. Registration for the event begins at 6:15 p.m. in front of Melanzana. More information about the Harrison Nordic Knockout Sprints can be found here. Be sure to stop by and cheer on the participants before you call it a night.
Lodging
One thing to remember is that Leadville is a pretty small community with limited lodging options. If you plan to spend the weekend in Leadville, we recommend you book your accommodations well in advance. Rooms are often fully booked within three months of the event. I checked Booking.com while working on this article about two weeks ahead of the event and found that 98% of the properties listed in Leadville have been booked.
You can always plan for a day trip if lodging is unavailable. The drive from Denver or Colorado Springs will take roughly two and a half hours, give or take, depending on weather and traffic conditions. If nothing is available but you want to stay closer to Leadville, a good option might be the Buena Vista, which is under 40 minutes away. Or you can look for lodging options in Frisco/Silverthorne, which is about 45 minutes away.
Food and Drinks
Despite Leadville’s small size, there are many quality dining options in town. If you want a fantastic dinner, check out the Treeline Kitchen. They have excellent cocktails, such as my favorite, the New Fashioned, which contains muddle peaches, and 10th Mountain Rye Whiskey. Make a reservation for Treeline Kitchen because their dining room and bar fill up fast. You can find the complete food and drink menu on their website.
Another great option is the Silver Dollar Saloon. The Silver Dollar Saloon is a 19th-century bar located on Harrison Ave. It is a popular option for food and drinks in Leadville. Whether you are drawn in by rustic decor or the ghosts of Doc Holliday and the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, you will surely learn a bit about Leadville’s fascinating past. Be sure to try the Smoked Salmon Cigarillos, our favorite appetizer.
We recommend grabbing a bite and coffee at the City on a Hill Coffee and Roastery for breakfast. It is the perfect place to grab a burrito and coffee to-go, so you don’t miss a minute of the skijoring action. Although there is usually a line out the door, don’t let that deter you. It generally moves pretty quickly. They will have you in and out in no time, so you can get back to enjoying the races.
Closing Thoughts
Leadville Skijoring and Crytal Carnival Weekend is a fun event held the first weekend in March. If you love winter and don’t mind braving the elements, you’ll find numerous activities to enjoy. You will surely have a fantastic time whether you partake or spectate. For more details about the event, be sure to check out the Leadville Twin Lakes website.
Happy Exploring!
