Skijoring Thunders Back Into Silverton

Annual winter event draws near-record crowds and determined participants

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The annual skijoring competition returned to Silverton, Colorado, this year, attracting over 90 racer-and-rider teams who navigated a snow-covered track in the historic downtown area. The event, which combines skiing and horseback riding, is a major draw for the community and out-of-town visitors alike, providing an opportunity for the two cultures to come together.

Why it matters

Skijoring is a beloved winter tradition in Silverton, serving as the largest annual event for the town and San Juan County. The competition helps boost the local economy during a time when businesses are struggling, providing much-needed 'life support' after an unseasonably warm February.

The details

More than 90 teams competed in the skijoring races on Saturday and Sunday, navigating a snow-covered track along Blair Street in downtown Silverton. The races featured four categories: novice, sport, open, and junior. Longtime skijoring rider and event organizer Richard Weber entered the expert-level open category, pulling two advanced skiers on various runs. Breckenridge resident Joey Lane, who has skied in the event for the past three years, competed in the intermediate 'sport' category with his sister-in-law Delphine Eytel and her horse Legs.

  • The skijoring competition took place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 and again on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Jim Harper

President of Silverton Skijoring, the organization that puts on the annual event.

Richard Weber

A longtime skijoring rider and event organizer who entered the expert-level open category, pulling two advanced skiers on various runs.

Joey Lane

A Breckenridge resident who has skied in the skijoring event for the past three years, competing in the intermediate 'sport' category.

Delphine Eytel

Joey Lane's sister-in-law, who provided the horse 'Legs' that she and Joey competed on in the intermediate 'sport' category.

Pete Maisel

A Silverton resident who helped bring the skijoring competition to town with Rob Conaty in 2010.

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What they’re saying

“One of the fun things about skijoring is, because we're a smaller community, everyone stays inside. This is our excuse to come out and play.”

— Jim Harper, President of Silverton Skijoring (durangoherald.com)

“It's just such a crazy, unique, wild sport. The amount of (stuff) that can go wrong in 17 seconds is unbelievable. Like, hundreds of things. I mean, thousands of things. Every time you go to a race, you see something else, and (you're) just like, 'Whoa, I've never seen that happen before.'”

— Richard Weber, Longtime skijoring rider and event organizer (durangoherald.com)

“It's just exhilarating. You're getting pumped full of adrenaline, you're going fast – but you kind of get in the zone, and just bite down and ski.”

— Joey Lane (durangoherald.com)

“What makes it special is the people, getting those two cultures together – the cowboys with race horses and the really good skiers and even the novices that just try it. Those two cultures don't normally break bread, right? I think that synergy is cool.”

— Pete Maisel, Silverton resident who helped bring the competition to town (durangoherald.com)

What’s next

The city of Silverton will continue its efforts to generate enough snow for the competition, with two snowblowers brought in from Telluride to blow snow onto Blair Street in 12-hour intervals for six days leading up to the 2027 event.

The takeaway

Skijoring is a unique and thrilling winter tradition that brings together the cowboy and ski cultures of the American Southwest, providing a much-needed economic boost for the town of Silverton during the off-season.