Alberta is well known for its Western lifestyle. Downhill sports are also popular in this state.
So it may have been natural for passion to gather and gain momentum here.
This combination, known as skijoring, sees riders riding galloping horses and towing skiers or snowboarders along snow courses and over steep jumps.
Skier Gordon Ross before participating in a skijoring event.
“This embodies everything about winter in Alberta and Canada,” said Skijo Canada founder Sam Mitchell.
“It’s a cocktail of skill, athleticism, adrenaline, style and fun. For me, the best thing about this sport is that it brings together a group of people who don’t normally interact, and when they meet, there’s an implicit sense of each other’s abilities. It’s something you’ll understand over time. Riders and sliders appreciate each other.”
Brad Carl pulls skier Mike Brush along the Banff Avenue course.
Cole Carey of Panorama, British Columbia, takes to the skies during a skijoring event.
This past weekend, Banff hosted its third annual Skijoring Exhibition as part of the annual Snowdays Festival. With the resort’s Banff Avenue closed to accommodate the downtown course, where 50 truckloads of snow were dumped there the other day, hundreds of spectators gathered to watch the daredevils’ acrobatics, He praised the horsemen’s horsemanship and unique fashion sense. Most of the participants.
“When it all comes together, you get an image that doesn’t exist anywhere else. It’s very dynamic,” Mitchell said of the unique blend of styles on display, including wool chaps worn over ski tights. . “It’s a total mash-up. Old and new, high-tech and old school. No one is excluded. Everyone is welcome. I say: Bring us your crazy stuff.” Please. We love it.”
kate connolly
Dace Cochran
Aneta Jones
Camilia Grabinski
However, in this world, mashups aren’t limited to costumes.
Skijordhu – an interesting event that combines skijoring and fondue (“a ferocious blend of snow, speed, style, and cheese,” according to Skijord Canada’s website) – will be held March 2 in Millerville, Alta. It will be held at the racetrack. Calgary.
Ryan Barron leads skier Gordon Ross.
The Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors and provide concise summaries of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.