Saddle up and send it, Estes Park’s Skijor takes off

Story by Lincoln Roche and Patti BrownMother Nature provided a fresh blanket of fluffy white powder throughout the day Saturday for the inaugural Skijor event on the Estes Park Fairgrounds and Event Center campus. Temps dipped into the single digits as spectators dressed in parkas, winter boots, western hats, fur coats, and tried to keep warm while watching skiers, snowboarders, horses, and riders compete in the extreme sport known as skijoring. According to Running Wild Events organizer Kevin Benes, 9,000 people–including spectators, participants, staff, volunteers, and sponsors–braved the elements to be part of the new two-day event which offered competition tiers for participants in junior, novice, and professional categories. To add even more color to the extraordinary event, Estes Park’s own Rooftop Rodeo Royalty Lily Finch participated in riding sponsor flags in the competition zone for an authentic Western flare.Billed as the closest skijoring event to Colorado’s Front Range, athletes raced in 250 runs for more than $25,000 in prize money, a chance to wear an official Skijor jacket, and bragging rights. Official race results are posted on the organization’s website.Read full story here:Visit Estesvalleyvoice.com