Well today is Sunday and the second and last day of Skijoring in Silverton Colorado.  I started out today at the bottom of the course and worked my way up.  I wanted to catch the staging area and where the trailers and horses were mingling.  My friend Paula had asked me to get some pictures of the rigging’s they use for the horse and skier.  So I spent some time taking pictures for her too, they will follow shortly.

So we begin this journey with the trailers… horses… trailers… horses… lol …if you are an old show buff like me you may really have a thing about trailers and horses at events!  It’s like a candy store.

This is the staging area  where horse, rider and skier await their turn to run the course.

Here ya go Paula. This is one of the ways they tie to the horse. It’s a loop at the end of the rope that is braided back into the rope like the loop end of a lariat.  The skier wraps the other end of the rope around a gloved hand.  I saw three turns on this skiers (not in photo) hand.

Here it is up close…sorry its blurry I couldn’t get too close to some of the horses.

Another way to rig to the horse is by using a spring snap to the ring on the back of your  saddle. I knew there were more ways to use those rings.

Another angle

Then were ready to start the days event with Mark Mackie another Silverton resident, holding up the  start flag.

…and there off!!!

At the announcers  booth above the Bent Elbow Restaurant and Victorian Hotel we have our second day announcer…  sorry I don’t know your name. But I see a bunch of folks up there enjoying the event.

Here goes that a cowboy again on Blackjack – 5 time world champion skijoring horse. One of the fastest horses in the sport.

During a 20 minute break I went to Mother Kluckers restaurant to have lunch and ran into Mitch Gilon. He is one of Heather and Malcolm’s best friends and always warm with hugs.  He is one of the people who made me feel at home here m Silverton, and I think the world of him.

While at Mother Kluckers I had to go back to the kitchen and grab this pic of Kyle (left) and The Dude Man.  Dude Man use to work with me at the Conoco gas station, he is also the highly talented artist that created and did  my tattoo.  I think the world of him and his wife Penny.  Kyle  is one of our volunteer firemen, and he is always getting in my photos.  He and his wife Audrey are also along with Dude Man and Penny the best of friends with Heather and Mal.  These guys and their wives have also made me feel so at home here. And I really appreciate them too.

Below is Mark Garvin in the  green vest. He is the guy that made my room so wonderful to live in. He is also one of my massage clients. Here he is seeing to safety for the event.

One of our EMTs  feeding the crew.. lol well sort of.

OH! Here they are.. Donnie (left), Lee and Tiffany.  The rest of the EMT staff.

Lastly as the day comes to a close we see the last of the riders and skiers making their bid for a healthy purse.  We also gave away a nice leather bridle.

And it comes to a close with a flash and dash of a good horse and talented skier.  Until next year and we make it bigger and better yet.  Thanks for coming everyone and we look forward to having you again next year!

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It turned out to be a fabulous weekend weather wise for our Skijoring event.  Below Pete Maisel the event coordinator and long time resident of Silverton is busying himself with fixing a stop watch malfunction.  So our races got of to a slow start on Saturday.  I spent quite a bunch of time walking around taking pictures of  some of the folks who worked so hard to put this event on.   It’s only right to begin with Pete as he is the mastermind and major planner of the event.

Pete owns the Bent Elbow Restaurant and Victorian Hotel where I usually have my summer outdoor breakfast’s. Here you can see some of the race viewers from inside the Bent Elbow.

While we waited on the stop watches to be figured out I found one of our EMT’s, Tiffany sharing some cheer with April another one of our towns residents.  No really they were wishing I would go away.

Looking down our course. The guys who built this course worked steady for two days maybe longer building the jumps and laying snow. We have had a bad snow year and at one point they thought they may have to go out and gather snow to lay down the street for the horses to get purchase on.  Can you imagine in Silverton having to  bring snow in?  I think we got enough though last week that they had plenty to work with.

The horses wait patiently for the us to get the show on the road..

While we waited I went up to the announcers booth to see  how things looked from up there. I was amazed at the great view of our town!

And our day one announcer giving me the evil eye for taking his picture… sorry

Then we’re off!! Isn’t that a hot horse!!

The skiers were on target. Some hit the snow, but they all made a great show of it!

Another fast horse silhouetted by our colorful town and majestic mountains.

When they reached the last and highest jump the skier had to turn quick to miss the crowd!!

This would be George Foster he owns the Grand Imperial Hotel and here he is helping to watch for safety and helping pick up fallen gates and rings from the course.

Remember the hot cowboy from last years skijoring event?  Well here he is again riding Blackjack the 5 time world champion skijoring horse.

More pictures coming in Part ll

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