Leadville Ski Joring and Crystal Carnival

2012 Event Schedule

In North America’s highest city, the sounds of winter include hoof beats, whoops and hollers echoing the streets of downtown Leadville, the swish-swish-swish of cross-country skis, and a wild chorus of yips from sled dog teams, especially during the town’s annual ski joring and Crystal Carnival weekend coming up Mar. 2 – 4, 2012. Leadville, which was recently named the number two True Western Town in the country by True West magazine, is where the cowboys come to play in the winter. One part Old West, one part extreme sports, this scenic Colorado mountain town celebrates winter with ski joring; Nordic, sled dog and mountain bike races; a paintball biathlon; a children’s parade and contests; and broomball games.

Leadville’s main thoroughfare, Harrison Avenue, and its side streets are lined with antique and specialty shops, restaurants, museums and galleries, offering visitors a bite to eat or a shopping break during the events.

The Crystal Carnival, which commemorates the original winter sports festival held in Leadville in 1896, offers winter fun for the entire family. All events are free for spectators; some require fees for participants.

Learn more about the history of ski joring in Leadville.

Schedule of Events

Friday, Mar. 2             

7 p.m.— Harrison Avenue Knock-Out Nordic Sprints — 400-meter sprints under the lights, with cash prizes (http://www.leadvillenordic.org) $3 entry fee; registration at 6:30 p.m.                                                              

Saturday, Mar. 3

All Day — Free sledding on Dutch Henry Sledding Hill — Bring your own sled or rent        a tube for $7 per hour (snow permitting; tube rental available 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

7 – 10 a.m.  — Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Advocates of Lake County (Elks Lodge)

8 – 11 a.m. — Ski Joring — Registration at the Elks Lodge

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — 6th Annual Mt. Massive Mush — Presented by Mount Massive Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club (http://www.rmsdc.com/new-site/race-info.html)

10 a.m. — Kids’ Parade — Children (ages 5 – 12) are welcome to join in and will receive a free balloon

Kids’ Snowflake Contests, which include costumes as well as scooters, bikes, wagons and small floats, will take place immediately following parade

10:30 a.m.  — Kids’ Ski Joring — Kids can try ski joring behind a snowmobile for $5 a ride

11 a.m.  — Ski Joring Draw, Calcutta and Competition — Teams draw for time slots, followed by Calcutta Sale. The Sport Class, Legends Class and Open Class competitions will follow in the afternoon.*

2 p.m.  — Shelter Dog Shuffle — Participants ski, snowshoe, run or walk with their own dogs in this one-mile race at Mount Massive Golf Course; proceeds benefit the Leadville/Lake County Animal Shelter

3:30 – 9 p.m. — Lake County Ice Skating Rink — Admission $2.25; skate rentals are $1 for kids; $2 for adults

7 p.m. — Mineral Belt Mayhem — An 11-mile loop on Leadville’s Mineral Belt Trail; registration and check-in at 5 p.m. at Cycles of Life, 309 Harrison Ave.; race starts at 7 p.m.; part of the Winter Mountain Bike Race Series

Sunday, Mar. 4

All Day  —  Free sledding on Dutch Henry Sledding Hill —Bring your own sled or rent a tube for $7 per hour (snow permitting; tube rental available 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

7 – 10 a.m.  — Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Advocates of Lake County (Elks Lodge)

8 – 11 a.m.  — Ski Joring — Registration at the Elks Lodge

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — 6th Annual Mt. Massive Mush — Presented by Mount Massive Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club

10 a.m. — Broomball Game “The Guns vs. The Hoses” — Law Enforcement vs. the Firemen

10 a.m. — 5^th Annual Leadville Paintball Biathlon — Kids’ 1K at 10 a.m.; 5K at 11 a.m.; 10K at Noon (Tennessee Pass Nordic Center; http://www.leadvillenordic.org)

11 a.m. — Ski Joring Draw, Calcutta and Competition — Teams draw for time slots, followed by Calcutta Sale. The Sport Class, Legends Class and Open Class competitions will follow in the afternoon.*

11 a.m.  — Broomball Game — ALCO vs. Safeway

3:30 – 9 p.m.  —Lake County Ice Skating Rink — Admission $2.25; skate rentals are $1 for kids; $2 for adults

*Exact timing of ski joring events depends on the number of participants. Ski joring competitions usually begin in the early afternoon.