FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Mandy Gauldin, 970-945-5534
LEADVILLE CELEBRATES WINTER WITH CRYSTAL CARNIVAL AND 60th ANNUAL SKI JORING, MAR. 7-8
Highlights include horse-drawn skiers racing over jumps on snow-packed streets,
snowshoe races for teens, sled dog and mountain bike races, and broomball games
LEADVILLE, Colo. (Feb. 11, 2009) — Leadville celebrates winter with a bang…and a whinny, a woof and several loud yee-haws. When you live in the highest incorporated city in North America, you make the most out of winter. That’s certainly the case in Leadville, where residents are gearing up for a weekend of ski joring and snow-themed activities for the whole family. The Crystal Carnival and 60th Annual Ski Joring will take place Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 7 and 8, in downtown Leadville.
Leadville has been hosting ski joring competitions since 1949. Ski joring, which entails a horse and rider pulling a skier down a snow-packed road over jumps while spearing rings in a timed competition, is a real tradition here and draws teams from all over the country. It’s so much fun; last year’s competition is featured in Warren Miller’s latest film, “Children of Winter.”
This year’s event will include three classes on Saturday and again on Sunday: the Open Class, for experienced competitive teams; the Sport Class, for beginners; and the Legends Class, for experienced teams who are getting a little long in the tooth for the Open Class. The Open Class will feature a $1,000 added purse each day; the Sport and Legends Classes will each feature a $500 added purse each day. The entry fee is $70 per team in the Open Class, and $60 per team in the Sport and Legends Classes. Teams must prequalify the day of the event to compete in the Open Class.
The Crystal Carnival, which commemorates the original winter sports festival held in Leadville in 1896, offers an out-of-the-ordinary good time for the entire family. Activities include a children’s parade; snowshoe races for teens; sled dog races; a winter mountain bike race; and broomball games for the adults. All events are free for spectators; some require fees for participants. On Saturday morning at 10, kids can also try their hand at ski joring behind a snowmobile for just $5 a ride.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, Mar. 7
8 – 11 a.m. Ski Joring — Registration at the Elks Lodge
9:30 a.m. 3rd Annual Mt. Massive Mush — Presented by Mount Massive Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club (register at http://www.rmsdc.com/leadville.html before March 4, 2009)
10 a.m. Kids’ Parade — Children (ages 5 – 12) welcome to participate
10 a.m. Kids’ Ski Joring — Kids can try ski joring behind a snowmobile for $5 a ride
11 a.m. Teen Snowshoe Race — Contestants race holding a full cup of water (ages 13-17; snowshoes available; release must be signed prior to race)
11 a.m. Ski Joring Draw, Calcutta and Competition — Teams draw for time slots, followed by Calcutta Sale, then the Sports Class, Legends Class and Open Class competitions
1:30 p.m. Shelter Dog Shuffle — Ski, snowshoe, run or walk with your pooch in this one-mile race at Mount Massive Golf Course to benefit the Leadville/Lake County Animal Shelter and Planned Pethood Assistance ($15 entry fee; race-day registration only)
Sunday, Mar. 8
7 – 8:30 a.m. Mineral Belt Mayhem — Registration and check in. This 12-mile race is part of the Winter Mountain Bike Race Series (Cycles of Life, 309 Harrison Ave.)
8 – 11 a.m. Ski Joring — Registration at the Elks Lodge
9 a.m. Mineral Belt Mayhem — Race begins
9:30 a.m. 3rd Annual Mt. Massive Mush — Presented by Mount Massive Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club (register at http://www.rmsdc.com/leadville.html before March 4, 2009)
10:30 a.m. Broomball Game “The Guns vs. The Hoses” — The Police & Sherriff’s departments take on the Firemen & St. Vincent’s Ambulance departments for the coveted Golden Broom Award
11 a.m. Ski Joring Draw, Calcutta and Competition — Teams draw for time slots, followed by Calcutta Sale, then the Sport Class, Legends Class and Open Class competitions
11:30 a.m. Broomball Games — Open to all contestants ages 18 and over; release must be signed prior to game
Located in the center of Colorado, 103 miles west of Denver and 129 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, Leadville is known for its rich history, Victorian architecture, friendly small-town atmosphere, and beautiful scenery. The downtown district is lined with charming shops, eateries and inns. Go http://www.visitleadvillecolorado.info for more information.
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About Leadville and Twin Lakes
Leadville, the highest incorporated city in North America, is located in the geographic center of Colorado, 103 miles west of Denver and 129 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, on US Highway 24, part of the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Once one of America’s richest, longest-lived and bawdiest mining boomtowns, 70 square blocks of the downtown area has been designated as a National Historic Landmark of Victorian architecture. Activities include skiing, fishing, camping, golfing, hiking, whitewater rafting, four-wheeling, biking, museums, historical tours and train rides. Nearby Twin Lakes, located 15 minutes from Leadville at the eastern entrance to Independence Pass, is also a National Historic District and a popular summer destination for camping, boating, hiking and fishing. Visit Leadvilleusa.com for more information.
About Ski Joring
The sport of ski joring began several hundred years ago in Scandinavian countries as a way to travel during the long winters. Laplanders skied on Nordic skis holding the reins attached to reindeer. Ski joring found its way to North America, where ranchers attached a long rope to the saddle horn of a horse that was ridden at high speeds down a long straight-away. Currently, the sport of equestrian ski joring has become a highly specialized competitive sport, where competitors must navigate a course of jumps, gates and sometime spear rings. Competitive ski joring competitions are currently taking place in more than five states in the USA, and in several countries worldwide. In some parts of the world, skiers are pulled behind dogs, mules and snowmobiles. Whatever the means, the sport of ski joring is growing rapidly, and is just as much fun for spectators as it is for competitors. Courtesy of the North American Ski Joring Association.
About the Crystal Carnival and Ice Palace
During the winter of 1895-1896, local businessmen decided to combat the downturn of the town’s mining economy by building an incredible Ice Palace. Requiring 5,000 tons of ice to be cut from the nearby lakes, the Ice Palace featured life-sized sculptures of prospectors and burros, a skating rink and a “gallery of commerce” with frozen produce, beer and more. A Crystal Carnival, with parade and fireworks, lit up the town and the throngs who came in by train from Denver and around the country. The Ice Palace melted in the spring of 1896.
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