When Cowboys Meet Ski Slopes: Our Day at Pro Skijor in Kamas

If you've never heard of skijoring, you're not alone — and once you see it, you'll never forget it.

Skijoring (from the Norwegian skikjøring, meaning "ski driving") is exactly what it sounds like: a skier tethered by a rope to a galloping horse, flying down a snow-packed course at full speed. The rider guides the horse, the skier holds on for dear life, and somehow the whole thing looks completely effortless. It's rodeo meets ski racing, and it is absolutely wild to watch.

Not every athlete shows up in a bison hat and cow-print pants, but this is skijoring and the costumes are half the show. Right at the finish line in Kamas, this guy won the crowd before even touching his skis.

The horse didn't get the memo. Still running. Still winning. Somewhere behind him, a skier is having a very different day.

Last Saturday, we drove out to Kamas, Utah, a small ranching town tucked just below the Uinta Mountains, for the annual Pro Skijor event. The moment we arrived, the energy was electric. The smell of horses, the crunch of boots on packed snow, cowboy hats, and ski boots side by side. It felt like the most Western thing we'd ever walked into.

Mid-air, full speed, no hesitation. This is skijoring.

We watched skiers launch off jumps, weave through gates, and land (or not!) while being pulled by beautiful quarter horses at full gallop. The kids were glued to the fence the entire time. There were a few spectacular wipeouts, a lot of cheering, and one moment where we all looked at each other and thought: this is exactly why we live out here.

Completely upside down, pulled by a horse, with a crowd of hundreds watching. No big deal. #westlived #skijoring #proskijor #kamasutah

If you're anywhere near the Wasatch Range in late winter, put Pro Skijor Kamas on your list. It's free to watch, family-friendly, and 100% uniquely Western.

Leo found the cookies and forgot all about the horses. Priorities.