SNAPPED: Ski joring season kicks off in Heber with speed, style, and Western swagger

Skijoring Pro Finals Competition in Heber City, January 17, 2026 Photo: TownLift//Randi Sidman-Moore

HEBER CITY, Utah — Horses thundered, skiers flew, and the Pro Ski Joring tour roared to life this weekend in Heber, where horsepower met edge control in one of winter’s most adrenaline-charged spectacles.

The opening stop of the tour transformed a snow-packed course into a blur of hooves, spray, and steel edges as riders on horseback pulled skiers at full throttle through a gauntlet of gates, jumps, and obstacles. At top speed, the margin for error was thin — miss a gate or lose an edge, and the run was over in a heartbeat.

From start to finish, the energy stayed high.

Veteran teams made it look effortless, their horses firing down the track while skiers carved clean lines, launched jumps, and snatched rings with precision. Novices brought a different kind of drama, fighting to stay balanced as ropes snapped tight and crowds held their breath through every turn.

The event drew a packed crowd, many dressed head to toe in Western flair — cowboy hats, fringe jackets, and worn boots planted in the snow. Tailgates lined the course as spectators cheered, clapped, and hollered encouragement with every run, turning the competition into a full-on winter rodeo.

Ski joring blends Old West roots with modern edge — a lawless-feeling mashup of horsemanship and skiing that feels part rodeo, part ski racing sprint.

By the end of the weekend, Heber had delivered exactly what ski joring promises: speed, spectacle and a uniquely Utah brand of winter chaos — a colorful kickoff to a tour that’s just getting started.