Cowboy Downhill | January ski racing festival in Steamboat Springs, CO

Steamboat celebrates its 44th annual Cowboy Downhill, one of the most unique ski racing events in Colorado. It’s held on Monday, January 21st, 2019. Professional rodeo cowboys are invited from all over, with this year’s contestants (over 100) from as far away as Canada and New York. Cowboys race each other two at time, with best overall time winning.

January Ski Racing Festival in Steamboat Springs

The Cowboy Downhill started in 1974 when Larry Mahahn, a world champion cowboy, and Billy Kid, an Olympic medalist in skiing gathered ProRodeo stars from the Denver Stock Show to Steamboat Springs for ski races.

ProRodeo Champions from across North America compete, as well as from Australia and Europe. There will be live music, Bud Light tents, and activities in the Gondola Square starting at 12pm.

Requirements:
There are several requirements that event participants must adhere to.

Registered in National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in Denver.
Member of ProRodeo Cowboys Assoc. or Professional Bull Riders
Wear chaps and cowboy hats while competing.

Events at Cowboy Downhill

The party kicks off at the base with a 4H animal petting zoo, a learn to rope clinic and limited edition Bud Light Cowboy Downhill logowear. The dual slalom races begin at 1pm down Headwall, a green at the base of mountain. Two cowboys ski between flags, then hit a single jump, and perform a unique twist at the end: they must lasso a person, saddle a horse and sprint across the finish line.

The final race is the Stampede, which pits every cowboy against themselves in a mass race down Headwall. After the individual races are over, all cowboys are invited for the Cowboy Stampede where they rush for the finish line simultaneously. It’s fun to watch.