As Calgarians soak up the sun during a stretch of unseasonably warm weather, Skijor Canada’s Sam Mitchell is preparing for an event that demands snow: SkijorDue. “We just mobilized a snowmaking operation,” Mitchell told CTV News on Thursday. “I think Mother Nature’s going to pitch in and help us as well.” Skijoring brings together horseback riding and skiing or snowboarding. The SkijorDue event is at the Confluence on Feb. 21 and 22, and follows a wildly popular skijoring event in Banff a few weeks ago. “It’s fantastic. It’s so much fun. We started this because we wanted to share it, and so to have people coming together and getting excited about it and cheering…. It’s such a vibe. We love it,” Mitchell said about skijoring’s growing popularity. As for the daredevils who are pulled by a horse as they ski or snowboard over jumps, Mitchell said they’re her friends. “We’re such a family and it’s wonderful to see everybody pulling together to make this happen. And the level of talent and try and athleticism and creativity that coalesces around this sport – that’s the best thing about it.” You can get tickets for SkijorDue online at SkijorCanada.com.
