Leadville Winter Carnival
March 5-6, 2011

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 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 gear up for a weekend of ski joring and snow-themed activities the whole family can enjoy. In 2010, The Crystal Carnival and 61st Annual Ski Joring is scheduled to take place Saturday and Sunday, March 6 and 7, 2010 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; the 2008 competition is featured in Warren Miller's latest film, "Children of Winter."

The event includes three classes of competition: 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. Each team pays an entry fee and a cash purse is awarded to the winners of each 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.

Events Include: (tentative for 2010)

• Ski Joring Draw, Calcutta and Competition - 2 days of team & individual races in downtown Leadville! Teams draw for time slots, followed by Calcutta Sale, then the Sports Class, Legends Class and Open Class competitions.

• Kids' Ski Joring - Kids can try ski joring behind snowmobile for $5 a ride.

• Kids' Parade - Children (ages 5-12) welcome to participate.

• Mt. Massive Mush - Presented by Mount Massive Golf Course and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club. rmsdc.com/leadville.html

• Teen Snowshoe Race - Contestants race holding a full cup of water (ages 13-17; snowshoes available; release must be signed prior to race)

• 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.

• Mineral Belt Mayhem - Registration & check in. This 12-mile race is part of the Winter Mountain Bike Race Series (Cycles of Life, 309 Harrison Ave.)

• Broomball Games
- 18+ age group
- 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.)

• Freestyle Snowboard Competition

• Evening Nordic Ski Event on Harrison Avenue