You’ve heard of ski-in, ski-out. But ski-by-horse? That’s a different story.

A horse explodes off the starting line, hooves digging into packed snow. The rider leans forward, reins tight. Their teammate, a skier, crouches low, gripping a tow rope, carving through a snowy city street like it’s a downhill race, except they’re being pulled forward by 1,200 pounds of muscle.

Mid-course, the skier hits a jump. For a second or two they are airborne – spread eagle or flipping backwards, hopefully landing smoothly. The crowd roars. Cowbells ring. Someone yells, “Yeehaw!” This is not a polished Olympic venue.

It’s louder. Closer. Colder. More fun. I can’t help saying aloud, “This is America!”

The intense winter sport of Skijoring (from the Norwegian word skikjøring, meaning “ski driving”) dates back hundreds of years in Scandinavia, where a skier holding onto a rope is pulled at high speed by a galloping horse, racing down a snow-packed course, swishing back and forth, gaining momentum, navigating obstacles and launching off jumps.

The exciting sport has been fully adopted into Utah cowboy country. In Salt Lake City, a sea of cowboy hats, donned by young and old, line the main street “racecourse” to cheer on this distinctly Western tradition – part rodeo, part ski race, part frontier time warp. Skijoring has proven to be a popular local competitive sport since 2017. But this year, it is close to 60 degrees and snow is brought into the city via truckloads from the nearby parking lots of Cottonwood Canyon ski resorts.

Original skikjøring was practical – a way for people to travel long distances over snow by being pulled behind reindeer, horses, or dogs. It wasn’t flashy, it was survival. Long after becoming a sport in Scandanavia, it migrated to North America in the early 1900s, showing up at winter carnivals and even appearing as a demonstration event in the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz (with horses).

Over time, the sport split into two styles: Nordic skijoring (typically with dogs, still popular today); and Equestrian skijoring – the cowboy-powered version that took root in the American West. What began as a novelty in the mid-20th century – at winter festivals across Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah – has evolved into a serious competitive sport with prize money, timing systems and dedicated teams of riders and skiers.

The Salt Lake City Winter Roundup

Famous for its world-class mountain resorts and Olympic legacy, Salt Lake City is host to an annual urban Winter Roundup weekend, a full-blown community experience in February, combining skijoring, rodeo, arts and entertainment programming, live performances, dancing, local food, a VIP experience, and family-friendly activities. Stop to pet little ponies of various breeds, witness expert lasso spinning, and admire elegant fur-clad ladies race down the runway street on their horses. Watch in awe as pro skiers and snowboarders bounce high on trampolines, flipping and moving in unison.

As skijorers zoom down a snowy street, their bodies arch and twist in back-breaking ways, like dare devils sailing through the air. Some land smoothly while others crash on their sides or face. Skis sheer in half, goggles fly, and at least one guy may have broken an arm.

The crowd’s applause determines which brave skier or snowboarder deserves to win the prize – Delta airline tickets. You’re sure to meet several brave skijorers on the street, who may seem unphased by the kamikaze style stunts. Perhaps a sign of youth? One thing’s certain – it’s a sign of a good time!

Stay central

Be in the middle of the action at brand new, modern Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, in the heart of downtown and walking distance to Winter Roundup, restaurants, bars, and shopping. Book a King Suite with separate living room, tasteful home-like décor, and floor-to-ceiling windows of the surrounding city and snowcapped Wasatch Mountains.

Read the full article on JohnnyJet.com and MSN, published February 2026. Discover the best food and drink adventures below (published in Taste and Travel Magazine, summer 2026).