Sports

Silverton’s 2020 skijoring race is officially a go.

In November, event organizers said they needed to raise about $10,000 by Dec. 15 or there likely wouldn’t be an event this winter.

Karen Sites, director of the race, said a flurry of donations came in over the past few weeks from local businesses in Silverton and Durango, and even some anonymous donors, raising about $5,000.

Then, a $5,000 match from the town of Silverton gave the event the green light.

“We’re back on officially,” Sites said.

Every Presidents Day weekend in February, Silverton hosts the popular race, which features riders on skis being pulled by horses on Blair Street. It’s by far the town’s largest event in winter, bringing 3,000 to 4,000 people to the small community about 50 miles north of Durango.

It costs about $30,000 to run the event, which includes money for insurance, announcers, rental equipment and about $10,000 in prize money for the victors.

Sites, who is in her first year as director, has said previously she is looking for more stable ways to fund skijoring in the future, so the event doesn’t rely solely on donations.

“We’re trying to come up with creative solutions to stop asking all the local businesses for money,” Sites said in November.

Some new things to expect at this winter’s race: a beer festival, with proceeds going to the 2021 skijoring race, and T-shirts and hats for sale with a new logo.

jromeo@durangoherald.com