51st Annual Cowboy Downhill at Steamboat Mountain

It all began over 50 years ago when Billy Kidd, Steamboat’s director of skiing, and Larry Mahan, six-time all-around World Champion cowboy, decided to invite a few of the ProRodeo stars to Steamboat for a day of skiing. The cowboys had such a great time that the downhill has become the most popular event of the season with over 100 of the best professional rodeo cowboys competing in the most unique ski rodeo in the country.

The Cowboy Downhill is an annual ski rodeo in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where professional rodeo cowboys swap their saddles for skis to compete in a unique race. The event includes a timed dual slalom race where competitors ski through gates, jump, lasso a person, saddle a horse, and cross the finish line, followed by a chaotic “Stampede” free-for-all race. It’s held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show and combines the town’s ski culture with its Western heritage.