A snowboarder rides behind a horse at last year's Pole and Spur. Nicholas L. M. Allen photo
Nicholas L. M. Allen
Mar 5, 2025
Fast-paced action and community fun was set to return on March 8
The Pole & Spur skijoring event, set to hit the Crowsnest Pass on Saturday, March 8, 2025, has been cancelled due to the weather. The event normally brings a unique mix of high-speed thrills, skilled horsemanship, and winter excitement to Blairmore. Organized by the Kananaskis Rodeo Association, this would have marked the event’s eighth year of competition, with teams of riders and skiers racing against the clock on a snow-packed obstacle course.
President Joe Trotz said preparations were well underway despite the challenge of unpredictable weather conditions.
“We’re just banking on that next week it’s gonna be cold,” Trotz said on February 28, “There is some snow on the track, and we have this track partially built. So we’re basically trying to wait till next week when it’s not gonna be so warm to finish it.”
The Pole & Spur was set to take place at the Sartoris Staging Area in Blairmore, with shuttle service available from the Greenhill Hotel parking lot starting at 10:30 a.m.. The event had a planned kick off at 12 p.m. noon.
The day was set to feature beer gardens, a 50/50 draw, food vendors, a rodeo announcer, and a DJ, with live music at the Greenhill Hotel later that night for those 18 and older.
“We picked up a few more sponsors, and I think everything else is going to plan,” Trotz said. “I think it’s looking to be as good as last year, if not a better event—weather permitting.”
With 40 to 45 teams expected to compete, Trotz said the level of competition remains intense. Each team must navigate a technical course featuring gates, rings, pylons, jumps, and other obstacles while maintaining speed.
“Last year, the final run in the A division came down to my son and my nephew,” Trotz said, “It was within half a second of each other. The last run they made, it was so close—it was down to the wire.”
Teams face strict time penalties for mistakes, such as missing a gate or failing to complete a required manoeuvre. The fast pace and tight margins make for an electrifying atmosphere.
“As hard as those horses could run with the skiers behind them—around corners, through jumps—it gets exciting,” Trotz said.
For those looking to get involved in a different way, the Snow Queen of the CNP Contest was a brand-new feature planned for this year’s event. Open to all genders, participants were encouraged to dress up in their most regal winter attire for a chance to win prizes.
“It’s just kind of a fun thing that we’re gonna do,” Trotz said, “Anybody can dress up. We hope some people show up in costumes, and we’ve got a couple of ladies looking after it.”
Trotz credits the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, volunteers, and sponsors for helping make the Pole & Spur a community success year after year.
“We had so many compliments last year from skiers, the people with the horses, and the audience,” Trotz said, “People just had a great, fun, relaxing time. It’s good entertainment and very reasonable to bring a family to.”
Looking ahead, organizers hoped Mother Nature cooperated once again, as fresh snowfall could have helped improve the track in the final days before the event.
“We’re just hoping everything goes off well and there’s no hitches,” Trotz said the week prior, “We’re lucky to be in our community and put this on.”
With adrenaline-pumping races, a family-friendly atmosphere, and plenty of community spirit, the 2025 Pole & Spur Skijoring was shaping up to be another unforgettable event in the Crowsnest Pass.
