Large crowds filled Banff Avenue over the weekend for the skijoring event, surprising organizers and town officials. The Town of Banff reported a significant influx of vehicles, with nearly 24,000 entering on Saturday and close to 20,000 on Sunday, marking a 24% increase compared to the previous year’s skijoring weekend. Jason Darrah, a Town of Banff representative, mentioned that the vehicle counts did not capture all attendees, as some visitors parked outside the town limits and walked in.
Skijoring has a long history in Banff, dating back to the early 1900s winter carnivals. The event features horses pulling skiers and snowboarders down a course, showcasing jumps and tricks. SnowDays organizer Kristina Macdonald highlighted the event’s unique appeal, blending cowboy culture with skiing, which draws large crowds from various locations, including the United States and across Canada.
The event, running only a few days each year, transforms Banff Avenue into a snow-covered race track with jumps, attracting spectators who line the sidewalks to watch the action. This year’s skijoring event saw unprecedented attendance, prompting organizers to make adjustments to accommodate the influx of visitors. The town experienced challenges managing the crowds, resulting in record-breaking vehicle volumes and parking issues.
Despite the crowd-related challenges, the skijoring event brought economic benefits to Banff and boosted tourism during the slower winter season. Organizers are planning to review the event for the following year to address crowd management issues. SnowDays festivities, including film screenings and ice carving competitions, will continue until February 8.
