Skijor no more: Banff says so long to skijoring events as popularity strains townsite

Banff, Alberta, is discontinuing its skijoring events, a popular winter sport where riders on skis are pulled behind galloping horses over jumps. The decision comes after the annual event, part of the 2026 SnowDays Festival, attracted significantly larger crowds than anticipated.

In January, town officials estimated that approximately 44,000 vehicles entered Banff during the two-day event, not including those parked outside town limits. This influx of visitors led to clogged streets, traffic congestion, parking difficulties, and instances of unruly behavior, prompting a review by town officials.

Skijor Canada, the organizing body, stated that the Banff and Lake Louise Tourism Board made the difficult choice to cease hosting the event. Skijoring is described as North America's fastest-growing winter sport. Banff has a history of struggling with large crowds during celebrations, and officials are implementing earlier start times for the upcoming Canada Day event to mitigate traffic buildup.

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Banff and Lake Louise Tourism’s Board of Directors has made the difficult decision that Banff will no longer serve as the host location for our skijoring event.