Competitions

Cattleman’s Days:  July

www.cattlemansdays.co

For more than a century, the Gunnison Valley has celebrated its western way of life with annual demonstrations of roping, racing and riding skills. Since the early days, the rodeo takes place between spring calving and summer haying. Cattlemen’s Days has grown from an annual get-together of local cowboys and cowgirls to a PRCA event that attracts the world’s top cowboys, the best livestock from across the country, and much more. Cattlemen’s Days made a debut on a makeshift Main Street arena and now takes place at a modern rodeo complex, the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, located one block south of Highway 50 in Gunnison.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & TICKETS
For a brochure containing the complete schedule of Cattlemen’s Days events or for more information, contact the Gunnison County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 274-7580. Tickets go on sale July 1, at the Cattlemen’s Days ticket booth located at Gunnison Bank & Trust. Tickets also can be purchased at the door and cost $12 for general admission and $15 for reserved grandstand seating. Each child under 12 accompanied by a paid adult is free (general admission) and $5.00 for a grandstand seat.

All events will be held at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, located one block south of Highway 50 in Gunnison, behind the Safeway.

San Miguel Basin Fair & Rodeo:  July

Norwood,CO, Jack Krebs:  970-327-4393

Montrose County Fair & Rodeo:  July

Montrose, CO,  John Gibson:  970-901-0124

Montrose County Fair & Rodeo has something for every member of the family, including agriculture exhibits, “Mutton Bustin,” live stock sale, fair parade, horse races, antique tractor pull, kids funfest, Wild West Night, the CPRA Rodeo, and many more family activities.

Ouray County Fair:  July

Ridgway, CO, Trent Hollister:  970-249-3935

Delta County Fair:  August

Hotchkiss, CO:  www.deltacounty.com

“It is our intention to make every visitor to the Fairgrounds feel welcome and to provide the best possible service to you and those in attendance at your event. The Delta County Fairgrounds is a family oriented facility and plays host to all types of commercial, business, youth and private events throughout the year. It is the site of the annual Delta County Fair held each August and home to most Delta County 4-H activities.

 

In order to answer questions that you may have regarding our facilities, available services, and to ensure that users of the Fairgrounds understand the rules and policies which have been established, we have produced an Information Handbook.  It covers the operating policies and procedures of this facility and is organized in an A to Z format.”

Growler Mountain Bike Series #5:  August

Gunnison, CO:  Hartman Rocks Area

www.gunnisontrails.com

The 2012 Growler Series Mountain Bike Races offer the following categories:

• Short Course
• Long Course – Sport
• Long Course – Expert
• Little Kids Race – ages ? and up (kids race free)

There is not a beginner category because we cannot put together a true beginner’s course. Check out upper Jack’s Trail as it is fairly  representative of most of the riding in the Growler Series courses. An important asset for less experienced riders is simply knowing when to get off of your bike and walk a difficult section. Walk today, Ride tomorrow! Typical trails in the Growler Series include Jack’s,  Top ‘O the World, Gateway, Josies, Rocky Ridge, Skyline and Josho’s.

Black Canyon Horse Race:  September

Montrose is one of four towns on the Bush Tracks Circuit on the Colorado Western Slope. The circuit includes Gunnison, Montrose, Norwood, and Ridgeway. On average there are six races per day with anywhere from four to eight horses per race. The races range in length from 200 yards to 7/8 of a mile. Some of the races are designated per age of the horse. Post time for the races each day is 1PM. The day starts with the National Anthem, followed by the Call to the Post. Horses are brought out from the barn to the saddling paddock so that the spectators can get their first look. Similar to the races seen on TV, the jockeys competing are in full race garb, including helmets and racing colors. They ride in standard jockey saddles. Races include calcutta auctions and bids wagering. As horses enter the gates, spectators rise to their feet, and silence falls over the grand stands. When the announcer bellows, “And they’re off!” screaming erupts as everyone roots for their favorite.

Loghill Lungbuster Challenge:  September

Calling All Cyclists

 

Bicyclists of all ages, sizes and tire preferences should start training now for the first-ever, Log Hill Lungbuster Challenge, a time trial and fundraiser for the Ouray County Historical Society. This will be a new kind of fundraiser for the OCHS, one that capitalizes on the growing number of outdoor enthusiasts who both visit and live in Southwest Colorado.

The competition’s route starts at the Old Schoolhouse Emporium on West Sherman Street in Ridgway, then follows a 15-mile course west out of town along Hwy 62 and CR 24A.  At CR 1, bikers follow the road’s steep, serpentine ascent up Log hill escarpment, ride around various subdivisions of Log Hill, and finish at the Divide Ranch and Country Club.

OCHS President Kevin Chismire observes that many other nonprofit organizations in the area sponsor successful athletic events such as the Mt. Sneffels Half-Marathon andMarathon, Imogene Pass Run, and the Mt. Sneffels Half-Loop Nordic ski race.

“Missing from all these fabulous events is a bicycling event,” says Kevin, an avid cyclist. “Both mountain bicycling (fat tire) and road bicycling (skinny tire) are becoming increasingly popular in our region.  The OCHS felt it was time to have a biking event that would include both road and mountain cyclists.”

The Log Hill Lungbuster Challenge will be in the form of a time trial, in which contestants start at intervals of about one minute apart.  Then each rider races against the clock. Best time awards will be given in both the Road Bike and Mountain Bike categories, plus sub-categories for gender and age groups.

Although Kevin acknowledges that this new fundraising concept could “take us a little out of our comfort zone,” he predicts it will be an enjoyable competition that attracts cyclists from throughout Ouray County and beyond. Of course, those who are not up to busting their lungs are welcome to participate as spectators and volunteers.

The race’s $40 registration fee will benefit the OCHS.  For further information and to register for this event visit our website: www.loghilllungbusterchallenge.com or phone the OCHS at 970-325-4576.

Montrose Indian Nations Pow Wow:  September

The Montrose Indian Nations Pow Wow is a cultural celebration of Indian people and their on-going traditions of dance, music, art, and food. We expect 100+ dancers, drummers, and vendors from 33 Indian Nations. The Pow Wow also has an educational component, as there will be a lecture on dancing and Pow Wow etiquette in the teepee village. Also, a local flint knapper will demonstrate how to make arrowheads.

Colorado Pro Rodeo Association Finals:  September

Mesa County Fair Grounds, Grand Junction, CO.

Each year our rodeo brings you the best of the best from the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association, all doing their best to win the Championship Buckle! We strive to bring the best family entertainment at an affordable price.

Our three-day event not only showcases all that is wonderful about our Wild West roots, it also helps to fund the Posse’s Search and Rescue efforts as well as scholarships for area high school seniors.

Look thru our site and get more info – don’t forget to check out the Sheriff’s Posse web site and make sure you get your tickets now from our many retail partners!

Mountains To The Desert Ride, Telluride:  September

To help raise $90,000 for the benefit of the Just For Kids Foundation join in on The Mountains to the Desert Ride.  The ride starts in Telluride, CO and finishes up in the Gateway Canyons, CO.

Individual Riders have the options of  two starts and four distances.  For complete information:  m2dbikeride.com

Fall Tilt In Telluride:  October

The Mountain Village Bike Park will set the stage for the Fall Tilt 12-Hour Endurance Race, and designated downhill courses will be utilized simultaneously from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Courses will be taped and marked, closed to the public, patrolled and marshaled. Terrain will be varied from rocky, technical riding on the World Cup course to slower riding on a “recovery” trail or two. There are trails that will suit all riders, and it is the rider’s discretion to which trail they will use for each downhill lap. Riders are responsible for their own repair and equipment replacement. We will have a pit area setup for riders’ convenience, steps away from the gondola in Mountain Village.

Trails for Friday’s practice and Saturday’s race day will be accessed via Mountain Village’s free gondola. Gondola access is provided at no additional cost to the competitors; no lift ticket is required – your race plate will serve that purpose.

Black Canyon Sprint Triathlon:  October

In October the Montrose Firefighter’s Association will proudly presents the Annual Black Canyon Sprint Triathlon.It begins with a 500 yard swim (10 laps) at the Montrose Aquatic Center, then continues with a 24K (14.6 mile) bike course winding through the west side of town, and wraps up with a  5K (3.1 mile) run that finishes at the aquatic center.