Are you lucky enough to be attending a skijoring event and wondering what skijoring fashion is all about?
Until this year, I had no idea that skijor fashion was a thing, but after experiencing skijoring at Banff SnowDays, I can tell you it’s a vibe, a movement, a whole cowboy culture made up of fringe, fur, and of course… FUN! When doing our research before our trip, I found that there wasn’t much info on what to wear or very many inspirational outfits online. With this in mind, I wanted to share insights from this year’s skijoring event in Banff and Calgary to help inspire your skijoring fashion outfit.Â
And let’s be clear on that last point, each outfit needs to be as unique as you are and a true reflection of your personality and winter skijor style… so take all of these tips and photos as inspiration and then get crafting your skijoring fashion look!
What is Skijoring?
Before we talk about what to wear, let’s break down exactly what the sport of skijoring is so that you know what you’re signing up for! In skijoring, there are three athletes: a rider, a slider, and a horse. The horse and rider form a team and pull a slider behind them through a course. The course will have flags, jumps, and you’ll get to see athletes perform aerial feats as they fly through the air. Mix that in with incredible vibes, big music, and a fun MC, and you’ve got one unique festival worth visiting.
Learn more about Skijoring in Banff with our Guide to Visiting this Unique Canadian Winter Festival.
Where is Skijoring Most Popular?
While skijoring has been around for over a century (as pictured in this throwback photo from 1924 in Banff National Park), the sport seems to be picking up attention, and festivals are growing year after year. In Canada, Banff, Alberta, is the epicentre for the best skijoring events with multiple showcases happening at Banff SnowDays, as well as at Skijordue in Calgary. There are also other races and events in Alberta and BC, but those two are the biggest ones with lots of spectator activations. Check out Skijor Canada and their site to learn more (and plan a trip!).
In the United States, they have a series of competitions and events in Colorado, Montana, Utah, as well as other events in Wyoming and Washington. Check out Skijor USA for more info.
How to Dress for Skijoring
If you are going to a skijoring event as a spectator, this guide is for you! While skijoring fashion is unique, there seemed to be a theme that was consistent with most outfits:
1. Cowboy/Cowgirl Style – When skijoring touched down in North America, a cowboy style became the foundation for a good skijoring outfit. Seek out cowboy boots, hats, big belt buckles, and plaid.Â
2. Fur – Think of something you found in your grandmother’s closet or at a thrift shop. Faux fur is totally supported as well. The origins of the fur appear to have come from the necessity to stay warm in the cold, with images of people dating back to the early 1900s using fur coats for function and warmth.Â
3. Fringe – Many of the outfits had fringe added to their sleeves or pants, a traditional way to take a cowboy look up a level! Some fringes were neutral colours while others were bright, bold, and beautiful!Â
4. Colour – From bright ski suits to colourful custom jackets (like the ones our moms made us), those who dressed in colours popped against the neutral palette and really stood out.
5. Technical Function – Please don’t underestimate the need to stay warm during a skijoring event. Looking great is useless if you’re freezing. So be sure to check out the section below on how to stay warm and wear technical gear that will ensure your safety and comfort.
How to Stay Warm at a Skijoring Event
While you’re there for the fun outfits, let’s also talk about practicality… you NEED to stay warm. If you aren’t prepared for the cold weather you could find yourself having to leave the event to warm up, which would suck (trust me, as someone who had front row seats to the event, I can tell you how many people had to give up their great spots to head inside for warmth).
When we went to the skijoring event in Banff in 2025, it was -20°C, meaning we HAD to have layers on in order to stay outside for 2+ hours.
Here’s what we wore to stay warm:
- Base layers – high-quality base layersÂ
- Heated socksÂ
- Fleece layer
- Heated vestsÂ
- Puffy jacketÂ
- Winter pants
- Winter jacket
- Heated glovesÂ
- Ear coversÂ
- HatÂ
- External jacket
Skijoring Fashion – Fringe, Fur, and Fun
Rather than tell you what to wear, let me show you! Here’s a round-up of our favourite outfits, people, and inspiring combinations of fringe and fur, inspiring you to craft your fun skijoring fashion outfit!
Special thanks to photographer Mitch Popilchak who shared his 2025 Banff Skijoring and Calgary Skijordue for us to showcase.
Our moms made us these great jackets that we transformed from blankets! Special shout out to Karla Marx photo bombing us!
Cowboy Cole shares his favourite slogan, bringing the giddy-up vibes to the skijoring world!
Warm and stylish!
Does it get any more fabulous than this? This stunning outfit that Karla Marx wore was made and created by Janine’s Custom Creations. Janine Stabner, a local Calgarian, has over 45 years of experience designing, drawing, creating, and sewing couture fashion. She adores bringing visions of design to life!
I am absolutely loving the simple, yet exquisite details found on this rider’s jacket, and the hat and sunglasses finish off this incredible skijoring fashion look.
Not only does the crowd dress up in their finest skijoring fashion, but so do all of the riders, sliders, and horses. It’s a winter fashion show on snow, skis and hooves.
From furs to vintage ski suits to plaid wool mac jackets, and even 90’s neon lycra pants, these sliders were ready to entertain the crowds.
It’s all in the details!
Combining rustic cowboy hats with bright colourful winter coats, anything goes in the skijoring fashion world.
These bright retro ski suits are bringing all the fun vibes to the Calgary Skijordue event!
Skijoring fashion blends winter sports gear with Western flair.
The fur skijoring fashion is keeping the Calgary Skijordue crowds happy and warm.
You can’t help but strut the skijoring fashion runway when you look this good!
History of Skijoring Fashion
The history of skijoring fashion is as robust as the culture of the sport. Postcards from the turn of the 20th century show that athletes from this sport always had a passion for style, and as fashion trends evolved over the years, so did skijoring style. Each country also has their unique style as well, and the history of skijoring style is well laid out and photographed in this feature article by Loren Zhimanskova.
In conclusion, whether you go all out on a skijor outfit and get called up on the snowy runway (like we did) or just bundle up to hit up the festival for some fun (and epic people watching), you’re guaranteed to have a great time at a skijoring event!
