Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
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F ront Runners Aspen has changed a lot since this bronco buster rode in '73, but the Snowmass Rodeo is still going strong. the buck stops here NOW IN ITS 40TH YEAR, THE SNOWMASS RODEO CELEBRATES THE WILD WEST. W hether mutton busting, bull riding, or barrel racing is your fancy, the action-packed Snowmass Rodeo has become a quintessential Colorado experience. On its debut to local fanfare on June 13, 1973, when this photo was taken, it drew approximately 1,400 participants and spectators. Now this weekly showcase also features live country music and family-style barbecue, and attracts more than 15,000 spectators per season. "The ranchers and farmers started the rodeo to get the community together and show off their skills," says Alex Kallas, president of Snowmass Rodeo. "The contestants were just local people, and now they come from all over the United States to compete every week during the season. The caliber of cowboys, cowgirls, and stock has changed tremendously, having increased every year"—thus enhancing popularity and attendance. The Snowmass Rodeo has been preserving the ranching heritage of the Roaring Fork Valley for four decades. The Snowmass Western Heritage Association (SWHA), a nonprofit dedicated to conserving the Western culture of the region, took charge of the rodeo in 2004. "One of the marquee things is trying to expose the local and larger communities—and specifically the youth—to Western heritage," says Kallas, who is also a member of SWHA's board. Set at the base of Snowmass Village and surrounded by Sky Mountain Park and the peaks of the Elk Mountain Range, the rodeo could hardly have a more picturesque location. Now, with new leadership including Executive Director Darce Vold, who joined SWHA in September, the longest-running weekly rodeo in Colorado looks forward to marking its 40th anniversary season with two extra performances and a special celebration on July 3. The Snowmass Rodeo is held every Wednesday from June 12 to August 28. 2735 Brush Creek Road, Snowmass, 970-923-8898; snowmassrodeo.org AP 18 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ASPEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ANN HODGES COLLECTION BY MURAT OZTASKIN ASPENPEAK-MAGAZINE.COM 018_AP_FOB_FR1_SUM_Fall_13.indd 18 5/6/13 10:11 AM