Courtesy photos The Bullfighters Only Colorado Championship is set for July 9 at the Ski Hi Complex in Monte Vista.

Colorado Championship is Saturday, July 9 at Ski Hi Complex

MONTE VISTA — The annual Ski-Hi Stampede is coming, and this year marks the 100th year of the annual event.

A special mural commemorating the event was painted in the middle of town behind the Fassett Building in the parking lot. The mural has a bucking bronco, complete with a roping cowboy on the back of the bronco. The mural was painted by Jamie Brodie and sponsored by the Ski Hi Stampede Committee. 

Something new this year for the Stampede is the Bullfighters Only Colorado Championship. The Championship will be held at the Ski Hi Complex on July 9.

Bullfighters Only has become world-renowned for its bullfighting contests. Judging in Bullfighters Only is based on a 100 points possible system, and points may be awarded for many different things including control, style, and difficulty and ability to jump and maneuver around and over the bull.

Likewise, the bulls are also awarded points for their willingness to stay engaged and remain hooked up with the fighters. Bulls are also awarded points based on their aggression and quickness. 

Bullfighters Only allow 60 seconds for the fighters or the bull to accumulate points, with the option for the fighter to end the engagement with the bull any time after 40 seconds without any type of point deduction. If a bullfighter does not reach the time when the warning horn goes off, he is automatically disqualified. 

The bulls that are used in the fights are all of one Spanish Bloodline. Toro de Lidia, said to be a unique breed by Bullfighters Only, renowned for their aggression and beauty; these are the bulls that are used in the competition.

This bulls’ instinct to charge makes the bull a good opponent for the bullfighters. The Bullfighters Only event begins at 7 p.m. on July 9. A tailgate party takes place before the competition beginning at 5 p.m., these are just the first of many events to kick off the annual Ski-Hi Stampede, according to organizers.

Appearing this year in the Stampede concert on July 21 are Dwight Yoakam and the Josh Abbot Band. Yoakam is a world-famous country-western singer who began his career in 1980 and had his first country number 1 hit in 1988 with the song “Streets of Bakersfield.”

Yoakam is also an actor and has starred in movies including “Sling Blade,” “Cry Macho,” and “Panic Room.”

The Josh Abbot Band originated in Lubbock, Texas, in 2006. The band is currently touring and has released the single “Oh Tonight,” which made the country music charts at No. 44.

The band is also known for their song “Touch” which was featured in the movie “The Longest Ride.”

General admission for the Yoakam-Abbot concert is still available. Reserved and box seating is limited.

Colorado’s oldest pro rodeo includes multiple parades geared toward the 100th-year celebration of the Ski-Hi Stampede.