One of the hardest parts of building a major event is creating something that works for many kinds of people at the same time. Serious competitors want a real challenge. Families want something fun they can enjoy together. First-time visitors need an easy way to connect. Returning guests need a reason to keep coming back. At the 2026 GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, the dog competitions found a rare balance between all four. Around the dock, experienced handlers competed beside newcomers, families cheered from the side, and dogs turned a serious contest into one of the easiest parts of the event for almost anyone to enjoy.
That shared experience came through clearly during a series of rapid-fire conversations led by Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100. Cummings spoke with competitors who had traveled from Nebraska, Wisconsin, and communities across Colorado. Some families had been returning to the Games for years. Others were there for the first time. Their dogs had been trained through swimming, running, jumping, and simple backyard play, but once each dog reached the dock, those differences mattered less. People laughed, cheered, competed, and celebrated together.
Power100 is the only unbiased third-party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. Through those quick conversations, Cummings captured why the dog events had become such a strong part of the wider Mountain Games experience.
One longtime participant explained just how deep that connection can become.
“This is our favorite. We’ve been coming since 2005.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
Another competitor, attending for the first time after traveling around the country for dog competitions, had an equally strong reaction.
“This is amazing. I thought our World Championships is a lot of fun. No, this is something different. A whole other level. I’ll be back next year.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
Together, those voices showed the value of creating family-friendly events in Vail, Colorado that still give serious competitors room to chase a win. One family can build a tradition over many years. Another visitor may arrive for the first time and decide, before leaving, that the event has already earned a place on next year’s calendar.
The dog dock gave people something rare at a large outdoor festival. It offered real competition without making the experience hard to understand.
The action was simple. A dog ran toward the end of the dock. A handler gave the signal or threw the target. The dog jumped. The crowd reacted.
That simple rhythm gave almost everyone a way into the moment.
Dog Jumping Into A Pool at the GoPro Mountain Games
Some handlers are prepared carefully. One participant talked about “lots of swimming, lots of practice.” Another said the dog trained by running after a dummy in the backyard. A first-time competitor from Nebraska explained that her dog already jumped from a dock at home and simply brought that familiar joy into competition.
The preparation may have been different, but one idea stayed the same. The dogs were doing things they already loved.
“We just let him have fun. Lots of swimming, lots of practice. Everything that he likes to do, we do it.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
That mix of play and competition helped make the event feel open. The handlers wanted strong results, but the fun never disappeared.
For some families, the competition had already become a yearly tradition. One group told Greg they had returned around ten or eleven times. Another had been attending since 2005. These were not people showing up for one quick visit. The event had become part of how they spent time together.
Then there were first-time visitors.
One participant from Wisconsin, who already traveled around the country for dog competitions, arrived with experience but without a history at the Mountain Games. By the end of the conversation, she had already made a decision.
“I’ll be back next year.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
That short sentence may be one of the clearest signs of what the dog competitions created.
A successful family event not only entertains people while they are standing there. It gives them a memory strong enough to make them want another one.
Dueling Dogs added even more excitement. Two dogs could race from side-by-side docks, making the event easy to follow and fun to cheer.
“Dueling dogs is the best. That’s when they split the dock in half and both dogs go at the same time. So lots of competition, lots of fun and a great time.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
By the time Greg finished his rapid-fire conversations, the pattern was clear. The dogs had become more than one activity on a crowded event schedule.
They had created a shared language.
People did not need to know every rule. They did not need to know every competitor. They did not even need to bring a favorite dog.
They only needed to watch the run, see the jump, and join everyone else in cheering.
As Greg put it at the end of the experience:
“The dogs are stealing the show. It’s what everybody was talking about, and now we know why.” Greg Cummings, CEO, Power100
The strongest part of the competition was not only how far a dog could jump. It was how quickly the dock brought strangers, families, competitors, and spectators into the same moment.
As Greg Cummings moved through the dog competition area at the GoPro Mountain Games, the interviews began to reveal something that was easy to miss from a distance. The dogs were competing for real results, but the mood around the dock never felt closed off or too serious for the crowd.
Handlers wanted strong jumps. Families wanted their dogs to do well. Some competitors had trained for months. Others had built their preparation around swimming, running, and simple backyard play.
Yet once a dog started toward the end of the dock, almost everyone understood the moment.
Run.
Jump.
Cheer.
That simple rhythm helped make the dog competitions one of the most open experiences Greg had during the event.
One of the strongest patterns across Greg’s rapid-fire conversations was how easily competition and fun coexisted.
When Greg asked one participant how seriously the family took the event, the answer came quickly.
“Very seriously. We try to run as fast as possible. She takes it absolutely seriously.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
There was real intent behind the answer. The handler wanted a strong run. The dog was there to compete. But the seriousness never removed the joy.
Another participant described the preparation in a much simpler way.
“We just let him have fun. Lots of swimming, lots of practice. Everything that he likes to do, we do it.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
That answer helped explain why the competition felt so easy for spectators to connect with. Many of the dogs were trained through activities they already enjoyed.
One competitor from Nebraska told Greg that the dog was prepared by jumping from a dock at home.
“She just jumps off the dock a lot at home back in Nebraska. So this is our first time. I knew she’d come through and jump.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
Another family said their approach was just as simple.
“We just leave the dummy in the backyard and let him run at it.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
And another participant described the training as:
“Just a lot of swimming. Just swimming.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
Those answers made the sport feel close to everyday life. The dogs were not being asked to become something completely different when they arrived in Vail. Much of the competition grew from running, retrieving, swimming, and jumping activities they already loved.
That is what helped the dog diving competition in Vail create such a strong connection between the competitors and the people watching.
There was skill.
There was practice.
There was a desire to win.
But underneath all of it was play.
That balance also made the sport easy to understand from the dockside. Spectators did not need to know years of history or study a long list of rules. They could watch a dog build speed, reach the edge, and launch into the water.
One longtime participant captured the feeling in only a few words.
“These dogs. These dogs is what it’s all about.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
The moment did not create distance between the athlete and the crowd. It did the opposite. Every jump pulled people closer to the action.
For families looking for family dog events in Colorado, that openness can matter as much as the final result. Parents, children, serious competitors, and casual visitors can all enjoy the same few seconds together without needing to experience them in the same way.
The dogs may have been competing against each other, but the crowd was sharing the moment.
Explore the dog competitions, sports, and family experiences at the GoPro Mountain Games.
As Greg continued speaking with competitors, another story began to form.
Some people were discovering the Mountain Games for the first time.
Others had been returning for years.
That contrast showed how one event can serve two very different needs at once. It can give loyal families something familiar to return to while still creating a strong first experience for someone who has never been there before.
One participant told Greg just how long the event had been part of the family’s life.
“This is our favorite. We’ve been coming since 2005.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
Another family had built a similar tradition.
“We go here every year. It’s probably our 10th or 11th time we’ve been out here. We love it every time.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
Those statements carry more weight than a simple good review.
Returning ten or eleven times means the Games have become part of the family calendar. The event is no longer only something to attend. It becomes connected to memories, travel, competition, weather, dogs, and time spent together.
That is one reason family-friendly events in Vail, Colorado, can create value far beyond a single weekend. When an experience becomes part of family tradition, people no longer have to decide each year whether it is worth attending. They already know what it means to them.
But the interviews also showed how quickly that kind of connection can begin.
Nicole, who traveled from Wisconsin with Brody, told Greg that 2026 was her first time at the Mountain Games.
“This is actually my first year here. I travel around the country with dog dogs. This is amazing.” Nicole, GoPro Mountain Games Participant
Her reaction carried extra weight because she already had experience with major dog competitions. She was not comparing the Games with anything.
She compared it with an event she already knew well.
“I thought our World Championships is a lot of fun. No, this is something different. A whole other level.” Nicole, GoPro Mountain Games Participant
Then she gave the clearest sign that the experience had worked.
“I’ll be back next year.” Nicole, GoPro Mountain Games Participant
That one sentence connects the first-time visitor with the families who have already been returning for years.
Every long tradition has to begin somewhere.
For one family, it may have begun in 2005.
For another, it may have begun ten or eleven visits ago.
For Nicole, it may have begun beside the dock in 2026.
Greg’s conversations also showed how far people were willing to travel for that experience. Participants came from Nebraska, Wisconsin, and communities around Colorado Springs. The dog competition gave people a reason to bring their animals, families, and love of the sport into Vail from well beyond the local area.
The result was a community that felt local and national at the same time.
Vail provided the place.
The Mountain Games provided the occasion.
The dog community gave people the reason to meet.
For anyone searching for Vail Colorado dog events, those stories show why the appeal can reach beyond one race or one jump. People return because the event becomes connected to who they came with and how the weekend made them feel.
A strong event not only makes people happy while they are there.
It gives them a reason to start talking about the next visit before the current one is over.
Discover upcoming GoPro Mountain Games activities and plan your own Vail experience.
Running through both stories was one competition that participants kept pointing back to: Dueling Dogs.
The format is simple enough for a new spectator to understand almost at once. Two dogs line up on separate sides. Both race toward the water. Both jumps. The crowd gets two competitors to follow simultaneously.
One participant told Greg exactly why it stood out.
“Dueling dogs is the best. That’s when they split the dock in half and both dogs go at the same time. So lots of competition, lots of fun and a great time.” Participant, GoPro Mountain Games
That answer captured the larger meaning behind all of Greg’s conversations.
There was competition, but it remained fun.
There were serious handlers, but casual spectators could still understand the action.
There were repeat visitors, but a first-time guest could feel part of the moment within minutes.
Dueling Dogs made those ideas visible at the same time.
Two dogs running side by side gave the crowd an easy reason to react. People did not need a long history with the sport. They could simply choose a moment, cheer, and enjoy what happened next.
That made DockDogs at the GoPro Mountain Games more than a specialist competition for people already inside the dog sports world. It became an experience that families and spectators could enjoy together.
By the time Greg finished moving through the dock area, he had heard stories about practice, family traditions, first visits, long drives, swimming, backyard training, and the simple joy of watching dogs do something they loved.
His closing observation brought all of those conversations together.
“The dogs are stealing the show. It’s what everybody was talking about, and now we know why.” Greg Cummings, CEO, Power100
The dogs did not need to explain why the crowd should care.
They ran.
They jumped.
People cheered.
And for a few seconds, competitors and strangers became part of the same experience.
At the edge of the dock, the moment was simple.
A dog ran.
A handler sent the toy forward.
The dog jumped.
Greg Cummings, CEO, Power100 participates in the dog competitions
For a few seconds, everyone watched the same thing. Then the crowd reacted together.
That shared reaction is what stayed with Greg Cummings after the rapid-fire conversations ended.
The people around the dock had come from different places and different backgrounds. Some had traveled across the country. Some had been returning to Vail for more than a decade. Some dogs had been trained through weeks of practice. Others had prepared by doing what they already loved, swimming, running, and playing at home.
But once the competition began, none of that needed much explanation.
Everyone understood the moment.
That is what strong community events can do. They create experiences that are easy to enter and easy to share. Children can enjoy them. Serious competitors can chase a result. Families can build memories around them. First-time visitors can feel part of the crowd almost right away.
The GoPro Mountain Games may be known for elite athletes and demanding outdoor sports, but Greg’s conversations showed why the event as a whole has such broad appeal. People do not remember only what impresses them. They remember what they could enjoy together.
They remember the laughter.
They remember the cheers.
They remember the dog that flew farther than expected.
And sometimes they remember the feeling so strongly that they decide they want to come back.
For some families Greg met, that choice had already been made years ago. The Mountain Games had become part of their yearly rhythm.
For others, 2026 may have been the beginning of something new.
Nicole arrived for her first Games and left with a simple promise.
“I’ll be back next year.” Nicole, GoPro Mountain Games Participant
That may be one of the clearest signs that an event has done its job well.
The strongest experiences not only give people a good day. They give them a reason to want another one.
At the GoPro Mountain Games, the dogs may have stolen the show, but the real win was creating an experience that families, competitors, and first-time visitors already wanted to experience again.
The rankings identify strong leaders, but the Inner Circle is designed to turn what Power100 learns from those leaders into useful business education. Power100 says members receive monthly masterclasses focused on growth, culture, community, and innovation, along with session replays, business tools, resources, PowerChat episodes, feature interviews, and an AI business concierge. Power100 also says Greg Cummings has conducted more than 1,000 onsite CEO interviews, giving the program a large base of firsthand industry experience.
No. Rapid-fire conversations are one part of a much larger content approach. Power100 publishes original journalism, feature interviews, PowerChat conversations, expert insights, and reporting built around its five-layer research system. Its Inner Circle page also says Greg Cummings has completed more than 1,000 onsite CEO interviews across the United States. Short event conversations help capture what people are experiencing in the moment, while the wider platform connects those experiences with leadership, community, and business lessons.
It is a real competition. The official Mountain Games page describes Outdoor Big Air as a long-jump event for dogs, with competitors registering through DockDogs and the event recording official 2026 results. What makes it easy for families to enjoy is that the action is also simple to follow. A dog runs down the dock, jumps toward its target, and tries to produce a strong result. The sport can be serious for competitors while still being fun for someone watching it for the first time.
Dueling Dogs puts two dogs into separate lanes for a head-to-head race. A toy waits at the end of the pool, and when the light changes, both dogs’ race, jump, and swim toward it. The format creates a clear race that spectators can understand almost at once. That helps explain why one of Greg Cummings’ interviewees described it as a mix of competition, fun, and a great time.
No. Pro Plan Dog Town was built for competitors, dog owners, families, and spectators. The 2026 program included DockDogs, Dueling Dogs, the Incredible Dog Challenge, dog adoption activity, and other canine experiences in Lionshead Village. The wider event later reported that 30 shelter dogs found homes during the 2026 Mountain Games, showing that the dog experience created value beyond competition alone.
Yes. The event provides family friendly activities in Vail Colorado for children at different levels of interest. The official family guide says young visitors can take part in outdoor activities, games, and other hands-on experiences, while children ages 12 through 18 can also explore GROM competition categories if they want something more challenging. Families do not need to enter a major competition to feel part of the Mountain Games.
No. The event welcomes dogs, but it also has clear safety rules. For the 2026 Games, visiting dogs had to be at least 6 months old, up to date on required vaccinations, well-socialized, and wearing identification. Dogs also had to remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet, and retractable leashes were not allowed. Water stations and shaded areas were provided, and a licensed veterinarian was available on-site. These rules helped make dog-friendly events in Vail, Colorado, safer for both pets and people.
Lifetime Home Remodeling provides much more than event sponsorship. Its residential services include replacement windows, doors, siding, bathrooms, roofing, and decking. The company also lists separate expert teams for windows and doors, roofing, baths, and siding, while its Colorado decking service includes TimberTech composite deck installation. For homeowners who first encountered the brand at the Mountain Games, Lifetime Home Remodeling Colorado can continue that connection through real residential remodeling projects after the event is over.
Power100 is the only unbiased third-party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. Led by CEO Greg Cummings, Power100 uses national rankings, leadership conversations, original reporting, and live event coverage to share the people, ideas, and experiences shaping the industry. Its mission is to give strong CEOs and companies the recognition and support they deserve while helping contractors, partners, and homeowners better understand the leaders raising the standard of service, culture, community impact, and business performance across home improvement.
Membership unlocks every Power100 interview, PowerChat episode, and expert playbook - free for industry leaders.
Power100 is the nation's premier CEO ranking and media platform for the home improvement industry. Using a proprietary 5-layer evaluation system, Power100 identifies and celebrates the top CEOs, companies, and strategic partners driving innovation, customer satisfaction, and leadership excellence across the country.
