While some people are plowing snow here on the east coast, people in New Mexico are using their shovels as sleds.
The Angel Fire Resorts hosted their 39th Annual Angel Fire Shovel Race Championships last weekend in New Mexico.
Competitors sit on the scoop of an aluminum shovel, straddling it with the handle between the legs pointed downhill, the competitors then lift their hands and feet to allow gravity to push them down the mountain. The rider with the fastest time wins the competition.
Each racer gets two attempts to compete for the fastest time and the top speed thus far exceeds 60 mph.
Dan Swanson, director of marketing for the Angel Fire Resort said, “Shovel racing began as a simple contest here in the 1970’s when our lift operators would ride their shovels down the mountain at the end of their shifts. We are now celebrating our 39th year of this competition.”
Here’s a fun fact, shovel racing was once considered a sport during the early years of the Winter X Games, The event has also been featured on ESPN, ABC Sports, MTV, and the Travel Channel.
Who knew childhood hobbies of using objects as sleds was actually a real sport?
For more information, visit Angel Fire Resort.
– Kelsey Rountree WTKR Intern
