Shovel Racing

Shovel Racing

Publication Date: March 2001

What's the best recipe for true winter excitement? Combine equal parts snow, speed and courage. Sprinkle in a little insanity. Stir well with a shovel. What do you get? You have the coolest new sport that's SCOOPING the nation - shovel racing!

In its inception, shovel racing was a competition among trail maintenance crews, who discovered riding their work shovels down the mountain was the quickest way home after a long day of work. Necessity gave way to sport in the early 1970s, when the workers realized that shoveling contained the competitive elements of danger and speed. Unlike today's competition, the run-cutter's would race side-by-side while turning through winding slopes and negotiating large moguls. Today, it involves anyone "loco" enough to hunker down on various types of scoops and race down a ski mountain for the fastest time.

The two main competitions involved with shovel racing are the ESPN2 Winter X Games, which are held in Snow Summit, CA, and the World Shovel Race Championships held at the Angel Fire Ski Resort in New Mexico's Moreno Valley. Both events are usually held in February. Shovel racers from around the country descend upon Angel Fire Resort and spend a weekend vying for the fastest shovel, the fastest modified shovel, and the wackiest shovel.

The shovels have evolved from the standard Number 10 scoop shovel (a large, grain scoop shovel) to racers that have more in common with a stealth fighter. Participants choose from several classes in the event. Age classifications range from as young as six years to the young at heart in their eighties. Racers vie for the best time down a groomed, 1000 foot, arrow-straight, medium-grade slope. Class divisions vary widely but are usually broken up into three categories: Production Class, Modified Speed and Modified Unique.

Production Class - The Production Class uses large steel or aluminum shovels and is open to all. The shovel must be in off-the-shelf condition. Decorations to the handle are allowed, but no physical alterations are allowed to the scoop. Racers are allowed to polish the bottom. Some go so far as to sand the surface to a mirrored finish before applying wax or silicone to the underside or bottom of the scoop.

Production racers sit in the scoop of the shovel with the handle placed between the feet and the legs are held in balance parallel to the arm of the shovel. Racers sled down the slope in a semi-reclined position. Participants have been clocked at speeds up to 61 miles per hour.

A perfect run requires no steering at all. However, some minor corrections are needed to adjust for course deviations caused by ruts or wind. Production Class contestants steer by touching their right hand to the snow to turn right and their left hand to the snow to turn left. Stopping safely in the Production Class requires control of both your body and shovel. Most injuries occur when the racer begins tumbling without having first tossed the shovel aside. Three of the safest stopping methods are: dragging hands and feet, lifting up on the handle so that the shovel digs into the snow, or tossing aside the shovel and letting your body slide to a stop. Angel Fire is currently the only venue to host production-style racing.

Modified Speed Class - The Modified Speed Class features aerodynamic contraptions built around a shovel and designed for speed. These shovels contain either an open or closed cockpit. They are usually rigged with 230 cm or longer downhill skis and are highly aerodynamic. They have been clocked at speeds faster than 75 miles per hour. These elaborate designs look more like on-snow drag racers and undergo an extensive inspection process before the race. Elaborate steering, braking and safety-restraint devices characterize some of the more advanced designs.

Modified Unique Class - The Modified Unique Class includes shovel creations that are not built for speed, but to bewilder and amaze. Pilots are required to wear a seat-belt. Other than that, just about anything else goes. Much like floats in a parade, participants are only limited by their creativity in livening up their shovels. An entire living room scene has come down the ski mountain at over 40 miles per hour. The Taj Mahal made a run, as have a beach scene, a hot air balloon, a chicken sandwich and a larger-than-life Bart Simpson. Most sled down the hill with the brake constantly deployed. Uniques traveling faster than that of a "running man" are disqualified. Winners in the unique division are determined by a jury, based on creativity, craftsmanship, function and safety, and audience appreciation.

All modifieds must weigh 500 pounds or less (not including the pilot) and have a tow hook on front and back as well as a 10-foot removable tow cable. One would be hard pressed to find the shovel on these speed demons, which is required to be 12 inches from the racer's rear (buttocks) and touching the snow. The pilot cannot be positioned headfirst on the craft and no additional propulsion devices are allowed (gravity powered only).

Modifieds often stop their racer by using a pneumatic-release plow to dig into the snow. Manually operated plows are required even if an air-actuated device is used. In years past, some modifieds have used a parachute. However, they have never proven to be a reliable method for stopping and often cause crashes. If all else fails, a nylon safety net is placed approximately 580 feet from the finish line to catch the "runaways" in all divisions. This net provides little "give" and is the last stop before a large snow bank. Stressing the safety net will result in a 1.5 second time penalty (which is significant enough to take a racer out of the competition).

Safety is a big concern in shovel racing. Crashing at speeds greater than 50 mph can lead to an assortment of bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes. Unfortunately, every year there seems to be a broken bone or two (usually from wrecks involving rollovers or brake failures in the modified class). However, most serious injuries occur among seasoned veterans who are pushing the limits to win. All racers are required to wear a helmet. Many prefer to wear tight-fitting shoes for aerodynamics, durable gloves for steering and stopping, goggles, and if you're a male and want to stay that way - a cup is suggested. Some pilots also wear inflatable neck braces. Beginners rarely travel at competitive speeds and usually go home reasonably unscathed.

Participation in the ESPN2 Winter X Games Snow Summit races are by invitation only. The World Shovel Race Championships held at the Angel Fire Ski Resort are open to all. All participants must sign a waiver form before racing. Prize money varies depending on the event and amount of sponsorship.

For more information about the World Shovel Race Championships, call Angel Fire Resort at (505)377-4237, or visit their web-site at www.angelfireresort.com.