Shovel racing
Encyclopedia
Shovel Racing is a sport practiced in some parts of the United States. It consists of riders racing down a snowy hill riding on a shovel. It has been practiced on both typical snow shovels and modified shovel based sleds. It was once an event in the winter X games
, but was removed due to safety concerns.
. In 2005, the resort that hosted the largest annual competition dropped the event due to liability concerns. It was later resumed after modified sleds were banned from competition. Riders often decorate their sleds with custom paint jobs. There is a wide age range in competitors, including students and retirees.
X Games
The X Games is a commercial annual sports event, controlled and arranged by US sports broadcaster ESPN, which focuses on action sports. The inaugural X Games was held in the summer of 1995 in Rhode Island....
, but was removed due to safety concerns.
History
Competitive shovel racing has its roots in New Mexico's ski resorts in the 1970s. It began after ski resort workers used shovels as sleds to quickly move from one location to another. The sport reached the zenith of its popularity in 1997 when it was featured in the winter X games. The serious injury of a shovel racer during a crash that year prompted fears that the fledgling sport would be banned. The most prominent competition is held in at the Angel Fire Resort in Angel Fire, New MexicoAngel Fire, New Mexico
Angel Fire is a village in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,048 at the 2000 census. It is a popular ski resort destination, with a base elevation of 8,600 feet and a summit of 10,677 feet with over of skiable terrain.To the north, off U.S...
. In 2005, the resort that hosted the largest annual competition dropped the event due to liability concerns. It was later resumed after modified sleds were banned from competition. Riders often decorate their sleds with custom paint jobs. There is a wide age range in competitors, including students and retirees.