After a 4-year hiatus the World Championships of Shovel Racing returned to Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico.
The tradition began back in the 1970s and was inspired by lift operators who would ride their shovels to the bottom of the mountain at the end of their shifts. Since then it has evolved with racers wearing skin tight speed suits but the shovels are much the same. This year’s competition was fierce and the speeds were blazing fast. The fastest woman clocked in at 59mph and the fastest man went an incredible 62mph on a snow shovel.
The 2025 event was such a success they have already announced its return for 2026 so if you are interested in competing, plan on heading to New Mexico at the end of January next year:
About Shovel Racing:
The annual challenge is fairly simple. Competitors sit on the scoop of a standard aluminum snow shovel; handles pointed downhill, and then lift their hands and feet to allow gravity to take them for a ride. Each rider gets two shots to clock the fastest time down the front of the Angel Fire ski mountain. Top speeds regularly exceed 60 miles per hour.
“Shovel racing began as a simple contest here in the 1970s when our lift operators would ride their shovels down the mountain at the end of their shifts. It has since grown into a crazy competition on the mountain that includes speed suits, costumes and radar guns! No year is ever the same, as competitors always try and outdo each other every season.”
The organized competition has been held for over 38 years at Angel Fire Resort, and racers come from all corners of the country. Over 140 women, men and children competed for the title this year. The event has even been featured by national news outlets including ESPN, ABC Sports, MTV and The Travel Channel. Shovel racing was also once a featured sport during the early years of the Winter X Games.
