Angel Fire, NM –Competitors of all ages are once again waxing their snow shovels for the legendary Angel Fire Shovel Race Championship happening Feb. 11-12.

The challenge is fairly simple. Competitors sit on the scoop of a standard aluminum snow shovel, handle pointed downhill, and then lift their hands and feet to allow gravity to take them for a ride down Angel Fire’s slopes. 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 1970’s when our lift operators would ride their shovels down the mountain at the end of their shifts,” explains Dave Dekema, director of marketing, Angel Fire Resort. “It has since grown into a wacky, full-bore competition with speed suits, radar guns, costumes and family racing legacies. Just about every idea to blow it out of proportion in the name of good winter fun has been exploited.”

The organized competition has been held for over 30 years at Angel Fire Resort, and racers are expected from all corners of the country. 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.

Children as young as age 6 are invited to participate in the “Little Scoop” race category. Cash and prizes will be given to the fastest competitors in all age-specific categories. The weekend events will include race clinics, snow shovel sculpture contests, family activities and live music.