Racers craft with cardboard for a chance to dash down the mountain at Sipapu

Precision is the name of the game at the Cardboard Derby.

When participants construct their vessel using only cardboard, duct tape, string, twine and paint, they’ll be doing so in hopes of reaching the scoring zone at the bottom of the mountain at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

“The thing about the derby is the goal is not necessarily to go the fastest,” said Christiana Hudson, Sipapu director of marketing. “The goal is to maneuver your vehicle to the target. So it makes it a little bit more challenging in the way that you craft your vehicle and the way that you steer your vehicle, too.”

The Cardboard Derby is a tradition at Sipapu that began more than 20 years ago and was launched by current general manager John Paul Bradley. In most cases, it’s the journey, not the destination, that makes the whole endeavor worthwhile. And simply making it down the mountain is an accomplishment.

“That is a feat for sure, depending on how securely you have duct taped your vehicle,” Hudson said. “But that’s all part of the fun, because (participants) get two runs. Sometimes their vessel will fall apart, and then they’ll come back because they repaired it and have done some modifications. The crashes are a big part of the fun.”

The hill itself isn’t especially steep, but everyone is required to wear a helmet to participate. There are three different age groups for the event: junior, teen and adult. Attendance is on the rise since the derby returned in 2022 following a pandemic-mandated hiatus. In addition to many repeat entries, Hudson says people have come from as far as Oklahoma and Arkansas to compete. The goal for 2025 is to attract more of the younger demographic.

“We’ve done a lot of reaching out to groups like local 4-H and local Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups. We’re hoping that we get greater participation in our 18-and-under crowd because it’s a really fun group project for those types of organizations,” Hudson said. “… We anticipate that it will be bigger and better than ever. It’s such a fun event and so unique in New Mexico.”

Group collaboration can lead to some impressive contraptions, and while many people do ride solo, as many as five people can ride on a single vessel — if they fit.

“Last year, one of the 4-H groups built a bus, and it was really cute because they all were hanging out the little windows,” Hudson said.

Other memorable crafts in past years include a Twinkie, an X-wing Starfighter, Princess Unikitty, a diesel truck and Lightning McQueen, to name a few.

“The kids just really go all out,” Hudson said. “We had a pirate ship one year, which was hilarious, and they all dressed up like pirates.”

The signature prize is a pair of SPY+-brand goggles, but there’s plenty of Sipapu merchandise, gift cards and other fun items that will be handed out on derby day. While hitting the target at the bottom of the mountain is the primary objective, prizes are also awarded for categories such as funniest crash, best costume and various vessel-related honors. Some of the more unique recognition can vary from year to year and is updated at the judges’ discretion.

“Sometimes you’ll have people who never made it to the finish line at all, but they were hilarious up on the mountain,” Hudson said. “People will put a lot of effort into it, and so we want to make sure that everybody has a good time.”

Racers craft with cardboard for a chance to dash down the mountain at Sipapu