Time for the shovel talk

According to Angel Fire lore, the Shovel Race was informally born as a way for the resort’s lift operators to have a little fun at the end of a shift.

“They’d load the lift in the morning with their shovels to go do ramp work, and at the end of the day, rather than riding the chairlift down, they started sliding down on their shovels because it was faster, more fun and more efficient,” Wolfe Ashcraft, Angel Fire Resort marketing director, said. Ashcraft was born and raised in the area.

“Like things tend to do, that turned into a competition and all of a sudden it was like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna make this official.’”

As far as Ashcraft can recollect, the first World Championship Shovel Races began in the late 1970s — though the practice of sliding down the hill on a shovel dates back to the resort’s beginnings. They continued as an event unique to Angel Fire until the pandemic put a temporary halt to the festivities.

“What makes it special is holding on to some of those cool historical things that are totally random,” Ashcraft said. “This wasn’t just, somebody woke up one day and said, ‘Let’s make this an event.’ It was born organically from the culture and the people that were here.”

After a five-year hiatus, the races returned to great fanfare in 2025, with more than 100 participants. The tradition will continue in 2026, as participants will fly down the main front run at Angel Fire at speeds one might not have thought possible to achieve while riding a landscaping tool.

“Last year’s top speed was 62 miles per hour,” Michael Hawkins, marketing manager, said. “Our ski patrol has a speed gun to make sure skiers aren’t going too fast. So we do use a speed gun to track every competitor’s top speed.”

While achieving the highest top speed is great for bragging rights, to actually win the event, one must finish with the fastest time on a course that this year will measure approximately 1,117 feet long by 35 feet wide. Competitors can bring their own shovels — they must be “grain” shovels — or they can use one provided by Angel Fire. No physical alterations can be made to the shovel other than applying wax to the bottom of the scoop. However, racers can apply tape to the handle to improve grip, and many also customize the seat of the scoop with specially-painted designs. Helmets and eye protection are required.

Other than that, it’s as simple as remaining on the shovel until the finish line. The top finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions will receive $1,000 for first place, $750 for second and $500 for third. All prize money is provided by local sponsors.

There tends to be a wide range of skill levels among those who ride down the mountain on their shovels.

“We have some core racers that come back year after year, and they get really into their technique and speed suits and helmets and all these different things,” Ashcraft said. “But the cool thing about this sport is we’re the only ones to do it. It only happens once a year and anybody can do it. If you walked up on that Saturday and wanted to race, you could go. So for a lot of people the technique is: Don’t fall off the shovel.”

“We’ll give you a shovel as long as you sign the waiver,” Hawkins said.

For those looking to gain a little familiarity with both the course and their shovel, there is a practice run held one day prior to the race on Friday, Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. While some treat the event like a serious competition, for many others, it’s a reunion or a homecoming. Bleachers are erected for spectators, and there’s plenty of food and drink for sale nearby. In other words, it’s a party.

“We’re trying to make this approachable for everybody,” Hawkins said. “No matter who you are, you can participate at whatever level — either watching or riding the shovel or hanging out at the party at the end of the day.”