Mike Smith

El Rito Media

msmith@currentargus.com

After a five-year hiatus, shovel races return to the Angel Fire Ski Resort in northern New Mexico next month, according to the resort’s marketing director.

Michael Hawkins said resort officials decided 2025 was the time to bring the races back.

“In the distant past, there were multiple different types of shovel racing,” he said. “It was not just racing on a shovel, there were also modified shovels where people would make speed crafts where the only criteria was the weight and that it actually had to have a shovel touching the ground.”

Hawkins said modified snow shovels are not part of this year’s races.

“This year we are bringing back the traditional snow shovel racing,” he said. “You use a grain shovel. You are allowed to wax it if you want to. You sit down on it and you blast down the mountain.”

According to the resort’s website, there are three categories for the races: kids ages 12 and under; men 13 and older; and women 13 and older.

“With the help of the Village of Angel Fire we’ve raised over $6,000 in prize money,” Hawkins said. “The resort won’t be keeping a dime of that – it’s all going to go to pay for the prizes for first place, second place and third place.

“We expect them (contestants) to come from all over the place and this year we are just kind of getting it back going and introducing some of our staff that wasn’t here in the past for this event and once we do that, we’re planning on continuing it into the future.”

Closer look at shovel racing

Roots for the sport date back to the 1970s, according to the Sportsmatik website, and top speeds achieved by elite shovel racers can range up to 70 miles per hour.

Anyone competing at Angel Fire must wear a helmet and eye protection for all practice and competitive runs, per Angel Fire’s website.

Racers must be sitting on their shovels when crossing the finish line; anyone not sitting will receive a did not finish (DNF) for that run.

Racers coming off shovels during a time trial or Little Scoops run will receive a DNF and will be required to move laterally off the course.

More information on the races can be found at angelfireresort.com.

Latest skiing conditions as of Tuesday, Jan. 21

(Information provided by Ski New Mexico)

Angel Fire had a base depth of 22 inches with 56 of 86 trails open and 7 of 7 lifts open.

Pajarito Mountain had a base depth of 14 inches with 40 of 55 trails open.

Red River Ski Area had a base depth of 24 inches with 34 of 64 trails open and 7 of 7 lifts open.

Sandia Peak Ski Area had a base depth of 6 inches with 1 of 4 trails open and 1 lift open.

Sipapu Ski Area had a base depth of 16 inches with 13 of 44 trails open and 4 of 6 lifts open.

Ski Apache had a base depth of 3 inches with 10 of 55 trails open and 3 of 8 lifts open.

Ski Santa Fe had a base depth of 32 inches and 80 of 90 trails open and 6 of 7 lifts open.

Taos Ski Valley had a base depth of 25 inches with 56 of 120 trails open and 12 of 13 trails open.

Ski Cloudcroft received three inches of new snow Jan. 18. The tubing and bunny slopes are open Saturday and Sunday, according to the Ski Cloudcroft website.

Snow conditions could change after report is compiled.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.