Shovel Racing

Shovel Racing is a sport practiced in some parts of the United States. It consists of riders racing down a snowy hill riding on a shovel. It has been practiced on both typical snow shovels and modified shovel based sleds. It was once an event in the winter X games, but was removed due to safety concerns. The shovel racer typically races on a basic snow shovel. The rider sits in the shovel facing the handle and leans back with his feet pointed forwards. In some cases, shovel racers have extensively modified shovels to the point that they bear little resemblance to normal shovels. These shovels have been banned from competition due to safety concerns after a high profile accident on a modified shovel. Competitors generally wax the underside of the shovel in order to increase its speed. The top speed of elite shovel racers can range up to 70 miles per hour (112 km/h).