Cool as an Icepick

A horse, a shovel, a rope, some snow, a crowd-lined street in a Colorado mountain town - THIS is what is what it takes to make a 'you've-got-to-be-kidding-me' experience. For the past 95 years, Steamboat Springs has hosted the annual Winter Carnival and for the last 18 of those years they've instituted the Shovel Race (In the background I particularly love the four construction workers on the second story railing leaning over to watch the insanity - double click on any of the images for a larger view).

Here is the future father tailing a former thoroughbred, hoofs flying just feet from his face with mearly a bicycle helmet and goggles for protection. There's no prequalifications, no training required, just a shovel, some goggles and, as they put it, an IQ that matches your age. Ahem.

The entry paid off as Dave took third place at 9.05 seconds and his good friend Sean took first. The Steamboat Pilot, the local daily, covered the race and the dudes made the front story. Ironically Sean was planning to cancel his entry the morning of but through adequate peer pressure and the local Walmart supplying the shovel he got the blue ribbon.

I'm totally doing this next year.


Mike Bantz, Sean Sullivan, Icepick and Ryan McClellan