COMPETITORS in wild outfits took to the streets of New York over the weekend to race shopping carts through the city in a very elaborate way.
Idiotarod is an annual event that puts a satirical spin on the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska.
The key difference between the two races – instead of hopping on dogsleds, Idiotarod racers climb into shopping carts.
Participants race in teams and are tasked with creating unique themes and costumes for their group.
The event promotes “showmanship over speed” and urges racers to get as creative as possible with their looks.
Idiot Labs organizes the event and local bars support the participants by providing checkpoints throughout the race for them to stop and hydrate.
Idiot Labs prides itself on being a completely fictional scientific organization under the “Department of Homeland Absurdity.”
Sherry Smith, a member of the group and organizer of the event, joked that the group gives vaccines in the form of Jell-O Shots.
She said that the event is a “renegade affair” but that participants respect the city and it has calmed down over the years.
The intention is to give the community something to look forward to after the holidays.
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“January and February are the worst parts of the year. This gives people something to look forward to after Christmas,” Smith said.
She added that even though January can be a difficult time to host an event, participants power through the elements to race and show off their costumes.
She participated in the first Idiotarod and has been helping organize the event ever since. Smith recalled that the early years of Idiotarod were messy, loud, and “not necessarily police’s favorite thing.”
Even though the event stays true to its renegade origin, the community has started to embrace Idiotarod, and organizers haven’t endured any roadblocks from the city.
The route is released the day of and teams must stop at each checkpoint along the way.
This year, the race started at Prospect Park and ended at a local bar for the after-party.
The race route is different every year but always includes a starting line, three checkpoints, and a finish line.
Head judge Anney Fresh said the race is “for style not speed.” She joked that the distance seems “to get shorter as we get older!”
The checkpoints are indoors so racers can warm up and grab a cold one at local bars, which welcomed the event and even advocated to become checkpoints.
“We spend a lot of money in two hours and then we’re gone,” Smith said.
This year, participants met up at noon and raced until about 6 pm. The finish line is just the beginning for Idiotarod participants as they gather for an after-party to celebrate and receive awards.
If the elaborate costumes and friendly competition aren’t enough to draw you in, participants also win cash prizes for Best in Show, Best Bribes, and Best Sabotage.
The winner walks away with $250 and a trophy made by local artist Kim Couchot.
Idiotarod also debuted the Lifetime Achievement Award this year which was given to head judge and Emmy Award-winning puppeteer Anney.
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She is a self-described “maker, a performer, and an idiot so uniquely qualified for the job.”
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award for just showing up year after year, even when they said not to come. Creativity flows out of these Idiots and I’m proud to swim in it,” Anney told The U.S Sun.
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Sophie Gable
