Saratoga New York Snow Shoe Race Reports Record Participation

Organizers of the Saratoga New York 5k Snowshoe race, held in conjection with the Saratoga Winterfest Celebration, reported participation at record levels with over 160 people competing in the event. The snow shoe race was hosted by the Saratoga Stryders. Race co-director Jeff Clark stated that, "We've got people who are top U.S. mountain runners on the mountain running team. They've competed internationally. And then we have people who are trying on snowshoes for the first time. So it's just a great spectrum of people doing the course."

The inventor of modern racing snowshoes, Bob Dion of Readsboro, Vermont, was present and competing. Mr. Dion's engineered racing snowshoes are plastic with modern bindings and metal clamp-ons on the underside.

Mr. Clark explained that snowshoe racing in the east has grown considerably, offering much of the credit to the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club. Most snow shoe races are run on trails that are packed down, instead of fresh untracked snow where larger adventure and backcountry snowshoes are necessary for flotation.