Vying for $15,000 prize, Dutch women race in stiletto heals

Vying for $15,000 prize, Dutch women race in stiletto heals

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Like a herd of antelope, jockeying and shoving for position, 150 young women raced down Amsterdam’s most famed fashion street in stiletto heels Thursday, racing for a $15,000 prize.

The race on the P.C. Hooft street called the “Stiletto Run” is only three years old but has quickly grown in popularity and spawned imitation races in Germany, Sweden, Poland and Russia.

The race’s motto is “Shopping is a Sport” and friendly competition is encouraged — though not always observed.

“At the start there was a lot of pushing, you really get elbowed over,” said Fauve Stukje, 18, who came with a small entourage and a big pink sign — but failed to win, show or place.

She said she slightly regretted her choice of shoes, which were nearly 4 inches high — a little higher than the 31‚Ñ2 inch minimum.