Western, Pa. snow shovel riding contest is late, not dead

ECONOMY, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania county that has what it bills as a World Championship Snow Shovel Riding Contest forgot one thing when they scheduled the 45-year-old event again for this weekend.

The assistant recreation director who organized the annual event was laid off last year due to cuts in the Beaver County budget.

But now, the county commissioners say the show will go on in Economy Borough, sometime later this month or in February.

Contestants ride shovels down a hill by sitting on the scoop portion of the shovel, and holding the handle up between their legs.

County commission Chairman Tony Amadio says the contest is “a tradition we want to continue to maintain.”