Start with cardboard and tape — and then it goes downhill from there
Barely missed the cut to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics? Well, consider this a chance to unequivocally redeem yourself.
The Great Cardboard Sled Race is coming up on Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Rochester Golf & Country Club — and for the first time ever, there will be an adults-only competition. While there won't be any gold medals (or silver ones, for that matter), prizes will be awarded for the fasted sled, best design, and more. And the best part: all the funds raised will benefit the Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester, which organizes the annual event.
"Our motto is that, 'kids need play, and adults do too,'" said Becca Stiles-Nogosek, events manager for the museum.
Related: Full lineup of Rochester WinterFest events
Ahead of the race, Stiles-Nogosek has already witnessed rivalries forming between some of the teams. The event, she said, is an opportunity for friends and businesses to compete head-to-head, and leave it all out on the snow.
"There’s been a lot of trash talking so far," she told us by phone Thursday. "People are keeping their trade secrets pretty close at this point, because they don’t want to be giving a leg up to anyone."
Photo from past race courtesy Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester. For the first time in five years, there will be a family event and an adult-only competition.
To participate, teams must build a homemade sled using only four materials: cardboard, glue, tape and paint. Stiles-Nogosek said she wants to see, "that creativity and innovation Rochester is known for."
Registration is now open, but there are limited spots remaining. While there are no limits to how many team members you can put in a sled (seriously, none), the museum does ask for a minimum donation of $100 per team.
You can learn more about the adults-only race — as well as the family competition happening earlier the same day — on Facebook.
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Cover photo courtesy Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester
