Win this winter race with just cardboard and creativity
Think you have what it takes to build your own racing sled? All you need is a roll or 2 of duct tape, a few pieces of cardboard and loads of creativity and ingenuity.
Show off your creation at Blackwater Falls State Park during the park’s annual Cardboard and Duct Tape Race on Feb. 24, 2018. To race, you have to build a human-powered sled that’s able to withstand the descent down the park’s sled run.
The catch? All sleds must be made of only cardboard and duct tape.
This popular event attracts dozens of racers to test their colorful and quirky creations, and vie to be the first to cross the finish line.
You’ll see an array of unique designs, with riders even dressing to match their sleds. In previous years, sled creations have included pirates on a ship, a sock money in a banana and even Garfield riding a pan of lasagna.
This year’s sled theme is LooneyTunes. Head to Blackwater Falls on race day, and you just might spy a unicorn, a sea creature or even West Virginia’s legendary Mothman riding the snowy slopes.
There will be 3 awards to keep your eye on:
- the Tip-Top Award for the most visually appealing sled
- the Spirit Award for the team having the most fun
- the Speed Award for best overall team time on the downhill descent
All ages can register to compete in teams of up to 5 people per sled. Kids 14 and under must wear helmets.
If you’re headed to the race, why not make a long weekend of it? Blackwater Falls State Park has a 54-room lodge, 39 vacation cabins and more than 10 miles of cross-country skiing trails. Its quarter-mile-long sled run is the longest on the East Coast. You can even take a break from the cold to enjoy hot drinks and homemade soups at their warming hut
What kind of sled would you design?
This post was last updated on July 17, 2020