Racers make their way on the course. Photo by John Worthington | The Reporter.
Race director Ed Myers started the race in the early 2000s as an independent event, featuring just 50 racers
Hundreds of winter sports enthusiasts came out to Spring Mountain Saturday, Jan. 25 to participate in the 19th annual Snowshoe Race.
Three hundred twenty-five racers braved the single-digit early morning temperatures to venture up and down the steep slopes at the Spring Mountain Ski Area in the 5K race.
As racers gathered at the start line, Ryan Beltz, executive director of the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, the event’s host, informed the crowd of the race’s historic nature.
“This could be the largest snowshoe race in the nation,” said Beltz, noting that the event was contending with another 5K snowshoe race in Michigan.
Beltz later learned that the Michigan race ended with 316 finishers, making the Spring Mountain 5K the largest snowshoe race in the nation.
“I don’t know of any others that even come close,” said Beltz.
By John Worthington | The Reporter 
Over 300 racers line up at the start line for the Snowshoe 5K at Spring Mountain Ski Resort Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Racers venture up and down the steep slopes at the Spring Mountain Ski Area.Race director Ed Myers started the race in the early 2000s as an independent event, featuring just 50 racers. In an effort to grow the race, he received permission from Spring Mountain owner Rick Buckman, a longtime friend, to hold the event at the Spring Mountain Ski Area. The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy got involved a few years later, further extending the race’s reach.
“When we started, we had 50 racers,” said Myers. “This is a far cry from 50.”
While snowshoeing remains a primarily European sport, Myers hopes it can grow in popularity in the United States. He notes that the 2025 Snowshoe World Championship will be held in Brillion, Wisconsin Feb. 27 to March 2.
“It could develop into something really big here,” he said.
Beltz added that the event’s novelty draws a lot of curiosity and interest.
“It’s definitely very unique. There’s not a lot of snowshoe races around here,” said Beltz. “Many people were saying this was the first time on snowshoes and even seeing a snowshoe. It’s a nice winter adventure.”
While some races in recent years have been stymied by unseasonably warm winters, this year’s race went off without a hitch courtesy of the colder temperatures.
“It’s been easier to make snow,” said Buckman. “And it stays nice. It doesn’t end up melting. So the snow’s really good right now.”
Athletes with special needs participate in a series of Special Olympics snowshoe races.
Chris O’Sullivan crosses the finish line as the winner of the 5K Snowshoe Race. (But while temperatures barely cracked double-digits, the race was far from the coldest for Myers.
“I’ve done races in Northern Quebec that were -15,” said Myers.
In addition to the 5K, the event included a series of Special Olympics snowshoe races, including 200- and 100-meter races as well as a 4×100-meter relay.
The winner of the snowshoe 5K was Chris O’Sullivan, followed by Matt Dicker and Jeremy Adams. The fastest female was Marissa Bradley. Most of the racers completed the course by the one-hour mark before enjoying some warm apple cider and other treats at the lodge.
For more information about Spring Mountain, visit springmountainadventures.com. For more information about the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, visit perkiomenwatershed.org.
