Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 5:32 PMUpdated Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 10:24 AM
Defending hot wings champion Mark Mitchell, right, goes on to defeat Dylan Lewis, winning the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wing Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theater. Mitchell won the contest in 13 rounds.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cody Moore speeds around the obstacle course at 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Contestants get it done at the 2020 Snowdown Big Wheel Derby on Thursday at The Balcony. About 30 people tried to race around The Balcony as fast as possible on a mini bike during the competition.
Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
Part one in the 2020 Snowdown Big Wheel Derby at The Balcony was chugging a beer as fast as possible. Part two, peddle hard.
Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
Defending hot wings champion Mark Mitchell, right, wins the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wing Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theater. Mitchell won the contest in 13 rounds.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Day two of Snowdown, Durango’s annual, wild wintertime festival, heated up to the danger zone during the Hot Wing Eating Contest at Animas City Theatre.
There were tears. There were vomit buckets. There were faces covered with the spicier-than-spicy hot sauce on Cuckoo Chicken House’s wings.
For the 11 competitors, the contest was a test of fortitude. The heat from the wings built over time, and contestants had to wait between rounds, feeling the burn of the last wing while looking at the next one. The prize? Certificates for free chicken from Cuckoo’s Chicken, Pabst Blue Ribbon merchandise and, of course, bragging rights.
Mark Mitchell, dressed as Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski from the film, “The Big Lebowski,” won first place after eating 14 wings. The three-time champion trained for months for the competition, but this was his last eating competition ever, he said.
“I feel disgusting,” said Dylan Lewis, the second-place winner, after the competition. “I grew up as a vegetarian. ... I’m making up for lost time.”
Lewis, a Durango resident, managed to eat 13 wings, which Cuckoo’s Chicken co-owner Chris Redding said were spicier than the spiciest item on the menu. To top it off, Redding put extra sauce on the last round of wings.
“I took all his money playing poker last night,” Mitchell said about Redding. “He was trying to punish me.”
Eric Vanhouten and Sky Yudron cheer before downing a Jello shot and a beer that is required before the start of the race through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Amanda Champany rides through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mandy Miller rides through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Eric Vanhouten rides through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cody Moore speeds around the obstacle course at the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mandy Miller and Zach Smith smooch before the start of the championship race as they compete against each other through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mandy Miller leads Zach Smith during the first lap of the championship race through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
An unidentified racer rides through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Zach Smith wins the championship race through the 11th Street Station on Thursday during the Snowdown Roadie Tricycle Race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Paola Reyes feels the heat during the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wings Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theatre. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Defending hot wings champion, Mark Mitchell, right, goes on to defeat Dylan Lewis, winning the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wings Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theatre. Mitchell won the contest in 13 rounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Defending hot wings champion, Mark Mitchell, right, wins the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wings Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theatre. Mitchell won the contest in 13 rounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bobby Farrell competes in the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wings Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theatre. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Seratha Largie wipes away sweat and tears from Trinity Largie after she quit in the third round of the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wings Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theatre. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Eleven contestants compete in the Snowdown 2020 Hot Wings Eating Contest hosted by Cuckoos Chicken House on Thursday at the Animas City Theater. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Pakhi Chaudhuri, center, celebrates with her Pediatric Associates teammates after scoring a basket while playing against the Bank of Colorado on Thursday evening during the Snowdown 3 on 3 Sports Chair Basketball Tournament at the Fort Lewis College Student Life Center. Six teams took part in the double elimination tournament that was a fundraiser for the Tribal Adaptive Organization. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Arron Reinland team Bank of Colorado puts up a shot while playing with Pediatric Associates on Thursday evening during the Snowdown 3 on 3 Sports Chair Basketball Tournament at the Fort Lewis College Student Life Center. Six teams took part in the double elimination tournament that was a fundraiser for the Tribal Adaptive Organization. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cody Johnston with the Bank of Colorado team puts up a shot while playing Summit Church on Thursday evening during the Snowdown 3 on 3 Sports Chair Basketball Tournament at the Fort Lewis College Student Life Center. Six teams took part in the double elimination tournament that was a fundraiser for the Tribal Adaptive Organization. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Arron Reinland, left, and Bank of Colorado teammate Malcolm Skeet play defense against Stacy Bower of team Pediatric Associates on Thursday evening during the Snowdown 3 on 3 Sports Chair Basketball Tournament at the Fort Lewis College Student Life Center. Six teams took part in the double elimination tournament that was a fundraiser for the Tribal Adaptive Organization. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Stacy Bower looks to pass to one of her Pediatric Associates teammates while playing against the Bank of Colorado on Thursday evening during the Snowdown 3 on 3 Sports Chair Basketball Tournament at the Fort Lewis College Student Life Center. Six teams took part in the double elimination tournament that was a fundraiser for the Tribal Adaptive Organization. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Arron Reinland of team Bank of Colorado plays defense against Michelle Reott of team Pediatric Associates while playing on Thursday evening during the Snowdown 3 on 3 Sports Chair Basketball Tournament at the Fort Lewis College Student Life Center. Six teams took part in the double elimination tournament that was a fundraiser for the Tribal Adaptive Organization. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Snowdown’s first Mock and Roll mocktail pub crawl involved tons of fun without the typical liquid courage. Photo by Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
Contestants get it done at the 2020 Snowdown Mini Bike Derby on Thursday at The Balcony. Photo by Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
Contestants get it done at the 2020 Snowdown Mini Bike Derby on Thursday at The Balcony. Photo by Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
Contestants get it done at the 2020 Snowdown Mini Bike Derby on Thursday at The Balcony. Photo by Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
Oyster slurpin’Highway 3 Roadhouse was packed with people trying to see how many oysters competitors could slurp down in a minute during Snowdown’s slimiest competition.
David Brandon won first place in the men’s division after guzzling 60 oysters in 60 seconds.
CJ Wise almost matched Brandon. She won first place in the women’s competition with 59 oysters in a minute.
“That’s normal. We’ve had more than that in the past,” said organizer Chuck Norton. Colin Shirlow, or “The Oyster King” as some may call him, earned a Guinness World Record in 2005 for eating 233 oysters in three minutes.
The little royalsEvery year, the young tykes get a chance to become royalty – Snowdown style – and become the festival’s junior king and queen. In 2020, Carter Imel, from Park Elementary, became king, and Teagan Kroeger, from Sunnyside Elementary, became queen. Give them a bow, Durango.
Mini wheels keep on turning
Isaha Casias, a Durango resident, won first place, one-sixth of a keg, during the 2020 Snowdown Big Wheel Derby on Thursday at The Balcony. He completed his chug-and-race around the second-story balcony in 29.5 seconds.
Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
About 100 people turned out to watch one of Snowdown’s classic competitions, the Mini Bike Derby at The Balcony. With knees knocking elbows, the racers competed for the 2020 title of fastest mini bike racer. The only rules were to have fun, be safe, chug a beer and go as fast as possible.
Arlo Grammatica, who works at Ska Brewing, won the competition with a time of 29.32 seconds – no training or practice required.
However, since the first-place prize, one-sixth of a keg, came from Ska Brewing, the keg went to second-place winner, Isaha Casias, a Durango resident.
“Drinks on me!” said Casias, who completed his chug-and-race around the second-story balcony in 29.5 seconds.
A crawl without the alcohol
Snowdown’s first Mock and Roll mocktail pub crawl had about 20 participants who sampled virgin drinks at five different establishments.
Shannon Mullane/Durango Herald
Yes, you can have fun without alcohol.
About 20 people joined Snowdown’s first Mock and Roll event, a pub crawl celebrating the art of the mocktail. As the crew bounced among five bars on Main Avenue, they enjoyed tasty beverages and meeting new people – without any liquid courage.
More and more bars around Durango are carrying mocktails. A crawler favorite at Down the Rabbit Hole was the virgin paloma, made up of grapefruit, lime and agave, but the fancy drinks with natural ingredients at Cantina were one crawler’s favorite. The crawl ended with an after-party, including a show at Eno Cocktail Lounge featuring Diabolical Sound Platoon, and prizes like the ever-sought-after Purgatory lift ticket.
“Alcohol will always hold a place in Snowdown,” said Candice Seay, i.e. Nikki Sixx from Mötley Crüe, who works with Young People in Recovery. “I just hope it inspires future years of Snowdown to include non-alcoholic events for non-drinkers in our community or anyone who wants to take a night off.”
