It’s not exactly easy on the knees ... or elbows ... or pride.

Perhaps one of Snowdown’s most beloved acts of carnage, broomball tests body, mind and spirit. Think hockey on ice, but with tennis shoes instead of skates, taped up brooms instead of a stick, and a bouncing rubber ball instead of a puck.

The ice rink at Chapman Hill is a familiar scene of fierce competition, but this sport brings out a whole other animal: Snowdowning Broomballers.

Durango Parks and Recreation’s Matt Morrissey, who refereed the games on Saturday afternoon into evening, said, “It’s interesting watching a bunch of crazy people run around on the ice.”

Broomball player Joel Kraus, who fashioned more of a club than a broom he called Thor’s Hammer, said he gets a rush from the game.

“It’s the intensity, the butterflies, running,” he said. “It’s awesome.”

bmathis@durangoherald.com