Snow plows were out in force on Friday at the Shoppes of Grand Prairie, but not to fight snow.
Snow fighters from around Illinois came to participate in the 28th annual American Public Works Association Snow Roadeo.
The event is co-hosted by Peoria Public Works and the Peoria County Highway Department.
1470 & 100.3 WMBD/Kristina Leahy
“This is an opportunity for the plow drivers to come out to showcase their skills, and practice and train,” Sie Maroon with Peoria Public Works said. “Talk to other drivers and network. And just get an idea of what other people do in other communities”.
For the event, drivers complete a written test, a circle of safety of the plow, and an obstacle course.
“They try to get as precise as they can on the course,” Maroon said.
1470 & 100.3 WMBD/Kristina Leahy
Matt Savage, Maintenance Worker for the City of Peoria, said it’s a friendly competition.
“We have a lot of cities here. And it’s just to showcase talents,” Savage said.
While going through the obstacle course, drivers had to navigate around different cones, weaving through, backing up, and more.
This was the first Snow Roadeo for driver Christian Lane with the City of Washington. He said the course is more difficult than driving in the snow.
“This is one hundred times harder for sure,” Lane said.
