Idiotarod XXII

Idiotarod XXII on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Coney Island Cyclone at Cooper Park

Idiotarod XXII at Cooper Park

Team Nascart at Cooper Park

Member of New York Sock Exchange at Cooper Park

Two kids prepare to wrestle each other at New York Sock Exchange in Cooper Park

New York Sock Exchange at Cooper Park

New York Sock Exchange wrestling continues

The winner shoved his prize in his shoe

New York Sock Exchange team at Cooper Park

Ass-tronauts at Cooper Park

Only Fans team at Cooper Park

Judge Anney Fresh making an announcement at Cooper Park

Alix of Toxoplasmorphis holding a piece of cat poop that I ate afterwards (it was a Rice Krispy treat)

Member of Bad Altitude at Cooper Park

Moth cart at Cooper Park

Bad Altitude blocking the exit to Cooper Park

Nascart & Bad Altitude blocking the exit of Cooper Park

New York Sock Exchange leaving Cooper Park

Catz's Deli leaving Cooper Park

Members of New York Sock Exchange protecting tree branches from their cart

Teams en route to Checkpoint #1, Bushwick Country Club

A person watches Idiotarod teams heading to the first checkpoint on Grand Street

A woman records teams walking to the first checkpoint right outside the Grand St. subway station

We saw a lizard on our walk to Bushwick Country Club

Another woman records Idiotarod teams walking to Bushwick Country Club

This dog was very interested in Catz's Deli food item (pastrami sandwiches) outside of Bushwick Country Club

Toxoplasmorphis' food item

Catz's Deli drink items were in squeeze bottles...

...which included Manischewitz wine.

Idiot Rod's remote controlled cart, The Jammer, leading them to win Best Cartostrophe

Anney samples Coney Island Cyclone's drink item: a syringe filled with a homemade Nutcracker

Bird Club outside Bushwick Country Club

The Moth team leaving Bushwick Country Club to head to the second checkpoint at Berry Park

Nuva-Ring toss, one of the games at checkpoint #2 at Berry Park

A passerby checks out the Nuva-Ring Toss game

Another game inside checkpoint #2 at Berry Park

Most Idiotarod members hung out in McCarren Park across the street.

Members of Ass-stronauts

Wrestling at the New York Sock Exchange

A successful removal of an opponent's sock

The winner of the wrestling match

Toxoplasmorphis' cart had a wine dispenser in their scratching pole

Rody of Idiotarod in the Idiot Rods cart

Rod Stewart sat on a bench while Rody was in his seat

Kentucky Fried Airline heads to the next checkpoint in Long Island City. They were not thrilled about going over a bridge.

Catz's Deli heading to checkpoint #3

Ass-tronauts also heading to checkpoint #3

On Saturday, February 1, 2025, the 22nd edition of Idiotarod returned to the streets of New York City. The racers met at the first location, Cooper Park in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and moved on to three checkpoints before reaching the finale at Culture Lab in Long Island City, Queens.

For over twenty years, teams compete in a race on the streets of New York City with a secret route for prizes, glory, and fun. Each team creates a team theme, a game, bribes, and food and drink items. On Friday night, the starting location of Cooper Park was announced to all registered racers, while spectators waited until Saturday morning for the announcement on their social media accounts. The teams gathered at Cooper Park’s basketball courts and departed the park to head to Bushwick Country Club, the first checkpoint (and also where the Pickleback drink was created). The second checkpoint was on the north side of Williamsburg at Berry Park, directly across the street from McCarren Park. Many teams opted to hang out in the park while a few team members headed inside the bar to complete two of the games stationed there before all teams were released to head to the next checkpoint, Gamehaus, in Long Island City, Queens. The finale was hosted by Culture Lab, where the winners were announced, all teams were celebrated, and all carts were destroyed.

Like last year, I left the race early to head to Kings Theatre for 070 Shake’s concert but loved every minute I was able to spend at Idiotarod again this year. I shot a few images on 35mm film and those are in the above gallery as well.

This edition marked my 20th anniversary of attending my very first Idiotarod race, and I can’t wait to go again in 2026.

Results of Idiotarod XXII on Saturday, February 1, 2025
BEST IN SHOW: Moth
BEST CART THAT’S NOT A CART: Toxoplasmorphis
BEST SCHTICK: New York Sock Exchange
BEST SIDE HUSTLE: Only Fans
TOO SOON AWARD: Bad Altitude
BEST ATTENTION TO DETAIL: Nascart
BEST CARTASTROPHE: Idiot Rods
FASHIONISTA AWARD: Catwalk of Shame
SPIRIT OF THE IDIOTAROD AKA BEST BOOTY: Ass-tronauts
VIRGIN AWARD: Coney Island Cyclone

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Bird Club, Kentucky Fried Airline, and Catz’s Deli