Rain could not stop outhouses from taking to the slopes on Feb. 15 in the 18th Annual Great Sapphire Outhouse Race.
Around 20 teams showed up to race. Many of the teams were repeat participants, updating their outhouses each year to try to better their chances of winning.
Despite the heavy rain, a crowd still gathered to cheer on the teams as they raced down the slope, two at a time, in a double-elimination style.
While the rain dampened the crowd size, Tracy Norman, Cashiers Rotary Club member, still expected a good turnout for the race.
“I doubt we will have over 4,000 like we did last year, but I think we will still have a pretty good turnout today,” Norman said. “I think enough people like this race, they aren’t here year-round, but they come up for this weekend. I think we will have a good crowd.”
Each team had a sitter who rode inside the outhouse and two pushers to guide the outhouse part of the way down.
The Twinkle Twinkle Lil Tavern is pushed down the hill during the 18th annual Outhouse Race, Feb. 15. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson. 
The Castaway Crapper and Loo with a View race down the ski slope. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson. 
An outhouse themed after Oscar the Grouch races against Outhouse Race winner, Flower Potty. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson. 
The Barbie racer talks with a young fan while waiting to race again. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson. 
The Dale Earnhardt and Simple Stool outhouses race down the hill. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson. 
A Thomas the Train outhouse races down the bunny hill. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson. 
An outhouse themed around being stranded on an island. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson. 
An outhouse with a woodsy theme. Photo by Mackenzie Atkinson.
After a showdown on the snow, first-time outhouse racing team Flower Potty won the race.
“We’ve never done this before, we didn’t know anything about it. We just showed up today and had a blast,” the team member who raced in the outhouse said.
An assortment of themed outhouses turned out to race including a fire hydrant, Thomas the Tank Engine and a castaway’s makeshift shack.
Barbie and Ken also made an appearance in a hot pink outhouse labeled Disco Potty and Sparkle Stool. This was the third year that the duo from Savannah, GA raced.
“We found out one of our family friends had an outhouse that he already built for, don’t know, and we Barbie-fied it,” said Barbie, aka Reagan. “We had to think of a theme that’s about women and we had the suit. So, it was kind of built around the snowsuit. And then we had a hunky Ken”
Reagan shared that her mother got the team into outhouse racing.
“My mom just loves competition and just fun, kooky stuff. And this is the funnest and kookiest of all things,” she said.
Local businesses and corporations also created outhouses to race. Cashiers’ brewery, Whiteside Brewery Co., raced in an outhouse shaped like a pint of beer.
“For us, this is a good way to get out and expose our businesses to the community and participate in community projects and events,” said Scott Brant, member of the Whiteside Brewing and Wells Hotel team.
The outhouses’ path down the slope was unpredictable, with only a few going straight down to the finish line. The chaos of the race keeps the viewers on their toes and encourages many to return year after year.
“We’ve been coming for probably six years now, every year. Amazing event,” said one race observer, Dan from Highlands, NC.
Before the race began, viewers could walk around the outhouses and talk with the racers. A live band played music to add to the fun. Food and beverages were also available.
“It’s fun being in this atmosphere, around these people, just having a great time,” said another race observer, Miles from Atlanta, GA.
Check out a video story on the race.
