Gaithersburg Wins Annual Snow Road-eo Challenge
The city outperformed Rockville during the annual snow removal skills competition held at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Civic
Gaithersburg secured a victory over Rockville in the annual Snow Road-eo jurisdictional challenge. City teams earned a total of 2,930 points during the contest.
Why it matters
The competition serves as a critical training exercise for public works crews to sharpen their snow removal skills ahead of the coming winter season. It ensures staff remain prepared to navigate large machinery safely and efficiently.
Gaithersburg achieved a winning score of 2,930 points in the challenge. This score was determined by calculating the average of each city's top 4 competing teams.
The players
Travis Testerman
He placed first in the Gaithersburg local championship competition.
Wayne Watkins
He placed first alongside his partner in the Gaithersburg local championship competition.
Justin Storm
He placed second in the local Gaithersburg championship event.
Paul Morgan
He placed second alongside his partner in the local Gaithersburg championship event.
Mark Smith
He placed third in the Gaithersburg local championship competition.
The details
Teams demonstrated their proficiency in snow removal by navigating an eight-station obstacle course designed to test large machinery operation in tight spaces. The championship also included a written test and mandatory pre-trip truck inspections to ensure total operator readiness.
Timeline
The Snow Road-eo competition took place on October 15, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The Snow Road-eo competition reflects the industry-wide practice of utilizing competitive simulations to meet American Public Works Association snow removal training standards. This hands-on approach positions municipal crews to handle the logistical demands of winter weather more effectively than passive training alone.
Residents in the Gaithersburg area benefit from this training through improved efficiency and safety during snow removal operations on city streets. The competition confirms that operators are well-versed in handling heavy equipment before the first major winter storm impacts the community.
The takeaway
These events turn critical infrastructure training into a measurable challenge that drives performance improvements. Residents can expect better maintenance of local roadways throughout the upcoming winter season due to the sharpened skills of the winning crews.
Further reading
Learn more about local events and city services in the Gaithersburg Civic section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.
