The Toboggan Run at Camden
BY & COPYRIGHT: The Maine Office of Tourism

If you live in the Northeast, you know that participating in outdoor activities in the winter is a way of life, essential to avoiding cabin fever.   In Maine, we celebrate snow falling from the skies above.   These wonderful flakes of white mean fun!

So imagine, a chilly (well, maybe outright “chilled to the bone” kind of cold) day outside in the sunshine during the winter months while a enjoying ride down a hill on a toboggan, traveling “suddenly and sharply.”

In the midcoast region of Maine, exists Camden, a town that is often thought of as the quintessential Maine experience in summer.   The Jack Williams Toboggan Chute is a renowned tobogganing venue that draws many to the area.   The chute is a 400-foot wooden run built in 1936, the only one of its kind remaining in New England.

With a 70 foot vertical drop one can reach speeds up to 40 mph.   Hosmer’s Pond lies at the end of the chute and provides a chance for added travel time.   If the ice on the pond is clear, the run can last for a quarter of a mile.

The Jack Williams Toboggan Chute is home to the US National Toboggan Championships, which will take place February 10-12, 2012.

More than 400 two, three, and four person teams are registered.   Beyond the technical point of crafting the ultimate toboggan and creating the perfect recipe to apply to the bottom of the sled is an alternate festive aspect of the event.   The regalia!

The Finish Line
BY & COPYRIGHT: The Maine Office of Tourism

Much of the fun that is present lies in experiencing the costumes that competitors don for the race.

Thousands of people will watch the teams as they vie for first, second and third places in each division, and a place in the spotlight for a variety of special categories including best costume, oldest team, fastest team, fastest women's team, fastest children's team, fastest high school team, fastest college team and best crafted toboggan.

In addition to the toboggan runs, there will also be other activities to enjoy such as a snow sculpture contest, a snow maze/obstacle course, a junior sledding hill, a bonfire, food vendors, souvenir sales, music, skiing and snowboarding on Snow Bowl slopes, fireworks & more!

ONE will be at the event covering all of the fun and festivities, so look out for our review immediately following the event.

To learn more about the event, including a detailed list of activities over the weekend, visit their website.

ONE would like to thank AmericanFestivalsProject.net and The Maine Office of Tourism for kindly allowing use of their photos of previous championships.

Details:

Friday February 10, 2012 to Sunday February 12, 2012

The Camden Snow Bowl

20 Barnestown Road, Camden, ME 04843

(207) 236-3438

info@camdensnowbowl.com

http://winter.camdensnowbowl.com/22nd-annual-toboggan-championships