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Get Carried Away at the U.S. National Toboggan Championships

Published by Spencer Spellman, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

No, this is certainly not the Winter Olympics, but it might be the closest thing to it that locals and travellers to Maine will experience. The U.S. National Toboggan Championships provides some of the same excitement and adrenaline that you may typically find at the Olympics. Better yet, the championships take place each year, occurring on the first weekend in February during the middle of Maine's blustery winter.

The annual event that takes place in Camden, Maine at the Camden Snow Bowl is a unique winter event like none other. The Snow Bowl is a popular and renowned northeastern U.S. venue for recreational activities that include hiking, bicycling, fishing, boating, swimming and tennis; although the recreation area is mostly known for its snow activities. Thousands of locals and tourists head to Maine's Snow Bowl each year for their winter activities, which include alpine skiing, tubing, snowboarding, and ice skating. All of this comes to a head for the National Toboggan Championships weekend.

Something you'll find at few recreational parks, not only in the U.S. but the entire world, is the 400-ft. toboggan chute at the Camden Snow Bowl. Though certainly no official Olympic size chute, it offers a burst of adrenaline that can be experienced few places. The chute drops down 70-feet in elevation, meaning that toboggans can attain speeds of 40 mph. As such, from start to finish usually doesn't last any longer than 10 seconds.

Having run for over 20 years, the U.S. National Toboggan Championships brings out several hundred competitors from both the U.S. and other countries. Most of the participants are actually from Maine and other northeastern states. Teams compete in two-, three- and four-person teams to see who is the fastest.

The highlight of the 400-ft. race comes at the bottom where toboggans shoot out onto the icy Hosmer Pond (and can travel up to a quarter-mile on it before finally coming to a stop).

Participation in the U.S. National Toboggan Championships is far less stringent than what you would find in similar levels of competitions. Participants simply have to pay a registration fee, have a toboggan, and be in good enough shape to climb to the top of the chute. There are no other requirements, such as age or skill level. Some of the other awards that are given out during the weekend include the fastest female team, and the best costumes.

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When to Go to National Toboggan Championship

The U.S. National Toboggan Championships typically take place the first weekend of February each year. People interested in participating are encouraged to sign-up and prepare months in advance so that proper registration and fees are turned in on time.

As local accommodation can fill up fast, it's recommended that both participants and spectators book their accommodation well in advance, .

Odds n' Ends

The U.S. Toboggan Championships take place in February, which is the middle of winter in Maine and can be extremely cold. Pack plenty of warm clothes and prepare to dress in layers. The afternoons can warm up, but early in the day and late in the afternoon can get very cold. Attire that would typically be worn to ski is appropriate for participants. Competitors must bring their own toboggan and can find out more about the exact requirements for the competition when registering.

Recommended Places to Stay

Hartstone Inn
The Harstone is a cozy inn that offers nice accommodations, coupled with excellent cuisine. Its location puts it just a couple blocks off from the water.

More Experiences Nearby

Picnic with the Planets at Acadia National Park's Night Sky Festival
If your idea of a superb holiday to a U.S. National Park includes watching the starry skies overhead, think about planning to go to Maine’s Acadia National Park in September while the annual Acadia Night Sky Festival is celebrated. In many places of the U.S., so much territory has already been absorbed by residential and industrial development that the result has been an endless illumination of the night sky from non-natural light. This has all but eradicated the star-filled panorama that could once be seen in the skies. These days, many young kids have never even noticed the Milky Way! ...40 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

Frommer's Maine Coast
A Year of Festivals General Reference

Elsewhere on the Web

U.S. National Toboggan Championships - CamdenSnowbowl.com

Media References

U.S. National Toboggan Championships - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Maine toboggan run puts focus on safety after crash -USAToday.com (book)
National Toboggan Championships - CamdenMaineExperience (blog)

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