CAMDEN, Maine ??” The 15th annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Feb. 4-6, at the Camden Snow Bowl.

With 400 teams going down the chute for a total of 910 runs and plenty to do and see on the slopes and at the lodge, the three-day event promises to be an exciting weekend for spectators and participants of all ages.

Chute Crew Chief Stuart Young has been busy coating the chute with water to make ice and with snow predicted for the weekend, it could shape up to be a great year.

The Iowa Hawkeye Travelin’ Squad enters the chute
during the 2004 Toboggan Nationals
(Photo: Courtesy of Camden Snow Bowl)

All 400 team slots are filled and news around the country is that teams are busy sanding and waxing, beefing up or slimming down (depending on strategy), and practicing their mounts and dismounts with their eye on winning a coveted mahogany trophy and bragging rights.

A new racing category was added this year — “The World Championships.” It will pit the first place winners of the 4-person teams from the last 14 years in a one-run, fastest time, head-to-head competition. The World Championship run-off will commence immediately following the close of regular competition, usually around 2 p.m. Sunday.

All weekend long and during the days leading up to the big event, raffle tickets are being sold for two handmade toboggans donated to the Snow Bowl. One toboggan was crafted by Tom Cox and the Five Town CSD Adult Education Program and the other was made by Waldo County Toboggans also known as the Ash Pounders toboggan racing team.

There will also be a 50-50 raffle and drawings for all three raffles will be held on Sunday, during the award ceremony in the Snow Bowl lodge. Raffle tickets for the toboggans are $1 each and $5 for six tickets. Each ticket provides two opportunities to win a toboggan. The 50-50 raffle tickets are $1 each.

Raffle tickets are on sale now at the Snow Bowl’s ski school desk. They will also be on sale during Toboggan National weekend at the Chute Shack.

A change this year of special note is the location of The Chili and Chowder Challenge. It will be held at the Rockport Masonic Lodge at 361 Main Street, near Simonton Corners.
Go online to CamdenSnowBowl.com for more information.

2004 U.S. National Toboggan Championships schedule of events

Friday, Feb. 4:
Noon to 7 p.m. — Race check-in, toboggan inspections, pit and paradise parking purchases, and race souvenirs at the Snow Bowl lodge.
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. — Snow Bowl Open for skiing.
1 to 4 p.m. — Toboggan Chute open, conditions permitting.

Saturday, Feb. 5:
7 a.m. to noon — Race check-in and toboggan inspections at the Snow Bowl lodge.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Snow Bowl open for skiing and tubing.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Race souvenirs available at Chute Shop by the toboggan chute.
9 a.m. to noon — Qualifying runs for 2- & 3-person teams (1st & 2nd runs).
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Qualifying Runs for 4-Person Teams (1st runs).
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Chili & Chowder Challenge, Rockport Masonic Lodge, 361 Main St. in Rockport.

Sunday, Feb. 6:
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Snow Bowl open for skiing, tubing.
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Race souvenirs available at Chute Shop at the toboggan chute.
9 a.m. to TBA — Qualifying Runs for 4 person (2nd runs).
TBA — Qualifying final runs:
Top 30 of 2-person teams
Top 30 of 3-person teams
Top 75 of 4-person teams
All race times subject to change — ARRIVE EARLY!
3:00 p.m. — Awards ceremony and raffle drawings

Awards for first, second, and third places in each category will be based on combined times in finals.

Special Awards:
Best Team Uniform, Spirit Award, Oldest Team, Fastest Family, and Fastest Women’s Team, Fastest Children’s Team, Longest Run, World Champions.

Pit Passes: will be available for $85 at registration on Friday at noon and Saturday morning, limited space available, first-come first-served.

Paradise Parking: will be available for $60 at registration on Friday noon and Saturday morning, limited space available, first-come first-served.