Maine to Host 27th U.S. National Toboggan National Championships
During February, people in Camden, Maine focus a lot on the snow. They aren’t just focusing on shoveling their driveways, driving safely, or staying warm, however, they are preparing for a 440-foot drop down a wooden chute.
The United States National Toboggan Championships have taken place in Camden, Maine every year since 1991.
“The sudden drop, the excessive speed. It’s the most exciting eight seconds of your life,” said James Tyler, a professional toboggan racer who has competed in the Camden event for 17 years. “It’s maybe scary at first, but after that, you want to do it again.”
Toboggans can be made of a variety of different woods, similar to Amish furniture, which is crafted using five types of wood, including oak, walnut, maple, cherry, and hickory. These long and narrow sleds need to be strong enough to withstand the weight of a full-grown tobogganer and make it down the 440-foot chute at speeds of 40 miles per hour.
According to NECN, more than 400 teams compete in the event and thousands of spectators come to witness.
There are roughly 4,850 in the Camden area, and at least 5,000 people are expected to attend the 27th annual toboggan event.
According to KNOX, a little more danger is associated with these high-speed, high-altitude drops. Louis Bettcher reported on his first time on one of these toboggans at the Camden Snow Bowl.
“Keep your hands in, and keep your elbows in,” said Jim, an experienced tobogganer. “You don’t want to touch the side of the chute as you’re going down, it can burn a hole in your jacket. Just let the sled do what it wants.”
One of the best parts of the Snow Bowl is that anyone can compete, although they have to be extremely careful, and it’s a nice mix of professionals who take it very seriously and rookies who are just there to have fun.
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