Camden, Maine To Celebrate 35 Seasons Of Toboggan Racing During February’s U.S. National Toboggan Championships

It's touted as a competition featuring "900 racers, 400 teams, 16 trophies and one good time!"

The Camden Snow Bowl has been hosting the U.S. National Toboggan Championships for over 3 decades, and they're gearing up for their 35th season this February.

It's a competition unlike many others, where teams of 2, 3, and 4 people, racers from all over the country, compete in the sport of traditional wooden toboggan racing.

Essentially, competitors climb up to the top of a tall wooden chute and then race down it, on a toboggan, to see which group can achieve the fastest run across the finish line.

For those who might not meet the strict standards and criteria for actual competition, there's also an "Experimental" division, where toboggans that don't cut the competitive mustard can still get their turn in the chute!

With many teams reaching speeds up to 40 miles an hour while zipping down the 400-foot chute, once they make it through the wood, it's out onto the clear ice along Hosmer's pond. Some even make it all the way across!

People show up in costume, ready to party and have a good time. There are usually vendors on site and plenty of campfires to warm up around.

This year, the championship will take place over the weekend of February 6th through the 8th at the Camden Snow Bowl.

Read More: Essential Safety Tips For Winter Activities In Maine's Icy Waters

According to the official U.S. National Toboggan Championship website, in addition to the National races this year, a "Worlds" race will also be held that weekend.

"The 35th annual Toboggan Nationals will include another Worlds race (every five race years) for all past first place 4-Person teams. At least one original team member must race on the team. The Worlds will be held on Saturday, before the start of 4-Person qualifying runs."

Organizers of the U.S. National Toboggan Championships say there's a lengthy history associated with both the race, and the actual chute itself.

The original chute was put together by volunteers, who also built the ski lodge and hill, in 1936. At the time, it was one of the earliest life-service ski venues in America. The chute would be rebuilt 3 more times, once in 1954 by members of the Coast Guard, then in 1964 by community members, and again in 1990 by a group of volunteers who wanted to bring the sport back to the Snow Bowl.

According to the official website, original timbers from the other iterations were combined with new pressure-treated wood to rebuild the "Jack Williams Toboggan Chute" named after the man who was the driving force behind the project.

Read More: Maine Named One of the Best States for Snowmobiling in the U.S

Want an idea of what to expect if you go?

Check this out.

Thousands of people are expected to spend the weekend in town, tailgating and competing at the site and just visiting Camden.

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There's usually parking right at the Camden Snow Bowl for a price, but space is limited and usually scooped up by competitors. There is a free shuttle bus service that runs all weekend from the Village Green in downtown Camden, to the Snow Bowl, and back.

You can get more information on the schedule of events by clicking here.