2011 Toboggan Nationals

 

Last weekend was the Toboggan Nationals at the Camden Snow Bowl.  People from all over the region - all over the world, actually - converge in Camden, Maine for a couple of days of wintertime fun, food, and frolic.

(This is a frozen pond we're convening on, incidentally.)

The point of this event is to see who can make it down a toboggan run in the least amount of time.  Here's the shack at the top of the toboggan run.

And here's a shot of the whole run.  The best sleds can make it in under nine seconds at top speeds of nearly 40 mph.

No thank you.

I live vicariously.

Through my son and his friends.  This is the third year they've entered.










We parents have been at this long enough to have a grasp on the essentials.  Chairs, a camp fire, and lots of hot chili; this year we had a tent too but it was a bit gusty. 

 

We also brought Wilson the Agoraphobic Goldendoodle.  (He's very friendly and smart and generally happy but just a teensy bit insecure, and outside of his comfort zone he becomes extreme Velcro Dog; hence climbing into the lap of any family member so thoughtful as to sit down.)

As prepared as we are, we are bush league compared to the teams that bring ice shacks and sofas.  And carpets and sound systems and generators.

The "serious" teams are all about the best time.  These are the guys you see waxing their sleds and arguing about friction coefficients.

The not so serious teams are all about the costumes.  These guys are "Return of the Sledi."  Clever, what?

 

Some of the team names are amusing:

   

There’s a Royal Dutch National Toboggan Team – who knew?  They wear orange, natch.  And gold lame.  Slays me.

 

        

Dejected Penguin with Beer:

Sumo with Beer:

(Sorry.  Distance shot.  The dude in the pink dress?  WTF?)

Partying college kids with beer.  I see a theme here.

Anyhoo.  Our costumes always go pretty low-budget:  Tyvek suits and spraypaint. 

Outside of the frat party teams, there are lots of families and lots of fun – impromptu ice hockey, anyone?

Or maybe just seeing how much fun you can have sliding on a patch of ice.

 

Oh, right, we're here for the toboggan race...

Watch this space:  helmet cam video link available shortly!