CAMDEN — The chute took a new path this year, dumping toboggan racers into bales of hay instead of the Hosmer Pond ice, and it was a shorter, gentler descent down side of Ragged Mountain. But no one fussed; in fact, most of the hundreds of people who gathered at the Camden Snow Bowl Feb. 5 for the 32nd annual National Toboggan Championships were just happy the Arctic blast of the circumpolar vortex had eased off with more reasonable temperatures prevailing.

Smiles were everywhere, from Tobogganville to the stairs to the top of the chute (good cardio workout, especially those hauling heavy toboggans), to Fieldtown and parts of the parking lot, where tailgating around campfires spelled comfort and warmth, and finally, to the bottom of the chute. That’s where the toboggans landed after barreling down a over a carefully hewn chute of packed snow, past the time clock and spilling riders onto brake mats (floor carpets).

The chute had been relocated this year due to to warmer than normal January temperatures, leaving Hosmer Pond with open water up until less than a week before the Feb. 5 championships.

Inside the timing shack, veteran announcer Tom Dowd and a crew kept a careful watch on the descent of each toboggan load – providing the names of the competitors, historical vignettes and observations of the participants, some who have been in the championships since the beginning.

“Despite the weather whiplash thrust upon us this year, everybody who raced on Sunday had a great time, and we’re super appreciative, that we actually kept pivoting and held the event,” said Holly Anderson, Camden Snow Bowl assistant director. “While it was stressful, dealing with the twists and turns of super warm weather, followed by the Arctic freeze in the final days, leading up to the event, we were super blessed to be able to have a great very comfortable day for the event on Sunday. Overall, I call it a total win and I don’t think there’s much that can be thrown at this committee that we can’t overcome to provide a great winter toboggan race event in Camden.”

Participants came from various states — Ohio, Massachusetts, one license plate on a camper said U.S. Virgin Islands — as well as Ontario and New Brunswick. 

The event draws an always eclectic crowd, with various businesses and entities, including the Rockport Fire Department, creating an enthusiastic and welcoming community reunion, no matter what the weather throws at the region.

Here are the winners:

4-Person Division

First: #202 - Whiskey on Ice 4 – 10.30 seconds
Jonathan Maxcy, Greg Davis, Dave Lorentzen, Steve Lorentzen (Warren, ME)

Second: #201 - Whiskey on Ice – 10.45 seconds
Jonathan Maxcy, Josh Brow, Joel Perry, Steve Lorentzen (Warren, ME)

Third: #287 - Crazy Canuks – 10.55 seconds
Justin Agnew, Mat Fitzgerald, Derick Weeks, Adam Valentate (Fredericton, NB)

3-Person Division

First: #167 - Bolt 3 – 10.41 seconds
Dennis Livoli, Andy Rubenstein, Kody Livoli (Derry, NH)

Second: #157 - Bold 8 – 10.48 seconds (tie breaker with 10.81 seconds
 Dan Smith, Keith Price, Allen Hoy (Fairlawn, OH)

Third: KS Turtle Torque Toboggan Team 1 – 10.48 seconds (tie breaker with 10.82 seconds)
Cleve Walstrom, Brad Crimmins, Rachel Gahan (Marysville, KS)

2-Person Division

First: #2 - Two Whiskeys on Ice – 10.47 seconds
Jonathan Maxcy, David Lorentzen (Warren, ME)

Second: #35 - Maxcy Pad – 10.59 seconds (tie breaker with 10.40 seconds)
 Jonathan Maxcy, Sarah Maxcy (Warren, ME)

Third: #99 - Sliding Dirtier – 10.59 seconds (tie breaker with 10.83 seconds)
Russell Sherman, Heath Derby (Bridgeport, VT)

Fastest Qualifying Run:

#201 - Whiskey on Ice – 10.10 seconds
Jonathan Maxcy, Greg Davis, Dave Lorentzen, Steve Lorentzen (Warren, ME)

Fastest All-Female Team:
#238 - Shear Madness – 10.34 seconds
Sarah Maxcy, Carrie Overlock, Amanda Overlock, Jerica Obar (Warren, ME)

Fastest Student Team:
#309 - Ratchet Straps (Central Aroostook High School & Greater Houlton Christian Academy) – 10.74 seconds, Reed Birmingham-CAHS, Kellen McCrumm-CAHS, Abby Duff-GHCA, Anicia Whited-GHCA (Bridgewater, ME)

Oldest Team:
#27 - Frogs on a Log – Average age 83
Chip Maury, Paul Johnson (Amston, CT)

Best Crafted Toboggan:
#287 - Crazy Canuks
Justin Agnew, Mat Fitzgerald, Derick Weeks, Adam Valentate (Fredericton, NB)

Winner of the team drawing for the Ariens S18 Snow Thrower:
#235 - Sirius Sledders
Willard Prenatt, Jacob Wilhelm, Sedona Sloan, Chris Nurnberger (Noblesville, IN)

Experimental Division
First: #403 - Goes Down Easy – 10.46 seconds
Tracy Birocco, Meg Salmon-Carson, Jaci Chouinard