CAMDEN – This coming weekend, February 11-13, the 31st U.S. National Toboggan Championships will take place at the Camden Snow Bowl. According to Holly Anderson, assistant manager at the Snow Bowl, registration closed for the event on February 7, with a full field of entrants.  

“That’s 385 contestants,” she said. “Registration was done online this year. We’re expecting warmer temperatures and the crowd could be very large.” 

Anderson said warmer temperatures will create slush, and slush will slow racers down. Daytime temps are forecast to be in the 40s, but nights will still be in the 20s. The earlier racers will probably have the faster times.  

There is no snow on Hosmer Pond, so the slushy conditions will be mostly around the staging area. Anderson said there are 12-14-inches of ice on the pond. No snow on the pond could mean some standing water. Anderson said to wear layers of clothing and to take an extra set of dry clothes. 

No proof of vaccination was required to register, and while masks outside are not required, they are indoors. 

The Chili/Chowder Cook-off was canceled this year by the Rotary because of COVID concerns.  

Anderson is advising spectators to use the shuttle that will run back and forth from the Camden Village Green to the Snow Bowl. The Shuttle Bus is $5 per person for a roundtrip ticket. The buses run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The buses will be run by SAD 28 and the Five Town CSD.  

“We want to use the parking lot for the teams,” she said. “With almost 400 contestants and their support teams the lot will be full by 10 a.m., and probably closed by 11 a.m.” 

“Plus, there is no side street parking,” said Anderson.

That means parking will be prohibited on Molyneaux Road, Hosmer Pond Road, Rollins Road, plus their offshoots.

There is no entry fee for spectators. The Snow Bowl charges a $10 per car fee for parking on February 12-13.   

Local lodging has filled up quickly. According to Erick Anderson, general manager of the Bayview Collection Hotels, which includes Grand Harbor Inn, Lord Camden Inn, and 16 Bayview, his hotels are full for Friday and Saturday nights.  

The Toboggan Championships picked up three new sponsors this year. Arien’s Snowblowers, Rtic Outdoors, and STIO, a clothing company based in Kennebunk.