The 31st annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships (Feb. 5-7, 2021) has been postponed to Feb. 11-13, 2022. The Toboggan National organizing committee had been meeting over the past three months, formulating a plan to hold the event safely before coming to today's difficult decision.

"We had developed a plan to run half the number of teams, with 25 percent of the number of racers and no spectators," said Committee Co-Chairman Stuart Young, in a news release.

"And while we felt these numbers would be manageable in terms of adhering to Maine's COVID-19 mandates, the rise and continued high numbers of infections makes it impossible to assure a safe event," said Co-Chairman Holly Anderson.

She informed the Camden Select Board of the decision at its regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 15.

The U.S. National Toboggan Championships are annually held in February at the Camden Snow Bowl.

And for 30 years, without fail, the event has dealt with weather-related concerns. One year it was a blizzard that enveloped New England in whiteout conditions and forced the event to condense to a single day of racing. Other years racers have endured gale-force winds and pouring rain, the former that made for frigid temperatures, the latter that turned the chute exit into a cold flume ride.

"We have also dealt with warm-temperature years that in all but one case turned around in the final days before the event to make the ice on Hosmer Pond safe enough to race on," said Anderson. "The one year the ice was deemed not safe enough, Snow Bowl staff and volunteers rallied to plow snow and make a chute on the hill and we were able to hold the event, complete with winning times and trophy awards."

The Toboggan Nationals was conceived in 1991 as a mid-winter lark and a way to celebrate the rebuilding of the historic 400-foot-long wood toboggan chute, which was originally constructed by community volunteers in the 1930s. The event has grown to become an important economic engine for the Midcoast, bringing thousands of racers and spectators to town during the shoulder season.

Revenues from the fundraising event, as much as $90,000 in recent years, has benefited the municipally owned and operated Snow Bowl, a vibrant ski area in winter and busy recreation area during the off season.

"While we are saddened that our event, like so many others in Maine, as well as the entire country, has been impacted by the pandemic, we know this tough decision is the right one. And to all the racers who have been calling and emailing me, we know you will join us in making the 31st annual the celebratory event that it should be, that it will be," said Anderson.

The Camden Snow Bowl will be open this season for skiing and snowboarding. Once conditions are favorable and Hosmer Pond freezes, the Jack Williams Toboggan Chute will be open to the public.

The snowmaking crew is working hard to get the mountain open and for the safety of mountain staff and the public, the Snow Bowl

ALPINE TRAILS ARE CLOSED to the public now until opening day. Hydraulic equipment and moving vehicles are on the mountain 24/7. The Winter Policy prohibiting dogs on alpine trails is also now in effect.