CAMDEN  — A record crowd visited the Camden Snow Bowl during the 24th annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships, and at least one local hotel is already booked for next year. Here’s the lowdown on the 2014 winners:

Two-Person Division

First – #5 Two Wingnuts – 8.80, 8.9, 17.78

Second – #1 BOLT Resolute – 9, 8.95, 1795

Third – #2 Spudrunner 2 – 8.98, 9.05, 18.03

Three-Person Division

(Best qualifying time for the tie breaker)

First – #137 Absolute Zeros – 8.91, 8.9, 17.81 (BQT 8.81)

Second – #151 BOLT 8 – 8.92, 8.89, 17.81 (BQT 8.82)

Third – #147 Kennebec Ash Waxers – 8.89, 8.93, 17.82

Four-Person Division

(Best qualifying time for the tie breaker)

First – #322 Instigator – 8.8, 8.84, 17.64

Second – #232 BOLT 5 – 8.87, 8.81, 17.68 (BQT 8.80)

Third – #310 Not All There – 8.85, 8.83, 17.68 (BQT 8.85)

Fastest Experimental Team

#410 Section 8 - 8.77, 8.75, 17.52

Fastest Kid's Team

#273 Rockport Rockets – 9.17

Fastest High School Team

#101 Deedles 3 – 8.96

Fastest Female Team

#280 Fastest Ash on Ice – 8.95

Fastest College Team

#210 Bolt #1 (Virginia Wesleyan) – 8.88

Best Costume

First Place – #43 Double Dutch

Second Place – #407 Snow Rebel IPA

Third Place – #107 PT Cruiser

Best Crafted Toboggan

#306 4 LO (Don Ritchie)

Oldest

#48 Two Pounds – average age 71.5

This year’s three-day weekend's gorgeous winter weather made for a record turnout of spectators. Event organizers already knew they had 420 teams of racers coming — the wildcard was the spectator volume. They guesstimates more than 9,000 people were at and around the venue Saturday and it was the largest ever Friday turnout for team registration, toboggan inspections and public/team practice runs in the chute. This year’s Toboggan Nationals also offered some early racing late Friday afternoon for two-person and three-person teams, and 59 teams gave it a shot, taking their first runs Friday so they only had to make one qualifying run Saturday morning.

Event organizers noted many new racers this year and new spectators checking it out, with many saying they looked forward to coming back to race next year.

“The newbies got a chance to see what the real competition is about, and I talked to some that were already making plans to ‘build their own’ toboggans to really have a shot at winning,” said Toboggan National Committee Chairman Holly Edwards. “Those new racers stuck with it all weekend and at least one team, from Newton, Mass., which rented a local team's retired sled donated to the event this year, was doing well and just missed the final cut by a small margin. They left satisfied, loaded down with 2014 t-shirt and poster souvenirs and looking forward to coming back to try again next year.”

It's that kind of challenge, the drive to win, which gets people hooked on the game of toboggan racing, said Edwards.

The inaugural costume contest parade was reported to be a wild success this year. Judged by the five members of the Camden Select Board, including Don White, Leonard Lookner, Martin Cates, John French and Jim Heard, entertainment was provided by the Planet Pan steel drum band from George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill.

“Everybody had a grand time watching the costumed racers parade in an impromptu line dance performance before the judges, with enthusiastic encouragement and cheering from the audience,” said Edwards.

The vendors reportedly did a “great job” feeding the masses all three days, and West Bay Rotary's Down the Chute Beer and Wine Tasting Friday and chili challenge Saturday were also big hits.

The Toboggan National committee will take a short break from their duties, but then regroup to begin planning in earnest for the 25th annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships Feb. 6, 7 and 8, 2015. The committee also anticipates working with the 2015 Winterfest Committee downtown to take next steps toward fostering a true Winterfest WEEK, furthering work toward connecting the Camden Library and Harbor Park's community winter festival with Toboggan Nationals.

• Click here for a photo gallery with more than 750 photos from the 2014 U.S. National Toboggan Championships

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