Creativity takes to the slopes of Ragged Mountain

Mon, 03/12/2018 - 2:00pm

The sixth annual Snow Bowl Cardboard Box Derby got off to a resounding start Sunday morning, March 11, at 11 a.m., with whoops and hollers. (Photos by Lynda Clancy)

CAMDEN — Skies were bright and spirits ran high March 11 at the Camden Snow Bowl for the sixth annual Cardboard Box Derby, which drew 34 adventurous and creative teams to the hill for the unique competition.

Contestants had spent the weekend — or perhaps just that early morning — crafting their own boxes in which they tore down the hill, flipped and flopped in and out of, before landing in the hay at the bottom of the course.

It’s a homegrown affair at the Snow Bowl, and helps put the finishing touches on the ski season, in a jubilant way. Like the summer cardboard box race in Rockport Harbor, the fun lies in the design, craftsmanship and decorating, but even more so, in the elements. Mother Nature set the 2018 scene with fresh snow, sunshine and warm temperatures.

While most contestants were children, a few adults took on the competition. This year, the fastest teams zipped along the snowy course in a little more than 8 seconds — the slower ones, the stops and starts, and start-agains, well.... they took a little longer to make it to the end. But when they did, there was plenty of laughter.

Results follow (or click on the attached PDF, or see to the right):

Fastest Box
1st Place – Shark Speed (8.23)
2nd Place – Verde (8.38)
3rd Place – Bonkin (8.79)

Best Crafted Box
Snow Bowl Police

Best Costume
Mr. Magee and Doggy Dee

Most in a Box
Turtley Awesome Troop 1341 Turtles (14)