Tobogganoids.
Saturday, February 13th, 2010Fingers were freezing, video camera was jittery, global warming was not evident, but the US National Toboggan Championships event was lots of fun.
Click here to see the larger version of the video.
Fingers were freezing, video camera was jittery, global warming was not evident, but the US National Toboggan Championships event was lots of fun.
Click here to see the larger version of the video.
The opening act for the Winter Olympics was held last weekend at the Camden Snow Bowl in Camden, Maine.

The 20th Annual US National Toboggan Championships glorified the spectacle of winter sports, but required a certain attitude.

It was a little bit Mardi Gras.

And a little bit fierce competition.

With a whoopie pie thrown in to boot.

The pageantry was awe inspiring.

Security was tight.

And the right equipment provided the edge to win.


Team spirit was everywhere, but here are the - – - -> winners.
(Will post more soon.)

The northern winter sun sits decidedly low on the horizon.

And paints long, dark, dramatic, shadows on the snow.

Who says winter lacks excitement?

So what if Florida has the Super Bowl! We have our own national sports spectacle – - The National Toboggan Championships, held at the Camden Snow Bowl, February 5-7, 2010!

A mix between Carnival or Mardi Gras, and the Winter Olympics, this event is an example of what happens in Maine when the temperatures get lower and the days get shorter. Winter alters our brain cells and fun breaks out.

If you haven’t been before, here’s your chance. The best part is that anyone can enter!

Here is a link to previous crazy years.

Every winter storm brings new life to some of Maine’s most appealing creatures.

This very charming species was spotted in Castine after the ‘Route One Blizzard’ of early 2010.


Here they are observed in their native habitat.
One great thing about snow is that it’s easy to see who’s stopped by. But sometimes an analytics program would be helpful — is this a rabbit, or a squirrel? Or something else?

Toboggan riders are a pretty wild bunch. So are the spectators. It was a fantastic day for spectators — warm, 40ish, and sunny. Not so much for the riders, it seems that colder means faster.







Got this screen grab from the Camden Snow Bowl –
Looks like fun at the Camden Snow Bowl. Check out the website for current conditions. And while you’re there be sure to check out the U.S. National Toboggan Championships, February 6-8. Don’t forget to get your registration form if you want to participate. The deadline is January 23!
And be sure to put it on your calendar for lottsa winter fun. It’s kind of Maine’s version of Mardi Gras. Well, almost. But in the middle of winter we all need to get a little crazy.
