Final preparations for the 2016 U.S. National Toboggan Championships are underway. Can you believe we’ve been doing this wild and crazy competitive traditional wood toboggan racing event now for 26 years? We can’t either, but we have, and we’re here and this is Maine’s version of Mardi Gras, which means it’s time to once again celebrate the tradition and fun of playing outdoors in winter in the great state of Maine.

2016 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Racers: Arrive early, team registration closes Saturday at noon! - and plan to spend the day!
Ice conditions in the chute and on the pond are subject to change.
All times are approximate. Announcer will update the schedule.

Friday, Feb. 5
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Team registration and toboggan inspection in Tobogganville
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Toboggan chute open to public, $5/person
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Bonfire, food vendors, souvenir sales, and skiing and snowboarding on Snow Bowl slopes
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — 2- and 3-person division FIRST RUNS (optional)
Saturday, Feb. 6
**NEW** 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. — 2- and 3-person divisions registration and toboggan inspection in Tobogganville
**NEW** 7 a.m. to noon - 4-person and Experimental divisions registration and toboggan inspection in Tobogganville
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Bus shuttle service from downtown Camden, $2 round trip – Shuttle bus pick-up @ Village Green ($10 limited on-site parking)
8 a.m. — FIRST RUNS for remainder of 2- and 3-person division; Optional SECOND RUNS immediately after first runs
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Snow Bowl open for skiing and snowboarding
10 a.m. — SECOND RUNS for 2- and 3-person division (Second run is optional for fast times)
Noon — COSTUME CONTEST PARADE in Tobogganville (with guest judges)
1 p.m. — FIRST RUNS for 4-person and Experimental divisions
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. - West Bay Rotary Club Chili Challenge at Congregational Church in downtown Camden

Sunday, Feb. 7
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Bus shuttle service from downtown Camden, $2 round trip – Shuttle bus pick-up @ Village Green ($10 limited on-site parking)
9 a.m. — SECOND RUNS for 4-person and Experimental divisions (Optional for fast times)
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Snow Bowl open for skiing and snowboarding
Noon — FINAL RUNS - Begin with 2-person teams, then proceed with 3-person, 4-person and experimental teams (two runs, fastest total wins)

FINALS CONSISTS OF:
TOP 25 Prelim — 2-person division teams
TOP 25 Prelim — 3-person division teams
TOP 50 Prelim — 4-person division teams
TOP 5 Prelim — Experimental division teams

3 p.m. (approx) — Awards ceremony in Tobogganville

CAMDEN — Tuesday night's Camden Select Board meeting kicked off with an update and preview of the upcoming Camden Winterfest and 26th annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships events.

Camden Development Director Karen Brace and volunteer Toboggan Committee Chairman Holly Edwards gave the rundowns, with T-shirts bearing the 2016 Toboggan Championships poster design handed out to each of the five select board members.

Earlier this winter, Select Board Chairman John French challenged Rockport Select Board Chairman Bill Chapman to a one-run toboggan challenge during the championships. The challenge came as Rockport celebrates its 125th anniversary of "independence" from Camden in governance.

The winner of the two-town throw down challenge will take home a trophy being crafted in commemoration of the inaugural race, in anticipation that it will become an annual rite to race head-to-head for the trophy, which will be displayed in the winner's town office for the year.

Racing for the Camden team on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the start of the four-person division first runs will be French and fellow select board members Jim Heard and Leonard Lookner. The Rockport team is slated to include Chapman, Geoff Parker, Ken McKinley and Owen Casas.

Camden Select Board member Don White is slated to join French, Heard and Lookner before the runoff race in judging the Toboggan Championships costume contest, an annual tradition. (Select Board member Martin Cates will be out of town on vacation that weekend.) Weather permitting, the costume parade in front of the judges will be serenaded by the Blue Hill community based steel drum band, Planet Pan.

During the six days prior to the official start of Toboggan weekend on Friday, Feb. 5, Camden Winterfest kicks off Saturday, Jan. 30 with The Ice Festival in the Amphitheater, CamJam Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Demonstrations in Harbor Park and Maine's only sanctioned Snow Sculpting Competition on the Village Green.

In addition to various awards ceremonies on Sunday, Jan. 31, the week includes numerous family events at the library, leading up to a big concert Thursday, Feb. 4, at Camden Opera House with Zydeco musicians CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band with opening local act, Dolphin Strikers.

Additional Winterfest-organized and hosted events downtown include a snowplow parade Friday night, Feb. 5, and fireworks, followed by a Mardis Gras parade and dance with local band Just Teachers performing Saturday, Feb. 6.

The Toboggan Committee is holding another regular meeting Friday, Jan. 22, which will also be a safety review meeting with Camden fire and police, representatives from North East Mobile Health and the Snow Bow Ski Patrol. Friday, Jan. 29 is Media Day.

So far, sponsorship is on par with 2015, with plenty of opportunities for businesses, organizations and individuals to join in and sponsor Maine’s Mardi Gras, which benefit the Camden Snow Bowl. To inquire about being a sponsor, contact Andrew Dailey by calling 207-522-4933.

For more information, check out the following links:

• Camden Snow Bowl
• Camden Winterfest
• 2016 Winterfest and U.S. National Toboggan Championships - Maine's Mardi Gras!

C.J. Chenier, a Creole born and raised in an indigenous American culture with its distinct language, cuisine and music, delivers a soulful vocal and accordion. Chenier, a Grammy nominated, world renowned musician and recording artist, has performed alongside many internationally recognized artists including his Grammy award winning father, Clifton "The King of Zydeco" Chenier, Paul Simon, Joe Sample and Ray Parker Jr., The Gin Blossoms and John Mayall. He has appeared on the Jon Stewart Show and CNN, and was featured on VH1 and Entertainment Weekly.

C.J. has exhibited his musicianship at many large festival venues such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival and Austin's SxSW Music Conference. In addition to a Grammy award nomination in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category, C.J. has received many major awards, including the Living Blues Critics' Poll Award, Indie Award (from AFIM) for Best Zydeco Album, Coups de Coeur (Blows of Heart) Blues Category Award from l'Académie Charles Cros (France) and Best of the Beat Best Zydeco Album (Offbeat).

Concert is Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m., in the Camden Opera House; tickets $18 in advance, $22 at the door. Proceeds of the concert benefit Camden Winterfest and the U.S. National Toboggan Championships. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.camdenoperahouse.com.

Traditional Toboggan Class Rules

Definitions:
Toboggan: a long, narrow, flat-bottomed sled, made of thin boards with front curved upward and backward.
Slats: a thin, narrow strip of wood used to construct a toboggan.
Pad: a soft cushioning material that is located under the riders and on top of the toboggan.
Curve: The front upward curve of a toboggan, which must be large enough to cover the first set of rider's feet.
Running Surface: The bottom surfaces of the slats, which may come in contact with the chute or ice.

All Traditional Toboggans:
1. Must be of traditional shape and construction, wooden, and must not exceed 50 lbs with pad. All sleds must be solidly constructed and all parts securely fastened.
2. Must be a minimum 15 ¾" wide and a maximum of 20" wide.
3. Must be 6 to 12 feet in length. 6' toboggans will be allowed for the kids and 2 person divisions. All other divisions must be 7 to 12 feet in length.
4. Must have a pad that provides cushioning, made of a soft material and placed under all riders. All toboggans must have some kind of hand-hold for each rider, i.e. rope or wooden handles.
5. The front of the toboggan must have a steam bent, laminated or kerfed open curl with no sides, and is large enough to protect the front riders' feet. (Curl diameter-6"min. – 18"max)
6. The curl must exhibit a curl angle with a minimum vertical measurement of 3 inches. Wedge shaped fronts will not be permitted. Refer to diagram for further clarification.
7. The toboggan must have a flat bottom (running surface), constructed of a series of wooden slats,or have a minimum of three slats each extending a maximum of ¼" below the remaining slats. In the case of a toboggan with three or more slats extending below the others, the extended slats must all be the same thickness and have a flat surface (parallel with the ice) and be a minimum width of 2". All slats must be within ¼" of the adjacent slat. Refer to diagram for further clarification.
8. No plywood running surfaces will be allowed. Plywood may be used to create structural rigidity but no plywood will be allowed on the bottom of the toboggan in contact with the ice.
9. Any design work at the back of the sled must occur within the last 6 inches of the toboggan.
10. Will not have any synthetic fibers, (i.e. fiberglass or carbon fiber) involved with their construction. Wood grain must be visible.
11. Must not have exposed screws, sharp edges or broken boards.
12. Must not have any substances used as bottom preparation that will impact the chute, the ice or subsequent racers. There will be a toboggan inspector at the top of the chute who will inspect the bottom of each toboggan. If any such substance is identified, it must be wiped off before racing.
13. No modifications or bottom preparation for racing are permitted after second inspection.
14. Damaged toboggans that are repaired must be re-inspected.
15. Must be inspected and approved by officials for design and safety. Decisions by race officials are final and without recourse.
16. All winners are subject to re-inspection.
17. Commercial advertising including banners and signage is prohibited by non-sponsors at the event.

Experimental Toboggan Class
The above rules for the traditional toboggan will apply except for the following modifications.

1. Plywood bottoms will be permitted. Experimental toboggans must have a flat bottom or have a minimum of three runners each extending a maximum of 1/4" below the bottom surface. In the case of a toboggan with three or more runners extending below the bottom surface, the extended runners must all be the same thickness, a flat surface (parallel with the ice) and be a minimum width of 2".
2. Any synthetic materials will be allowed. No metal will be permitted on the bottom or sides or in any other place that may come in contact with the ice or the chute. The sled shall be a minimum of 17" wide and not wider than 20".
3. There is no maximum weight limitation on sled and accompanying pad.
4.There is no height restriction on experiment toboggans.
However, all parts of the toboggan must be securely fastened to the toboggan. Removable covers, canvas covers, mylar covers are not allowed. All riders MUST be visible if viewed from above.
5. The front of the toboggan shall have a bevel, curl or cone that will not cause damage to the ice or chute. The forward most part of the toboggan must be at least 3"above the bottom of the toboggan. See diagram.

Experimental toboggan builders are strongly encouraged to consult with the US Toboggan National Committee regarding sled design and construction. Safety is paramount in all decisions. Tom Cox, rules committee contact: coxgtom@myfairpoint.net

The Experimental Class will be open to 2, 3 and 4 person divisions, but there will be only one award given for the fastest combined time of two runs.

Only one team per sled is allowed in the experimental class.

All Toboggan Riders:
1. No exposed skin except face. Face-masks and properly fitted ski helmets are recommended.
2. All body parts inside the toboggan (No pushing or pulling at the start)until the toboggan exits the chute.
3. Nothing may hang off the toboggan (long hats, scarves, or costumes must be tucked in).
4. All riders must fit safely on the sled and be seated facing forward.
5. All riders gripping rope must have thumbs back or in other manner approved by chute operators.
6. Towing rope may not pass over heads or around bodies or necks.
7. No children under 42" tall will be allowed.
8. Competitors must follow instructions of the race officials at all times. Race officials reserve the right to refuse any persons or equipment deemed unsafe or not in the spirit of these rules and of the competition.
9. Each team MUST have their official bib on display in the chute to race for each heat, both days. No exceptions. No replacement bibs are available or allowed. If you lose your bib, you lose your ability to race.

Intoxication will result in disqualification.

Intoxicated persons will not be allowed in the chute.

These rules are for safety reasons: Any persons not following the rules will be disqualified and will not be allowed to make further runs.

Special Award Categories:
Fastest All-Female Team, Fastest Student Team (12-18 years old), Fastest College Team (all members represent the same college), Fastest Experimental Toboggan, Oldest Team, Best Costume and Best Crafted Toboggan.

Oldest team goes to the oldest average age team. Committee decides Best Crafted.

Fastest special team winners determined by the fastest single run on Friday, Saturday or Sunday whether or not you qualify for the finals.

Costume contest: awards will be given for first, second and third place, with the best costumes determined by a panel of judges. All costume contestants must participate in the costume parade at noon Saturday in Tobogganville.

Racing Format:
The following is applicable to all 2, 3, and 4 person teams and experimental teams.

To Qualify for the Finals:
• Each team is entitled to two qualifying runs.
• The fastest time of either run determines the eligible teams for the Finals.
• Only one run is required.

The Finals:
The Finals are made up of the following:
• 2-Person Teams: Top 25 qualifying teams
• 3-Person Teams: Top 25 qualifying teams
• 4-Person Teams: Top 50 qualifying teams
• Experimental: Top 5 qualifying teams
Each team is required to make two runs in the Finals.
The fastest combined times of both runs determines final team standings and winners.
All runs must be made in the published racing time slots as required by the U.S. National Toboggan Committee.
* In the event of a tie – winner goes to the fastest qualifying run time.

The U.S. National Toboggan Committee reserves the right to change the rules at any time. Race Officials reserve the right to refuse any persons or equipment deemed unsafe or not in the spirit of these rules and of the competition. Intoxication will result in disqualification.