Mid-Coast School of Technology’s Composite Manufacturing program proudly announces its participation in the 2025 US National Toboggan Championship, held annually at the Camden Snow Bowl. This marks the second year that the program, led by teacher Joel Rowland, has entered the competitive Experimental Division.
The US National Toboggan Championship is a unique winter festival that draws thousands of spectators and hundreds of teams to Camden, Maine. The centerpiece of the event is the 400-foot-long, 70-foot-high Jack Williams Toboggan Chute, a handmade wooden trough that sends teams hurtling onto frozen Hosmer Pond at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. While most competitors use traditional wooden toboggans, the Experimental Division is a proving ground for innovative designs and materials.
The Mid-Coast School of Technology team, “Frozen Snot Rocket,” has taken a different approach to the competition. The Composite Manufacturing program designed and built its own toboggan out of lightweight fiberglass, a stark contrast to the traditional wooden sleds. The toboggan, weighing in at approximately 100 pounds, represents a hands-on learning experience for students, blending design, engineering, and fabrication skills. The 2025 team made minor adjustments to last year’s sled, hoping to improve on their inaugural performance.
This year’s team included students Knasic Byer, Tim Watts, Jensen Cooke, and Oliver Christensen, as well as alumni Bryson Mattox and Ben Tripp, who returned from college to join the team. The group was led by their teacher Mr. Rowland. The team’s two entries demonstrated a strong showing of skill and teamwork, highlighting the real-world application of their classroom knowledge.
In a thrilling finish, the Mid-Coast team narrowly missed the top spot, falling short by a mere 0.056 seconds behind a team from Lyman Morse, a local professional boatbuilding company. Team Chisel of Lyman Morse competed in a carbon fiber sled, demonstrating the high level of competition in the Experimental Division. Lyman Morse is renowned for its expertise in marine composites and is a leading player in the professional composites manufacturing industry, making the Mid-Coast students’ near-victory all the more impressive.
The Mid-Coast School of Technology’s participation in the US National Toboggan Championship is a testament to the quality of its career and technical education programs. The event provides students with an invaluable opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world, high-stakes environment, competing against both amateurs and professionals alike. The program looks forward to returning next year, continuing its tradition of innovation and dedication to excellence.