CAMDEN—Though the frigid 15-degree temperatures probably contributed to seeing fewer costumes on the ice this year, the 34th US National Toboggan Championships always brings out the local ice shack tail-gating crowd. From its humble beginnings as more of a locals' event, this has always been the heart of the Toboggan Weekend. We'll take you around and show you why the Maine vibe brings people out to Hosmer Pond every year.

The Camaraderie

From ice shacks to smelt shacks to the ever-popular Eskimo nylon pop-ups, each dwelling in Tobogganville is an invitation for anyone—local or visitor—to come up, say hi, have a chat, have a bite to eat, and maybe even a drink. It is the equivalent of a 1990s college neighborhood party where the figurative front porch is always open. Come on up!

Sitting in camp chairs with the windchill in the single digits, the Grippin' and Rippin' team hung out like it was 80 degrees on a summer day.

"They call us the National Championships for a reason," said Grippin' and Rippin' team member Sam Conlin, of Camden. "People congregate from all over the entire country to come here. This is a staple of American culture, and if you're not here today, then you're nowhere."

The Names

While toboggan teams take their craft seriously, their names are another thing altogether. Here are some of the best:

Hot Ruddered Bums

That's What She Sled

OK Goodbye

Hard and Fast

Unidentified Anomalous Tobagmena

Sweaty Betty and the Yeti

Chute! There It Is

Team Spirit

Being part of a toboggan team is something that friends, work colleagues, or family members — any group of people who decided to form a team — talk about and plan for year-round; it's an identity. Take whiskey on Ice, a team that has been competing since 2014.

"My wife dragged me here in 2013, and I thought it was going to be stupid, but when I got here, I was like, 'This is awesome,' and I've been coming ever since," said Whiskey On Ice team member Jon Maxcy, of Warren.

At the time of the interview, the team had already placed in the top five category.

As far as the team name?

"My friend and I were sitting in my living room one day, and a Hank Williams Junior song called 'Whiskey on Ice' came on, and we decided to name the team that," said Maxcy.

Looking at what Maxcy was holding in his hand — a Budweiser, however, prompted a look.

"Hey, we gotta pace ourselves," he said. "We're a dialed-in team."

Elsewhere on the ice, Big Ash Sled, a team that has been around for a long time, did some practice drills in the snow, sitting on the toboggan in the "full tuck position."

Asked why, if they'd been doing this so long, they still have to practice.

"We've got some new riders this year," said Kenny Corson, of North Haven. "We're teaching them not to take their limbs off when we go down the chute."

Iconic Tobogganville

Here are a few other signature vibes you will find in Tobogganville. A fire pit. A barrel stove. Multiple four-wheelers. Generators. A pot of chili on a propane stove. A few brewskis. A bottle of hard stuff sitting in the snow. Dogs. People dressed in 12 layers looking like the Michelin Man. Food trucks. Beer and cocktail tents. Lots of people standing around in circles and sharing a laugh.

Browse our gallery of photos to get the full picture from the captions.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com