By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
NEW SWEDEN — Over 50 residents from Stockholm, Westmanland and New Sweden turned out to enjoy winter’s weather during the annual Snö Carnival on March 10, held this year at the New Sweden School due to a schedule conflict.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Phoebe Soloman makes her way toward the finish line during the annual Sno Carnival on March 10.
The communities historically gather in Stockholm for the carnival, but the change in venue didn’t stop New Sweden seventh-grader Kendra Furber, 12, from having fun.
“The tracks are different,” she explained. “I like it better [in Stockholm], but I really liked how they did the sled races this year.”
Sled races, particularly the boat team-relay, are highly popular amongst carnival participants of all ages, but possibly none more popular than the youngest and oldest divisions of the boat team-relay: the event begins with one teammate pulling the other along in the sled, huffing and puffing while they drag their teammate for 50 yards. Switching roles at the half-way-point, the team then makes their way back to the finish line.
Snö Carnival Organizing committee member David Spooner jokingly assured that all the adults who compete are, of course, well-trained athletes.
“The Snö Carnival is all about celebrating the fun we can have in the winter,” he explained. “A lot of people look at the snow and it gets them down, but here there’s so much fun you can have in the snow.
Historically speaking, the Snö Carnival has never experienced a shortage of quirky races that appeal to individuals of all ages and ability levels.
Longtime New Sweden resident Wendell Spooner remembers attending the carnival back in the ‘50s, when organizers found ways to throw a wrench or two into the smooth goings of cross country skiers.
“Years ago when I was in school, they had what they called an obstacle race,” Wendell said. “They’d put up a mound of snow and you’d have to cllimb up over the bank and down the other side, then they had tires, and you had to climb through the tire with your skis and poles on.”
As tractor tires would have been far too easy, organizers made participants wriggle their way through regular car tires — even through potato barrels.
As potato barrels were never in short supply, a few were always sacrificed during winter carnival in order to hold barrel stave races: kids would have to contrive ways to lash barrel staves to their feet as makeshift skis and race each other to the finish line.
Wendell also recalled that the Snö Carnival would feature muggle races, where all the skis and poles would be jumbled into two big piles before the race began. After the start, participants would have to dig through the piles to find their skis and poles before skiing toward the end.
Though the Snö Carnival’s races tend to be a bit more mainstream these days, participants are having just as much fun as ever.
“It’s always fun to bring the communities together to have fun and laugh,” David Spooner explained.
There were a few first-timers at the winter event this year, including Kristyn Maley, 12, who just moved to the area this summer from Alaska.
“I like it a lot,” Maley said of her first Snö Carnival, “it’s way fun, except you get hurt a lot,” she said with a big smile.
Furber, Maley’s classmate, explained that the track was pretty crusty during the first part of the event. (Warm temperatures had caused the otherwise immaculately groomed trails to melt and re-freeze).
Furber’s been participating in Snö Carnivals since she was in third grade, and was looking forward to spending the rest of the day competing in every event she could.
“I really enjoy the Snö Carnivals because it’s fun and it gives you a chance to become better [at the events],” Furber said.
Maley said that her favorite part was getting to spend time with friends on a Saturday.
“It sounds corny,” qualified David Spooner, “but everyone who participated was a winner.”
Whether careening down the hill in a sled, zipping about the track on skis or enjoying a cup of cocoa in the cafeteria, the young and old shed all traces of the winter blahs on Saturday, enjoying winter and each other’s company.
The event was also home to one of the New Sweden Recreation Committee’s largest fund-raisers of the year, as committee members worked to provide hungry outdoor enthusiasts with hot treats to warm them up between races.
Funds raised during the event help the committee assist with the purchase of race awards as well as help the after-school ski program.
David Spooner said that faculty and staff of the New Sweden School were instrumental in orchestrating this year’s Snö Carnival, holding school-spirit promoting events and themes all week long leading up to the event.
Spooner also expressed a special thank you to Soderberg Construction and Landeen Family Farms for their contributions to help purchase trophies and medals, and extended his appreciation to Ernie Easter for his diligent efforts in grooming the trails.
