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Musher's Bowl Keeps Bridgton Winter Carnival Interesting

January 27, 2009 - BRIDGTON -- Musher's Bowl is known as the dogsled carnival – but it's got so much more going on the last weekend in January.

With four days left in the weeklong event, there is broomball, a pingpong tournament and downhill mountain bike races on snow, among other events.

"One of the things we learned was we have to try to add more events, to be more diverse. So we've added dodgeball, volleyball, a photography contest. Even the biathlon does not need snow. You could run and shoot the guns if needed," said Mike McClellan, executive director of the Bridgton Chamber of Commerce, which has run the event for 10 years.

While winter carnivals are becoming a mainstay in Maine, Bridgton's draws up to 5,000 people and is growing, McClellan said.

Many Maine cities have winter carnivals, but few – if any – also have broomball competitions, an ice golf tournament, and bordercross on mountain bikes.

The broomball tournament begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, and teams can register until the day of the event.

It was added four years ago when McClellan found newspaper articles of Bridgton's winter carnival in the 1940s and wanted to mirror the modern version after those historic gatherings.

Broomball – a game McClellan played in college – was a big deal back then, so he added it.

It was added for its family-friendly quality. Competitors don't need to know how to skate. They compete on ice in sneakers – sneakers being the great equalizer.

"It's a neat sport. The really super athletes try to go too fast, and they mess up. And somebody who is more of an average athlete can be more controlled. It's pretty fast. You have to really work hard," McClellan said.

So far, McClellan said the mountain biking event Sunday has drawn more of a crowd. Now in its eighth year, the event always draws willing racers no matter the weather.

"Rain, snow, sleet – doesn't matter. It's nothing to have 40 people show up in a blizzard," said Sylvia Wallingford, co-owner of Ernie's Cycles Shop in Westbrook, which runs the event at Shawnee Peak Ski Area.

"You try to get to the other end, and see how long you can stay vertical, pump as hard as you can so you don't spin out. It's a challenge just to stay vertical."

This is the first year event organizers will not allow studded tires in the downhill mountain bike race. That will make it safer, but tougher, Wallingford said.

"Really, the studded tires are not necessary (to getting down the mountain)," Wallingford said. "We wanted to level the playing field."

For just a dollar, spectators can take the carnival all in at the many events that stretch from the town lake up to the local ski area, about five miles apart.

There are free snowmobile rides around Highland Lake given by the local snowmobile club, as well as the annual charity basketball tournament that packs the local gym.

This winter carnival comes with as many indoor events as outdoor events – but it's all part of bringing the community together, and visitors into town, McClellan said.

It works, he said.

"For (the chamber), the payoff is when people come to Bridgton and see how great it is," he said.

BRIDGTON MUSHER'S BOWL

THE FINAL FOUR DAYS of the Bridgton Musher's Bowl will be held in and around downtown Bridgton, on Route 302.

IT COSTS JUST $1 for all of the events. The mountain bike races will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Shawnee Peak Ski Area, at 119 Mountain Road in Bridgton. Call 647-3203.

BROOMBALL will be held at 8 a.m. Sunday at Highland Lake Beach just off Main Street by the monument. Call 647-3472.

THE FREE SNOWMOBILE RIDES will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Highland Lake Beach just off Main Street by the monument. Call 647-3472.

THE PINGPONG TOURNAMENT will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bridgton Hall at 26 North High St., Bridgton. Call 647-3472.

THE DOGSLED RACES AND SKIJOURNING will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Five Fields Farm, located six miles south of Bridgton on Route 107. Call 647-3472.

MORE INFORMATION and other events can be found at www.mushersbowl.com, or by calling 647-3472.

DEIRDRE FLEMING, Portland Press Herald, January 22, 2009


Lakes: Highland Lake
Regions: Sebago


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