Thrills and Spills! A History of Rossland Winter Carnival’s Bobsled Races
The Sonny Samuelson Memorial Bobsled Race is one of the most unique and anticipated features of the Rossland Winter Carnival. The race sees daring competitors race down Rossland’s steepest street in homemade bobsleds - reaching speeds that commonly exceed 70 kilometres per hour. The rules of the race are simple: four-person teams, any homemade contraption on runners, and two runs down Spokane Street. The team with the fastest combined time wins.
Proud local carnival enthusiasts may try to tell you this event, a longstanding piece of Rossland’s Carnival, is over 100 years old. Those same people may also try to tell you that the Rossland Winter Carnival is the longest continuous winter carnival in Canada, running since 1898. Unfortunately, they would be wrong on two fronts. It took until the late 1940s for the Rossland Carnival to introduce bobsled races, following a three-decade gap where no Carnival was hosted. Luckily, the true history of these races is almost as exciting as the lore. Much like the bobsled races themselves, it’s a history full of community spirit, unexpected bumps and turns, and a whole lot of local character.
A2024.029.1: The “Council’s Pipe Dream” team, consisting of Rossland Mayor Kathy Moore and city councillors John Greene, Andy Morel, and Aaron Cosbey, races down Spokane during the 2018 Bobsled Race. The team didn’t reach the podium, but it did win an award - “Most Honest.” This prize is given to the sled that completes both runs with the slowest total time. Prizes for the slowest contestants have been given out since the very first race in 1947, placing the team in good company.
Before the Bobsled: Rossland’s Original Winter Carnival
Rossland’s Winter Carnival began over 100 years ago, running continuously from 1898 until 1917. These first years of the Carnival had a heavy focus on skiing-related events and incorporated influence from Quebec’s Carnaval and more general Quebecois recreation culture. As such, they lacked the bobsled races we see today. However, those with an adventurous spirit could still find their adrenaline fix of sliding fast downhill - and not just on skis.
The most infamous precursor to bobsled racing in these early carnivals was the toboggan track known as “The Zip.” The Zip was set up down Spokane or Washington Street most years, and consisted of a banked ice track roughly three feet wide and five feet high, flooded by the fire department for maximum icy speeds. Reports from one local who timed himself and friends taking the run says you could reach up to 90 miles an hour on the Zip. Carnival-goers bought tickets to ride the run, which was kept open throughout the entire Carnival. Much like today’s bobsled races, spectating the Zip was an activity in itself, with many people lining the street to watch the brave tobogganers make their runs.
Early Rossland resident Erna Coombes remarked, “You really took your life in your hands when you went down that toboggan slide.” She also remembers one man receiving serious injuries due to a crash on the Zip.
2286.0024: The “Zip” Toboggan slide set up down Washington Street in the early 1900s.
2291.0017: postcard from the 1907 Winter Carnival showcasing the fearsome Zip.
2286.0027: C.O. Lalonde and Mrs. Empey compete in the 1906 toboggan races, triumphing with a first-place finish.
The early Carnivals also experimented with other bobsled-adjacent races, including adult toboggan races and coasting races for children. Running from 1898 to 1902, coasting races were offered for children with age categories up to 16 years. These races invited participants to construct their own sleds, similar in spirit to summertime soap-box racing. Large coasters or bobsleds got their own category and were limited to crews of no less than three or more than six. The first prize in 1900 was set at $15. For unknown reasons, these races were scrapped in 1903 and never made a return. A toboggan race also seems to have been an intermittent part of the festivities, with evidence they were held at least in 1905, 1906 and 1915. Both male and female racers raced together, vying for cash prizes.
In 1918 the Carnival was not held. What likely started as a temporary pause in response to the ongoing War effort and the Spanish Flu epidemic turned into a long-term discontinuation of the Carnival as financial troubles mounted in the 1930s, followed by the outbreak of the Second World War at the end of the decade, which dampened both spirits and coffers. As a result, the Rossland Winter Carnival was not held again until 1947.
Debut of the Bobsled Race
Clipping from the Rossland Miner on February 9th, 1949 discussing the Miner’s two long entries into the bobsleigh competition.
Bobsled races made their Rossland Winter Carnival debut in 1947, the same year the Carnival itself was revived - re-branded as the “Rossland Sno Sho” - after a 29-year pause. The races were one of many new features added to the Carnival during its revival, including many novelty events like smoosh and canoe races. Racers were divided by age, including under 14, under 18, and open categories competing for cash prizes. Senior races ran down the same race track used today - from the top of Spokane Street at McLeod Avenue down to Columbia Avenue. Rivalries were fierce, but this didn’t stop the racers from having a little fun. Creative sled names and decorations, home-made sleds, and costumes were a common sight. Just like nowadays, the early races saw a large showing from local businesses and institutions, including bobsled entries representing the Rossland Miner, Davies Transfer, city employees, City Garage, and the Rossland Legion, among others.
These original bobsled races ran from 1947 until 1954, and returned again from 1965 to 1967. At this point, the races went to the wayside, shortly followed by the entire Winter Carnival, which went on another hiatus until 1979. The reasons for this second lapse of the Carnival is unknown.
2349.0232: A bobsled team gives it their all during a 1940s race.
A2022.000.004.001a: Photo of the “Three Musketeers” bobsled team taken during the 1949 Rossland Winter Carnival bobsled races. The team announced their return for the 1950 races through a letter in the Rossland Miner that read: “We wish to announce that we will arrive by dog sleigh to enter the sno-sho bobsled race, and with the aid of atomic power we aim to take first place.” The previous year’s winners, the Cameramen, let the Miner know in response to their letter that “Atomic power notwithstanding, they will be there trying.”
But why bobsledding?
2336.0048: Children brave the snow in pre-1900s Rossland.
Of course, not all Carnival events reflect the general winter activities popular among Rosslanders at the time. As mentioned above, many novelty events were added to the Carnival during the 1940s revival. However, in the case of the bobsled races, their addition in the 1940s was actually a lot less left-field than many others. In fact, bobsledding was a popular pastime in Rossland, especially among the town’s youth.
Similar to present-day toboggan and sledding culture, during the first half of the 20th century, bobsledding was a common recreational pastime for youth in Rossland. Children and teens would take their ‘bobs,’ as they were colloquially known, all over, including the hills and mountain trails around town as well down city streets. Apparently even for recreational rides, speed was revered; early Rossland resident Lou Crowe recalled that “dragging,” meaning breaking, was reserved only for the shameful scaredy-cats.
2341.0202: The CPR Passenger Train makes its way up to Rossland, January 1933
The intrepid youth of Rossland were not afraid to leave Rossland on their bobbing adventures, either - many would slide all the way down to Trail! Once in Trail, they would enjoy a movie at the theatre or hockey game at the arena, before returning back home, often via public transportation. Prior to the closure of passenger rail services to Rossland in 1937, it was common for youth to grab a ride back up the hill on the CPR evening train. Early Rossland residents have recounted how the trains were equipped with special hooks to which you could attach your bobsleds, and on many a snowy evening, you would see the train chock-full of bobsleds and youth.
While finding a way back up the Rossland-Trail hill with your sled became more difficult after the closure of the rail service, some resourceful kids still found ways to hitch a ride. Some have recounted how once the train service stopped, youth would still ride down to Trail on their bobsleds, now finding rides home by hooking the bobsleds to the backs of cars. One reckless former youth recounted hitching rides home using the public bus. He and his friends would wait at a railway crossing, hiding in the snowbank. When the bus pulled up, it was required to stop at the crossing, at which point the kids would hook their sleds to the back of the bus and climb up the back ladder (installed for mail deliverers) to sit on the roof of the bus for the ride back up to Rossland. This system seemed to have worked well, except for one hapless party that tried to pull this stunt while an RCMP car waited behind the bus; the result was the officer throwing their sleds over the bank and a very long walk home.
The Revival of the Bobsled Races
The reasons for the Winter Carnival’s hiatus through most of the 1970s, as well as the specific circumstances that led to its revival, are not known. What is known, however, is that the Winter Carnival was revived in 1979, bringing back old favourite events and introducing new ones. However, despite their earlier popularity, the bobsled races did not return until 1987. The revival was thanks to City of Rossland foreman and local snowmobile shop owner Sonny Samuelson, who pushed for their return. Spurred by Sonny’s initiative, the races were reinstated, thanks to the support of local business XL Welding acting as the primary sponsor and event organizer, the City of Rossland public works crew, who donated time and equipment to prepare the track, and many dedicated volunteers. Just like their predecessors, these races invited brave teams of four to rocket down the town’s steepest streets in bobsleds of their own design.
A2024.031.017: Jeff Martin, Mike Trask, Dean Meikle and Brad Novakoff pray for success during the 1987 Bobsled Races.
A2024.031.001: Racers Lisa Letoria, Lynn Russel, Lael Phillips, and Pam Martin wait with their bobsled at Columbia Avenue and Spokane Street for a lift back up the hill during the 1988 bobsled races.
With its revival in the late-1980s, the Bobsled Race originally returned to its classic Spokane Street route. In subsequent years, the organizers experimented with other routes, including the trails at Monte Cristo and Deer Park mountains as well as Mann Road near Red Mountain. In the end, though, nothing beat Spokane Street’s steep slope and central location. This track route still remains as the daunting race track to this day.
The Pink Canoe at its first ever race, held at Monte Cristo in 2003 or 2004. This sled may well be the most famous ever to race in the event, capturing the imagination of children and adults alike. Thank you to Jay Zanussi for sharing this photo!
A2024.031.005: Jeff’s Collision bobsled entry races down Spokane Street during the 1989 Bobsled Race.
Sonny Sameulson passed away in 1987, the same year the races were revived. It was decided to rename the event the Sonny Samuelson Memorial Bobsled Race, in his honour.
A2024.028.205: The SS Instigator bobsled team crosses the finish line at the 2008 Bobsled Race. This bobsled was built by Sonny Samuelson in 1987, but Sonny never got to race her, as he died before the 1988 competition. The name comes from Sonny’s initials and the fact that he was a well-known ‘instigator.’ Despite its age, the Instigator is still one of the most successful sleds in the lineup.
Safety First
The January 26th, 1950 Rossland Miner shares highlights from the 1949 bobsled races
A2024.028.281, A2024.028.285, and A2024.028.288: A bobsled team crashes over the finish line during the 2008 bobsled races. Photos by Kelly Acheson
Everyone loves a good crash! While spills are an inevitability of the races, over the years, the event has evolved to include a number of safety features. Starting in the late-1990s, all sleds must have functioning brakes and be cleared by a safety officer, and all racers must wear helmets. Concerted efforts have also been made to minimize pedestrian accidents through crowd control and careful track set-up. The bobsled organizers have shown constant dedication over the years since to continue improving safety.
The Woody’s Tire and Auto bobsled crashes out during a race in the 1990s. Woody’s is a longstanding bobsled team still competing to this day, often represented by both ‘daughters’ and ‘sons’ sleds.
Liability has clearly been on the minds of race organizers for many decades. Liability waivers have been signed by racers since the very first race in 1947. The 1968 Carnival agenda published in the Rossland Miner went even further, highlighting that the Carnival Committee would not be held responsible for any injuries or accidents that occurred over the Carnival, and warning spectators that they were watching events at their own personal risk and responsibility. More recent organizers, anticipating the damage that a spectator injury could cause to their insurance costs for the event, took a page from this same book, suggesting in 2003 that City Council declare downtown Rossland a ‘no sue zone’ during the Winter Carnival. Unfortunately, no such arrangement could be reached.
A2024.030.009: The Dam Fast Eager Beaver bobsled team poses with their new team member Rick Mercer in 2010. Mercer had been unaware of the amateur nature of the races, noting that racing down Spokane Street, he “hugged Greg harder than I have ever hugged any man.”
The Rick Mercer Report Visits Rossland
2010 was an exciting year for the Rossland Winter Carnival. Not only did the Olympic Torch make its way down Columbia Avenue on its way to the Vancouver Winter Olympics, but Canadian television star Rick Mercer joined in on the carnival festivities. Mercer visited to film a segment on the Rossland Winter Carnival for his show The Rick Mercer Report. During his visit, he partook in many elements of the Carnival - touring bustling main street, visiting the ice palace, learning to luge, and, of course, racing in the bobsled races. Rick was invited to join a long-running race team, The Dam Fast Eager Beaver. Mercer had much to say about the event, remarking in his memoir that “each team was a fashion show, each sled a triumph of engineering.”
The Bobsled Race that Could
Locals know the recent tumultuous history of the Bobsled Races, with many stops and starts leaving us nervous the race could be on its last legs. However, what is less common knowledge is that the on-again-off-again nature of the races has been a feature since its start. Alongside the race’s disappearance in the 1960s and 70s, many incidents have led to the event’s cancellation or threat of cancellation.
A2024.028.448; The Liquid Courage races down the course at the 2008 Bobsled Races. Built by Travis Drake and friends while attending Rossland Secondary School (RSS), Liquid Courage has the honour of holding one of the most podium finishes - and was Rick Mercer's favourite sled!
An unexpected thaw in temperatures in 1950 forced the cancellation of all street events, including the races. More recently, in the early-2000s, insurance woes threatened the continuation of the event. The rising cost of insurance for the event almost led to its complete cancellation, as organizers could not find the extra funds needed to cover insurance costs. However, a last-minute donation from the Nelson and District Credit Union in 2004 and the City of Rossland in 2005 saved the day. In 2009, organizers again warned that the event would likely be cancelled, this time due to unruly spectators who refused to respect the requests of the crowd control officers.
2024.19.1: Kelly Acheson’s Bobsled T-Shirt, modified to reflect the tumultuous past 5 years of the race.
A mix of all these challenges have again caused cancellations or modifications to the bobsled races in the past five years. Exceptionally warm weather cancelled the bobsled race in 2020, as there simply wasn’t the snow and ice to create the track. Organizers in 2021 made the tough decision to cancel the Winter Carnival as they could not find a safe way to hold the events in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While crowds could again gather (with precautions) in 2022 and 2023, hikes in insurance costs meant there was no money to hold the event, and many worried that the era of the bobsled race was over.
However, the event continues to prevail. In 2024, the Winter Carnival Society announced the triumphant return of the bobsled races. The comeback was nearly ruined, however, by warm rainy weather hampering track development, leading to the event to be held on a modified, shortened track. Excellent weather conditions in 2025 allowed the event to return to the old lengthy racetrack down the entire length of Spokane St. While lack of funding, volunteers, and safety concerns still threaten the event’s continuation, at least for now, the race remains.
Thank you!
This essay was created in conjunction with an outreach exhibit displayed at Curiosity Clothing during the 2025 Winter Carnival. Much like the bobsled races themselves, both the exhibit and the research that went into this essay were only possible thanks to the support given by local Rosslanders who helped the Museum record the history of the bobsled races. A huge thank you to Kelly Acheson, Gerry Woodhouse, Pam Martin, Jon Marion, Richie Samuelson, Aaron Cosbey, Travis Drake, Scott Urqhuart, Jay Zanussi, and countless others for your donations, stories, clarifications, and enthusiasm for this project.
Written by Hannah Klemmensen
Sources:
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