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Maine Sunday Telegram - SKIING

March/April 2004 Ski Columns

 

 

 

“Season’s promise dimmed"
April 4, 2004

You might think the biggest story for this past winter was no snow. No doubt, precipitation in the form of fluffy flakes was disappointing. According to the National Weather Service in Gray, Portland experienced the second driest winter months on record, second only to January and February 1872.

Early December’s two huge powder storms had seemed so promising, delivering several feet of snow each. Unfortunately, they were trailed by detrimental inches of rain, even in the mountains.

Then the mercury plunged to deep-freeze for January. Below zero is too cold to snow (frigid temperatures zap any moisture from the air), and arguably too cold to ski.

The bitter snow draught was enough to send skiers into hibernation. Snowmakers however saved the slopes; they made efficient snow in the arctic weather. I really do not envy their task on those harsh, dark nights.

February brought a teaser of snow, at last, and moderate temperatures followed by another chill. Maine’s ski season peaked on the last weekend in February, when the sun came out along with everyone and their cousin to the ski slopes.

That brings me to the real news of the past winter, the $299 Sunday River/Attitash pass for the masses. That clever campaign is the most exciting stimulus I have seen in Maine skiing in years. Sunday River sold four times the number of passes as usual.

People had purchased the deal they could not refuse, which ironically was often too cold to use. Even given Mother Nature’s wrath, Sunday River entertained some sizeable crowds throughout the season.

An inspection of the Barker Mountain lift line revealed folks who had pulled their 15-year old long straight skis out of the basement in an effort to shake off winter sports withdrawal. I witnessed 1970-vintage Hexcel honeycomb skis, rear-entry Hanson boots, Suzy Chaffee style stretch pants, even safety straps. I spoke to people who had not skied, never mind bought a season pass, in a decade.

“People that I talked to in Portland, and on ski lifts, said they are skiing more,” Greg Sweetser of Ski Maine said. “A promotion like the $299 pass brings more people out, and they become more skilled, and therefore more frequent skiers. The sport can be daunting if you don’t do it often enough.”

Sweetser said the duo pass deal helped the Maine ski industry, “While skiers do shift from one resort to another, every Maine ski area has a goal of increasing overall skiers -not taking customers from other Maine mountains. Sugarloaf, Shawnee Peak and Mount Abram all have an established clientele, and they all talked about their pass sales being up as well.”

According to Sweetser, Maine is still third in Eastern skier visits behind New Hampshire and Vermont. “Everything that Maine ski resorts can do to capture more of the Boston market is good for Maine.”

Kudos to ASC for this marketing maneuver, making skiing affordable, like many of Maine’s smaller mountains do on a daily basis – but do not have the advertising budget to blitz. I think the message is clear that lapsed skiers were lured back by a bargain, and that their absence from the pricey sport was pure economics, not snow conditions.

No question, this winter’s challenging conditions presented a less than ideal reintroduction for rusty or new skiers, who probably purchased their tickets with visions of skiing on soft snow under sunny skies every weekend. I believe the reality is far fewer days of usage, making the pass good business for the resort too.

My hope is that Mainers see future deals that motivate them to the mountains. Will there be a sister product to the $299 pass for next winter?

“We will definitely offer specially priced season passes again this year,” Susan Duplessis of Sunday River communications said. “We fully expect to offer a Sunday River-Attitash product again and we are exploring other options within the ASC family.”

Shawnee Peak season pass sales were up 35% this season according to Melissa Rock. While The Peak closed last weekend, the ski area is already selling next year’s passes at deep pre-season discounts until April 9.

Mount Abram closed last weekend, one week earlier than planned. Lost Valley, Titcomb and Jefferson all went to their scheduled March closings dates.

Big Squaw’s lift accident on March 7 ended their season to the summit, as the primary double chair never reopened after the chair derailment. I hope they can resurrect the 1960’s vintage chairlift or replace it while preserving the area’s rusticity and affordability.

Bill Swain of Sugarloaf communications said, “The demand for great skiing and riding is there, but the weather in January kept many guests away. We had a very busy March. Now that Mother Nature is a little more cooperative, Sugarloafers are back in full force. We are expecting a solid spring skiing season.”

Despite fast melting snow and warm temperatures, Maine’s big three ski areas remain open. As the sun comes out on the slopes, so should you. You will have about seven months to partake in other activities, ski while you can. I hope to see you out there.

Events: Sugarloaf’s Reggae Fest is April 15-18, with a scheduled closing date of April 25. Saddleback also plans to ski until April 25, with $20 tickets during April 17-25 vacation week. Sunday River’s closing day goal is May 1, with their tradition of free skiing Maynia Day.

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"Saddleback’s back"
March 28, 2004

While many skiers are lamenting the lack of natural snow this season, Saddleback skiers are just delighted to have their slopes open. Last summer it looked like the chairlifts and T-bars would not spin at all this winter.

Instead of lying dormant, Saddleback is having its most successful season in over a decade, thanks to the new ownership by the Berry family of Farmington.

“The thought of the area not opening made us get involved,” said Bill Berry, the retired Farmington professor who purchased the 44-year-old ski area in September from Massachusetts’s owner Don Breen for more than $8 million.

Tom McAllister, general manager, said there was no substance to the rumors that Mel Gibson, or Goldie Hahn and Kurt Russell were interested in buying the 8,300-acre ski area. There was however a group from Pennsylvania that came very close to purchasing Saddleback, and would have installed high-speed lifts and modern facilities.

“That would have meant more expensive skiing. You can’t have high-speed lifts and keep prices down,” said McAllister.

“The first thing we did was lower the lift ticket prices from $49 to $35, that has brought a lot of skiers back,” said Bill Berry.

In the Berry family’s first season at Saddleback, December skier visits were up 60%, January was up 30% despite bitter cold, and February was up 86% over the previous year according to McAllister.

Last weekend at Saddleback, there was a peak mid-morning line of 50 skiers awaiting the Rangeley chairlift (a 10-minute wait), compared to a half dozen skiers on a March weekend in previous years. While more skiers are hitting Saddleback’s slopes this year, the trails remain uncrowded with soft snow because of the limited capacity of the vintage lifts - two double chairs and three t-bars

Saddleback is Maine’s third largest ski area with 44 trails, a summit of 4,116’ and the highest base elevation of any ski area in New England - which translates into considerable natural snow.

In its heyday of the 1970s-80s, Saddleback drew 45,000 skier visits annually. Those numbers had plummeted to 16,000 in recent years. The Berrys’ goal is to get back to that 45,000 statistic and it looks like they will end this season closer to 45,000 than the 16,000.

Keeping the cost of skiing down is a top goal, but improving the experience without altering the mountain’s character that people have loved for four decades is of equal concern to Berry.

Next season, Saddleback skiers and riders will find a new base lodge, essentially tripling the size of the current lodge, but eliminating several out buildings. The primary Rangeley double chairlift will receive new terminals; lowering the base so you can ski down to it (not hike up) from the lodge, and the current summit ramp will be reconfigured to be more gradual and user-friendly.

A fixed grip quad chair is in the works to encompass six new novice trails below the base lodge. This expansion will service the planned 120-room hotel. Berry said a double chair would have been his choice, but lift manufacturers are designing quads more affordably.

High-speed lifts are not on his agenda. Berry wants to limit the uphill capacity saying he likes the experience of having a narrow winding trail to yourself.

“I want to keep Saddleback as pristine as possible. I want to hide the lodge and the hotel, and give people a Maine wilderness experience. I want people to feel like they are skiing in the woods,” said Berry.

Most noticeable trail changes at Saddleback this winter included two new glade runs and renaming trails back to their 1959 original names, to reflect the Rangeley fishing heritage with flies like Jitterbug, Tightline, Blue Devil and Sneaky Pete.

“People have been very receptive to the changes we have made so far, said Berry. “Of cours, that included lowering prices.”

Greg Sweetser, executive director of Ski Maine said, “This is exciting for Maine because geographically Saddleback is between Sunday River and Sugarloaf. When the hotel opens, we will be able to offer Eastern skiers a multi-resort destination experience.”

Sweetser said Berry’s 30-year relationship with Saddleback employees, the town of Rangeley and the Maine ski industry has always been positive. “This is not just a honeymoon period for Saddleback. Bill knows the area, the mountain. He has the focus and commitment to make Saddleback a success.”

Berry said the weather was his No. 1 challenge this first winter. “We learned something from the brutal weather though,” said Berry. “The weather showed us that we don’t want to get rid of the T-bars. We were able to operate our lifts when other areas had lift closures due to wind.”

Riders of the upper mountain Kennabago T-bar will not find a comfy chair there anytime soon, as that ornery experts-only tow will remain, and continue to naturally filter out skiers and snowboarders from the summit black diamond trails. In fact, Berry hopes to acquire another T-bar for spare parts and for potential access to new backcountry terrain in Horn Bowl, part of the vast ski-able acreage he purchased.

Berry said the positive surprise has been this season’s excellent snow conditions, he credits the two new grooming machines, powerful new snow guns and the skilled grooming team who now have the tools that they previously lacked.

McAllister, the ski area’s general manager for 35 years, said all of the previous staff remained under the new ownership. “It is so nice to have an owner that is here a bit more, that listens to you and cares about the mountain.”

Country Club Inn Innkeeper Margie Jamison said she has seen a dramatic increase in skiers in Rangeley this winter.

“Berry is a dream-come-true. He is low key, he is doing everything we want, and he has the financial backing to make things happen. We are thrilled,” said Jamison.

Bill Berry emphasizes Saddleback has nine owners now, including his wife Irene and their seven children, all skiers. Mark Berry is the most involved; he lives in nearby Farmington and has the experience of working at Titcomb Mountain.

Saddleback’s ticket prices of $35 weekends/holidays and $28 mid-week this season will remain in place for 2004-2005. The Berry’s goal is to provide as much value for as long a ski season as possible. Saddleback’s closing date is projected to be April 25th this year.

Events: The biggest events of ski season are in April. Sunday River hosts the 16th Bust and Burn mogul event plus pond-skimming April 3-4, Sugarloaf hosts special Easter activities April 11.

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"Mount Abram backdrop for skiers' exceptional friendship"
March 21, 2004

Bud Brennon of Kennebunkport is the ultimate ski buddy. Every week, he picks up Fred Grantham and takes him skiing at Mount Abram. “Fred’s father, Mike Grantham, was a ski instructor at Mount Abram and a friend of mine,’ Brennon said. When Fred’s dad died of a heart attack eight years ago on the hill, I wanted to do something. So I picked Fred up one Friday and took him skiing.”

At the end of that first ski day together, Fred said to Bud, “Same time next week?” Brennon admits he could not say no to Fred. Brennon has been dependably taking Fred skiing since that day seven years ago, saying that he has inherited him as a ski buddy.

If Bud Brennon is the most dedicated ski friend you could ask for, then his companion Fred is worth his weight in gold. Gold ski medals that is, since Fred is probably the most decorated ski athlete in Maine. He has been wining races for two decades. Fred Grantham of Hollis is a 29-year old with Down syndrome.

“When Fred first started skiing, no one thought he would be able to learn the sport. Now he can carve as well as anyone on the mountain,” said Brennon.

This February at Waterville Valley’s Special Olympics, Fred earned Gold medals in Slalom and Giant Slalom, plus a Bronze in Downhill. “I am pretty fast,” said Fred Grantham. “But I really like to see all my friends when I go to the Olympics.”

Brennon is a volunteer at the New Hampshire Special Olympics and he brings Fred to the annual competition. Brennon said, “I think they could get by without me at Special Olympics, but everyone would really miss Fred if he was not there. Everyone looks forward to seeing him, he becomes friends with everyone he meets.“

Sharon Smith Landry, Fred’s mother, said, “Fred is such a role model to others with Down syndrome. He is such a people-person, whether it is at church, at his work at Walmart in Biddeford, or at the ski area.”

Brennon said, “Fred is on hand at Mount Abram every weekend, always with a tremendous smile for everyone.”

Krister Rollins, ski school director, has been at Mount Abram since 1980, and taught skiing with Fred’s father, and Fred’s two brothers, Andrew and Jason Grantham. “Fred is always helping out and he has a great attitude. He really wants to please people,” said Rollins.

In the Grantham tradition, Fred has earned his ski school jacket and skiing privilege for the past eight seasons by helping out at the ski area. Brennon said, “Fred is very much a part of the ski school, he will do anything he is asked, he will lug gates for a race, shovel snow, anything. And he does it with a smile.”

“Fred has a personality that just spreads happiness. Everyone at the mountain knows him and just thinks he is great,” said Brennon. “Anything that Fred does is genuine, and everything that he says comes from the heart.”

Pete Preble, Mount Abram ski patrol said, “At our Ski Patrol Auction this year, we recognized Fred for his medal accomplishment at the Special Olympics. Fred got up and gave Bud a very heartwarming thank you in front of the whole crowd.” There were few dry eyes in the room after Fred spoke.

"My dad started me skiing before he died,” said Fred, “Now I can win medals. I love to show other people like me that they can do whatever they want if they try.”

Susan Burns, owner of Mount Abram, said, “One of my favorite days every ski season is when Freddy returns from competitions with shiny medals around his neck. Not only are we all proud of him but it is such a pleasure to see him beaming with his own pride.”

Brennon said, “Mount Abram has always been like a big family, and Fred is a special part of that. He can call me his coach, his driver, or whatever he wants, but to me he is just my very special friend. Right Fred?”

“Yes,” said Fred, “we are best friends.”

Each year since 1997, the “most valuable ski instructor award” is given to a Mount Abram instructor in memory of Fred’s father Michael Grantham who died on the mountain March 23, 1996. Bud Brennon is a past recipient of that honor.

I would like to dedicate this column to Calvin Mahoney on his second birthday.
 

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"Making tracks with the Mount Washington ski train"
March 14, 2004

Imagine skiing faster than a locomotive. You will have your chance next winter, as the first ski train in North America will debut on Mount Washington.

My family and I participated in a recent trial run as we rode the first Cog Railway ski train. This one-of-a-kind adventure starts at the Marshfield Railway Station at 2,700-feet elevation, on the western flanks of Mount Washington. You board the train, dressed for skiing, and take a seat in heated comfort of the historic railway coach, which holds about 70 passengers.

In classic train fashion, the whistle blows and the Cog starts to churn and chug its way up the track of the Northeast’s highest peak. The Cog is the only railway still operating entirely by coal-fired steam, which you are reminded of as smoke swirls around the train windows.

The cogwheel train is pushed methodically up Mount Washington by an engine car behind, giving passengers an uninterrupted view up the tracks toward the summit. Along the 15-minute ascent, this is no high-speed quad, the views of the surrounding White Mountain National Forest open up. It is a nostalgic ride; the same journey people have been making on this train for 135 years, only you are making your mark as one of the first generation to ride in winter and to ski down.

The novelty of this “rail riding” was certainly more thrilling than any terrain park for my children. Kids love trains, and a ski train is super exciting since there is the anticipation of the ensuing run on snow.

With a final shrill and a huff, the train stops at the 3,800-foot Waumbeg Station, about a third of the way up the Cog’s summer route to the 6,288-foot summit. With skis in hand, we disembark onto the platform, ready to ski down one of the two trails that run parallel to the tracks on each side.

A skier’s natural instinct is to immediately push off and earn first tracks down the 1,100 vertical. If you do so, you will beat your train down without contest. What is truly unique however is to wait for the train’s departure, and ski alongside this piece of history.

It is a rush to hear the clicking of the tracks and smell the steam of the engine, while you carve your own tracks right in time to the brightly colored rail car next to you.

The folks that remain on board wave and take photos. My kids raced the train, passed the train in a dozen swift turns, then stopped to do it again multiple times as we descended the mile-long snow-covered trail toward the base station.

The Cog Railway was the first mountain climbing train in the world when it opened in 1869. History will be written again, as the Cog opens as a ski train next winter bringing passengers up, to ski down this side of Mount Washington.

“To find a similar ski train experience, you would have to go to Europe,” said Doug Waites, The Cog Railway marketing director. “This is an exciting event in history for the Cog Railway, and for New England skiers it will be an incredibly unique experience.”

The snow trails that border each side of the tracks have the pitch of a novice run, although because of their narrow width, about 30-feet across, skiing here is best suited for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. Beginners may find it challenging, since the trails are considerably tighter than today’s average ski area boulevard. The terrain will be groomed, and snowmaking will be added for next winter.

I should explain that this downhill experience is not of Tuckerman’s caliber, nor is the train a vehicle to access the Ravine or any of the other high-alpine terrain on Washington. You do not come here to rack up vertical either. This is not backcountry by rail. It is purely a nostalgic, fun day and a very memorable experience.

Preliminary prices for the ski train experience are $25 for a single ride (round trip or one way to access the ski trails) or $59 for a full day and multiple rides. Starting next winter, the train will operate daily, and stay open year round.

The Cog Railway is owned and operated by Joel Bedor and Wayne Presby, who purchased the Cog in 1983. Bedor and Presby are no strangers to ski area management as owners of adjacent Bretton Woods Ski Area, an area they have developed into New Hampshire’s largest since purchasing it in 1997. These partners also own the famous Hotel Mount Washington, which made history four years ago when it opened for its inaugural winter season.

The introduction of the Cog Railway ski train represents a blast from the past combined with a unique uphill/downhill experience for skiers and riders. Next season, make plans to ski alongside the train and make your own first tracks in history.

Events: Sunday River will host the 19th Annual Maine Handicapped Ski-A-Thon fundraiser on March 20 and the 14th Annual Firefighter Race plus Chili cook-off on March 21.

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"A slice of skiing's future at Sunday River"

March 7, 2004

Does your young rider or skier have the mettle to medal? Does your kid have the caliber to win prizes and Colorado ski trips?

That was the question posed last weekend, as Sunday River hosted its first on-snow talent search for 9- to13-year-olds. The Next X Snow Search is holding try-outs at ski areas across North America, giving young snowboarders and skiers a chance to show their stuff, and compete for a sponsored trip to the finals at Keystone, Colorado, April 2-4, 2004.

“This a great new event at Sunday River,” said Doug Sanford of Shapleigh, the event’s commentator and parent of 11-year-old competitor Jordan. “These younger, talented kids usually have to compete with 18- to 20-year-olds. It is nice to see them have an opportunity to compete here in Maine, with their peers, in a multi-discipline venue that tests all around skills.”

Even though heavy hitters like Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine, Nintendo, Burton, and Snowmonsters.com, sponsor the North American Next X Snow tour, few people were aware of the inaugural Maine event.

Even fewer participated –less than 20 kids, including only two girls. The majority of the competitors were from Gould’s weekend GSR freestyle program, with a handful from Sugarloaf’s CVA weekend program.

Keith Donadt, from Northboro, MA, discovered the event on Sunday River’s website just days prior. “My son Evan is 13, he is in the GSR weekend program, so this is a fun event for him to try. The prize trip to Keystone sounds great but that is not why we are here. Most of the kids are just out having fun with it, they don’t even look like they are competing,” said Donadt.

The 9- to 13-year-olds performed in the halfpipe, a short set of bumps, gates and rollers on Saturday, followed by slopestyle on Sunday.

Slopestyle is like an on-snow salad bar of huge jumps and rails, with a quarter-pipe ramp at the finish. Young contestants pick their jump size (large or behemoth), and their preferred rail (crazy or sick) to slide along. The criterion for judging was style, attitude, and personality, as well all-round skiing and riding ability.

The beautiful sunshine and 30-degree temps last Saturday and Sunday brought out plenty of spectators for the superpipe and big air events at Barker Mountain. Prevalent among the crowd were contestants’ parents, with emotions ranging from anxious to proud, to downright competitive.

Patty Rodway of Rangeley, said her 11-year-old son Alex takes this competition very seriously. Alex is enrolled in the CVA weekend program, and travels almost every weekend to compete. Rodway was not enticed by the prize trip to Keystone, “Actually we are looking for a wild card slot to nationals in Angel Fire, New Mexico,” she said.

John Reilly, age 12 of Acton, Mass., admitted to being really nervous about the big jump at the slopestyle start. Other amateur kids chose not to enter the event when they saw the pro-size jumps and the deck stacked with competitors who train regularly in Gould and CVA programs.

Alex Graves of Bethel, served as one of the event judges. Graves is Sunday River’s terrain park builder, and he designed the event’s venue. Graves has six years experience, and is certified for judging both ski and snowboard sanctioned events.

“The caliber of skiing and riding I am seeing with these young kids blows my mind,” said Graves. “I am seeing huge spins, and a lot of style coming out. Of course, I am also looking for overall control because these little kids are hitting the big kicker and some of the tricks these days are getting out of hand.”

The youth talent search coincided with a Riderfest series with competitors 14 to over 40 years old. “Having the little kids compete along with the older gets them really amped up, and definitely takes them to the next level,” said Graves.

Unfortunately the next level for a few youngsters resulted in big falls off the big air jumps. At one point, announcer Sanford mentioned that aspirin should be issued at the start.

Patty Rodway said, “I pick where I stand at these events - nearest the big jump in case my son falls. As I watch, I think to myself land it, land it, and when he does I go – ‘phew’.”

“Snowboarding and freestyle are a younger generation game, Sunday River’s resources are primarily directed toward ski racing – so this event was a nice opportunity for kids who are not ‘stick-chasers’ (that’s what my son calls racers),” said Sanford.

His son, 11-year old snowboarder Jordan Sanford, won the two-day event, along with Hannah Blackburn, 12-year-old snowboard girl from Windham who trains at CVA. They both receive a Sunday River sponsored trip to the finals at Keystone. The Colorado competition will be broadcast on NBC Sports on April 11.

“This event will showcase the future of skiing and snowboarding on TV,” said Jack Turner of SnowMonsters.com. “I believe these young athletes will do as much to inspire kids as the Olympic athletes.” The Next X Snow search is the first all-mountain, all equipment, all person snowsports championship for young kids.

Events: Shawnee Peak announces Carload Mondays throughout March. Get all your friends and family into one car, and you all get a full day/night lift ticket for just $50 per carload. You must arrive between 8:30-11am, and pay cash, no buses or passenger vans.