A Maine Season to remember on snow
Column by Heather Burke Nov. 25, 2007
- It would be an injustice to begin this season’s column without
commenting on the phenomenal ending to last winter. You see, last
season’s skiing continued well after my wrap of ink on April Fools’ Day.
The best conditions of the year, no fooling, were awarded to those who
just kept skiing. Never before have I put my skis away for the season -
four times, only to pull them out again the following weekend as
snowstorm after snowstorm rolled in.
While many Mainers were taking off for sunshine in Florida, and getting
delayed in snowy airports, diehard downhillers who headed to the slopes
hit the real jackpot.
Sunday River received 146 inches of snow in March & April, only 44
inches prior to that. Sugarloaf received 95 inches of snow in April
alone, allowing for skiing on the front and back snowfields. Saddleback
closed April 15 with all trails open. The Loaf and The River kept their
lifts spinning through vacation week, till April 29, with top to bottom
coverage on most of their terrain, even glade trails that had not been
open all winter.
Of course last season’s records are old and cold like yesterday’s
coffee. But let it serve as a reminder that ski seasons slow to start
can end with a bang. For those eager to get skiing, remember to pace
yourself during these early season turns. Sometimes winter starts early,
and fades in March. Last December and January were lame in skiers’ terms
– but April, as aforementioned, was a skier and boarder’s bonanza.
We also concluded last season with rumors rampant as to what would
happen to the ownership of struggling ASC and Maine’s two largest
resorts. In August, our questions were answered as Boyne USA took the
reins of Sugarloaf and Sunday River - things were looking up for Mainers
(while ASC went down the tubes).
Maine Ski Areas first to open in North East
Already Michigan-based Boyne USA raced to the starting line and opened
first and second in New England at sisters Sunday River and Sugarloaf.
They eclipsed the perennial early bird of the past Killington, whose new
parent company Powdr no longer prioritizes those first dibs.
Maine’s most zealous skiers have already made their first turns at
Sugarloaf and Sunday River this month. I personally found the fresh
man-made snow last weekend had a similar consistency to the reliable ASC
blown snow - satiny and smooth under my skis. Only this season’s snow
felt better to me – since it holds the promise of more good things to
come down the proverbial pipeline.
The two sadder notes from last season’s epic spring skiing was the loss
of two great Mainers on the slopes. The first, Abby Holman, the
legislator died tragically in a ski accident at Sugarloaf on Easter
weekend.
And on April 26, we lost Dennis Parsons, a 25 year lift attendant at
Sugarloaf whom I had referred to several times in this space as the
cheeriest liftee in the biz. I always enjoyed his salutations, like
“don’t be shy” and “don’t forget your smile.” On the Saturday before
closing, April 29, with all the trails open, Sugarloaf stopped the quad
for two minutes in remembrance of Dennis – skiers were silent. He will
be missed at the base of the Superquad, and Abby Holman’s absence will
be felt throughout the ski community as well. They both certainly
embraced life to the fullest, and should be in our ski memories.
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All Stories by Heather Burke
All Photography by Greg Burke
