Sugarloaf hosts homecoming for Seth Wescott
Column by Heather Burke March 2010

The stars aligned last weekend at The Loaf. The March sunshine came out on the slopes, the previous week’s snowfall sparkled like white silk on 138 trails and the skiers came out to play. At Sugarloaf, these are the days you wait for all winter; these are the days you dream about all summer.

For Seth Wescott, the dream was a hero’s homecoming celebration, as he snowboarded down The Landing on this sunny Saturday afternoon, led by a long parade of enthusiastic kids, instructors and ambassadors on skis and snowboards waving “welcome home Seth” flags.

Thousands had gathered at Sugarloaf’s “Beach,” most on skis and snowboards but some with snowshoes, baby strollers, even dogs. The Sugarloaf spirit was effervescent as folks cheered, the music played and Wescott rode up to Sugarloaf’s Base Lodge deck, his second podium in two weeks. The big snow cone that is Sugarloaf Mountain served as the backdrop for the homecoming ceremony.

Governor Baldacci was there to congratulate Wescott, and to proclaim Seth an Official Ambassador for the State of Maine. Baldacci said, “Seth made Maine proud, and he never forgot his roots.” The Governor then declared March 6 official “Seth Wescott Day.”

Wearing his cool, coveted Burton US Snowboard Team outfit (which is not available for retail sale – I checked) Wescott spoke to the huge crowd and his emotions were hard to contain. “It’s amazing to represent the country, but for me in my heart, when I am on that world stage I am representing Maine. I love coming home and having the opportunity to thank everyone here that supported me and helped in my success.”

“I have had the opportunity to travel the globe, but I love coming home to Sugarloaf,” said Wescott to the crowd of local Loafers, staff members and visitors alike. “This is my second time bringing home the Gold to Maine. I would like to make a habit of this.”

Wescott was brief with his words and obviously emotionally overwhelmed by the number of fans that came out to greet him. Perhaps his brevity was because he knew that skiers and riders would want to get back to Sugarloaf’s trails and the legendary snowfields that beckoned above. Or maybe he looked out at the crowd of eager kids who all wanted his autograph and knew he needed to get busy signing.

Seth did indeed sign for several hours, speaking to thousands as he wrote his swooping S autograph on posters, helmets, coats and boards. “I’ll sign until I get carpal tunnel,” said Seth jokingly. Wescott has made a point of “giving back” with his participation as spokesperson for Maine’s Winterkids campaign and as a role model for the state.

“It’s awesome for these kids to get to meet their idol, and get his autograph,” said Heidi Mills of Brunswick. “It’s great that Sugarloaf had this big celebration for Seth. And it’s symbolic that the homecoming is on such a sunny day with epic snow conditions.”

“Seth is the man,” said Sawyer Therriault of Cape Elizabeth. “The Olympics were awesome to watch, especially the Snowboard cross with Seth bringing another gold home to Sugarloaf Maine. I think he can compete again in four years. That would be cool to see him win again in Russia (2014 Winter Games). The fact that Seth is such a nice guy makes it even better.”

Seth Wescott is indeed a diplomat on a snowboard, and now a Maine Ambassador as deemed by the Governor. Seth is certainly not resting on his success since Vancouver. His Sugarloaf appearance was also a kick off to his “VISA Seth Wescott Ride with Me Tour,” where he will be touring the nation talking about his Olympic victory and sharing his passion for snowboarding to inspire young people to get active and go after their dreams.

“Seth is absolutely amazing,” said John Ritzo, Headmaster at CVA where Wescott graduated in 1994. “To see three CVA Athletes compete and win four medals was wonderful.” Bode Miller (CVA ’96) won three medals, while Wescott earned his second Gold - the only two Gold medals ever awarded in his sport of Snowboard Cross – which he successfully petitioned the International Olympic Committee to include in the 2006 Torino Winter Games.

Soon you will be reaching for your breakfast cereal and see Wescott on your Wheaties box. Impressive stuff for a Maine kid who didn’t grow up in a ski family but started skateboarding on a red plastic skateboard, then skiing on a pair of skis borrowed from his cousin, before the fateful switch to snowboarding at age ten. He then trained intensely at his home hill of Sugarloaf and turned his talent and his passion into Gold.

Ethan Austin, Sugarloaf Communications Director, said, “We all love Seth here at Sugarloaf. In many ways Seth is what this place is all about.”

Loafers are a passionate people; Seth Wescott’s Homecoming weekend was proof. Skiers parked along the Mountain Road (parking lots were full), waited patiently for their turn to meet Seth, and hiked in ski and snowboard boots up the snow rime-covered windswept summit to ski the front and back Snowfields from 4,237’.

Sugarloafers are a loyal bunch too. Of the many Loafers I talked to over the weekend, most of them ski Sugarloaf exclusively despite their reciprocal pass to Sunday River and Loon. The fact that Seth Wescott chose Sugarloaf as his first public appearance since winning his second Olympic Gold medal is a prime example of that loyalty.

Of course, not everyone skiing and riding Sugarloaf last weekend had come to see Wescott.

“I had no idea he was going to be here today. I just came to ski Sugarloaf. I had heard so much about this place, so I came for the fresh snow. They got five feet of snow here in the past week and now the sun is out. It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Mike Eduardo from Bermuda. “Now that I know Seth Wescott rides here, well that is really cool too.”

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