Top 10 of Ski Season in Maine
Maine Sunday Telegram Column by Heather Burke April 2010

Winters in Maine can resemble a roller coaster ride. This season was no exception, with as many ups and downs as a ski patrol on a chairlift. Here is my recap of the highs and lows in Maine skiing.

The season started off on a high note with Sunday River opening first in the East at the wickedly early date of October 14, eclipsing their own tradition of Halloween the previous few years.
October and November flip flopped. October felt cold like November, and November felt like October. Everyone but skiers and snowmakers were giving thanks for the balmy temperatures through Thanksgiving. Sugarloaf had to delay opening until Nov. 28.

December’s high point had to be Sunday River’s 50th anniversary celebration. The resort rocked like it was 1959, with a record number of revelers at the South Ridge party sampling local restaurants’ food, watching fire dancers and fireworks.

The New Year brought new snow, up to three feet, to the delight (and salvation) of Maine ski resorts, like pennies from heaven. Saddleback unveiled their new glade trail, Casablanca. This 44-acre tree lined terrain is the largest glade in the East. Conrad Klefos, director of marketing at Saddleback, said, “Now Saddleback skis bigger than Jay.” Klefos should know as he was Jay Peak’s marketing director for 20 years. Casablanca is only one-third developed so look for more acres of glades in seasons to come.

You can’t think of February without remembering Olympic fever, and Seth Wescott’s Gold medal repeat performance at Cypress Mountain, Boyne owned like his home hill - Sugarloaf. Bode Miller banked another three podiums to make Carrabassett Valley Academy’s medal haul bigger than any other ski academy in the world.

Late February’s big dump made skiers and riders delirious throughout the Pine Tree snow coated state. Admittedly five feet of heavy snow caused more than a few quirks for lift operators, but resort folk never complain about too much snow.

It was enough snow to get lost in, literally. Thankfully, the four snowboarders who dropped beyond the boundaries of Sugarloaf Mountain were found (and fined). That was both a Maine season highlight for the boys and the rescue team, and a lesson to all not to ski beyond resort boundaries or you could be spending a cold night in a snow cave, then spending money on your rescue expense – or worse.

March, typically Maine’s snowiest month, had minimal snow for the second season in row, but Maine’s big three (Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Saddleback) will all be skiing well into April, with a combination of manmade depths and occasional elevation snow.
 
Mt Abram concluded a successful season last weekend with pass sales up 5%, and increased day traffic as well thanks to specials like Two for one Thursday and Carload Fridays where everyone in the car skis for $75, according to Kevin Rosenberg, director of marketing at Mt Abram. New events like Friday Night racing for school kids and Full Moon Hikes - where skiers hike up and ski down to the Loose Boots lounge for live music, were also well attended at Mt Abram.

Shawnee Peak wrapped up last weekend. Shawnee celebrated 20 years of night skiing with a new low-priced Night Pass which sold in record numbers, over 1,500 according to Melissa Rock at Shawnee Peak.

Saddleback introduced a hugely successful student season pass campaign; The Maine Peak Pass was just $49 for any Maine student achieving Honor Roll. Saddleback issued over 2,400 Maine Peak Passes according to Klefos. “We smashed every expectation this season; we were hoping to do about 1,000 Peak Passes.”

WinterKids, the Maine organization focused on improving kids’ health, saw “record smashing success this season” according to Fran Mullen, Executive Director. “We taught 2,363 kids how to get active outdoors in winter at schools across Maine. That’s 49% more children than last year, which also broke records.”

During National Safety Awareness Week, WinterKids gave 156 brand new free ski helmets to Maine kids thanks to The Barbara Bush Pediatric Trauma Team. WinterKids also introduced 100 kids and their parents to skiing and snowboarding at the first annual Cooper Campbell Day at Shawnee Peak, in memory of a Portland teen who loved skiing and died tragically two years ago.

The Maine Ski A Thon’s 25th annual fundraiser took place at Sunday River last weekend, raising over $300,000 for Maine Handicapped Skiing.

Big Rock celebrated 50 years this season, along with Sunday River. Next season, expect big news and anniversary parties at Saddleback celebrating 50 years of skiing and Sugarloaf for their 60th. Season passes are already on sale at most mountains for next season at considerable savings.

Of course this season’s roller coast ride hasn’t come to a halt yet. Some of the biggest events in Maine skiing will roll out over the next two weekends. Sunday River’s Parrot Head and Bust n Burn are next weekend along with Saddleback’s Park Shark, and The Loaf’s legendary Reggaefest is April 15-18.

I hope to see you on the slopes. And thanks for reading this season.

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