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Try Carving Slopes Instead of Turkey

December 03, 2008 - While most are gathered around the Thanksgiving table, carving turkey with relatives – core skiers and riders are carving turns in Maine's manufactured snow with their fellow fanatics. These are the downhill die-hards, the hopelessly hill bound (myself included).

Thanksgiving is traditionally the start of ski season, although with modern snowmaking, ski resorts continue to push the season earlier. Sunday River's been open for four weekends already in a man-made blizzard of snow.

Maine ski maniacs don't have to miss out on mashed potatoes and gravy if they choose the slopes over siblings, aunts and uncles today. At Sugarloaf, donate a new toy and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at the Sugarloaf Inn for half price (just $10 for adults, and $6 for children after donating to Turkey for Toys).

Making those long-awaited first turns is far more exciting than that anticipated slice of pumpkin pie, in my humble opinion. Breaking out equipment that was stored and stiff for the past seven to eight months and making the pilgrimage to the mountains beats any meal tradition.

My mom always said on our first run of the season, "I hope I remember how to do this." Like riding a bicycle, the fluid muscle memory comes back, and you quickly rejoin the sensation of gliding and turning on snow, even if you are breaking out brand new boards this season (lucky you).

This weekend, Sunday River hosts Demo Days. Ski and snowboard manufacturers, Atomic, Volkl, K2, Rossignol, Burton – to name a few, will drive their equipment-stocked vans up to the slopes and open their doors to reveal this year's hard goods. For $10, with a quick binding adjustment, you can sample brand new equipment from your favorite line, or try several models from each fleet.

Whether you are in the market for new boards, maybe you are making out your wish list for the holidays, or you just want to feel the latest innovation and technology underfoot – Demo Days are a unique opportunity. I will warn you that Demo Days can result in serious craving for new gear. If you miss this "try before you buy" weekend at Sunday River, catch Demo Days Dec. 13-14 at Sugarloaf.

FATTER IS BETTER

Having seen samples of this season's skis and snowboards, I can report that the widening of America has come to ski equipment. Skis are fattening up, with widths of 115-135 millimeters in the shovel (the widest section in the front of the ski).

To think, in the 1980s our skis were in the 80-millimeter range for width. Easterners were slow to get on the wide ski movement that's been hot out West for a decade, in part due to our hard-pack conditions and our race heritage on sharp, tapered skis. But now most skis displayed in the shops are at least "mid-fat." Tips and tails are turned up equally – to the point that a novice might not know which end is up, so to speak. Today's fat skis are easier to turn, have the carving capabilities of their slimmer predecessors, and they float through powder (or crud) better.

THE LATEST IN SKI WEAR

As the season unfolds, new outfits unveil themselves on the slopes. Of course, there are plenty of us out there in our reliable black ski pants and solid parka. One of the funniest new fads in the soft wear market is the return of Day-Glo ski clothing. I kid you not, the blindingly bright (practically plugged in) colors that were the rage in the '70s and '80s are now reappearing on teenage skiers and snowboarders.

These superbright coats and pants started to pop up last season in Maine's terrain parks. Electric yellow, green and orange were easy to spot. When Simon Dumont launched his world-record breaking 35-foot jump at Sunday River last April, he sported bright red and yellow, which just happened to coordinate perfectly with sponsor Red Bull's signage. So maybe earth tones are expired and pastel camouflage is pass (I never understood that particular trend anyway – are you trying to blend or to be a cute hunter?).

While bright fluorescents are huge, white is also popular on the ski scene this season. I'm not sure who the brain child behind this blanched color composition is. Can you say "white out?" At least Day Glo is easily seen in a blizzard or a photo.

Regardless of color, new ski and snowboard fashions are extremely functional. Technical fabrics are lightweight but especially wind and water resistant. Jackets and pants are decked out with zips for ventilation, goggle wipes, pockets for everything from passes to iPods and phones.

Clothing is audio compatible, gloves come with Bluetooth so with a tap of the finger, you're talking to your extended family on Thanksgiving (explaining your absence perhaps). This technology alleviates cold phone fingers, but it may annoy your chairlift neighbor when you talk to your thumb and not them.

Helmets continue to evolve from the heavy bucket head models of old, to lighter more technological versions. You can open vents, snap on a visor, play music through ear flap speakers, and all this can weigh under a pound.

So, gobble your turkey dinner, get out on the slopes and see what's new. I think you will be thankful for the exceptional early-season conditions at Sugarloaf and Sunday River. I hope to see you out on the slopes.

HEATHER BURKE, Maine Sunday Telegram, November 27, 2008


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