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Top 10 of '09 Maine Skiing

April 07, 2009 - I am not done skiing yet. Not even close, my friends. I plan to make ski tracks until late April. It is time, however, to highlight the top 10 from the top of Maine's ski mountains. These are, in my view, the most notable events and appreciated improvements at Maine alpine resorts over the last (best) winter months.

• 1: Headlining this season is simply – the snow. Let face it folks, Maine is in a snow belt. The mountains have been belted with as much as 17 feet of snow at higher elevations like Sugarloaf and Saddleback. This was a welcome repeat of last year, unless you aren't a fan of snow sports and snow shoveling. In a challenging economy, a strong snow season is like "pennies from heaven" for resort operators. Greg Sweetser of Ski Maine reported good attendance at Maine's community ski areas thanks to the snow.

• 2: Sunday River's Chondola made the biggest splash (at $7 million) on Maine's slopes this season. Pronounce chondola how you will (like chandelier or gorgonzola), this 21st century hybrid, high speed lift catapults Sunday River into the leagues of fancy fall line resorts. Skiers came from far and wide for the new ride, and 12-hour skiing at the River was a huge hit as skiers enjoyed carving under the lights Friday, Saturday and holiday nights.

• 3. Shawnee Peak took night skiing past curfew this season and the crowds loved it. The lifts kept spinning on Pleasant Mountain till 1 a.m. on Jan. 3 and March 7 for skiing and riding "Under the Stars." Melissa Rock of Shawnee Peak said this late night skiing is slated to expand next season. To think, my mother said nothing good happens after midnight.

• 4. Saddleback gets a place in the top 10 for replacing the summit T-bar with a well-received, well-ridden quad chairlift. The new Kennebago chair provides skiers and riders of all abilities cushy access to what is arguably the most scenic summit in Maine. And since the uphill capacity is not high speed, the downhill serenity is preserved.

• 5. Mount Abram saw new ownership and new energy this season. Art McNeally, Mount Abram marketing director, reported a great first year, citing new policies like "Backcountry Wednesday" and "Boundary to Boundary" skiing as attracting more telemark skiers and those looking for a more Western- style skiing where you can ski off trail.

• 6. You don't have to be tall and mighty to make a big impact. Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, with a whopping 2,000 vertical inches of skiing (166 feet), hosted 150 Maine kids absolutely free with equipment and instruction.

Shawnee Peak sent 30 instructors with equipment to this 1939 original ski area on a Friday night to provide free lessons. Each new skier and snowboarder also received a free Shawnee Peak lift ticket.

Sugarloaf sent instructors to Mt. Jefferson Ski Area in Lee in a similar neighborly ski gesture. Cathy Witherspoon of Sugarloaf's Perfect Turn said she hopes this program will expand in future years to teach more free lessons, and involve other small ski areas.

• 7. Sunday River hosted an impressive World Cup Snowboard event; transforming the usually sinuous Sunday Punch into a knockdown, drag-out boarder cross with behemoth banked turns and big air for the world's best snowboarders.

• 8. Great news for Maine ski pass purchasers: Boyne is bringing back the New England Pass next season, valid at Sugarloaf and Sunday River (plus Loon in New Hampshire) for the same price as this year. Buy your pass by April 30 for the best deal and take advantage of the three-installment payment plan with no interest. That's what I call a ski stimulus package.

• 9. On a personal note, I was so proud of my son for becoming a ski instructor this season. Seeing your 16-year-old teach tiny kids to turn really warms a mom's heart. It also perpetuates a legacy, since his father and I taught skiing, as did my mom.

I can't mention one child and not the other (I seriously don't know how "octo-mom" will manage). The best ski day for me was when my daughter rejoined us on the slopes three months after her early season ski injury (good thing Maine winters are long). She worked diligently at her physical therapy, and has renewed love and respect of our favorite family sport.

• 10. Keep in mind that the best of the ski season may be the rest of the season. Saddleback, Sunday River and Sugarloaf have mounds of snow and many events still to celebrate from the Park Shark Challenge, to Bust n' Burn Parrot Head, The Dumont Cup, and Reggaefest respectively.

April is traditionally the second snowiest month, and while grass is greening up on the coast, I guarantee the mountains will see more snow in the coming weeks. Sugarloaf is once again aiming to be the last resort standing in the East, with skiing into early May as they did last season (May 5).

I hope to see you out there. And thanks for reading this season.

HEATHER BURKE, Portland Press Herald, April 2, 2009


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