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Maine Sunday Telegram 

Guide to Skiing 2004 -2005

 

 

 

“Maine's ski areas get a lift or two"

Greg Sweetser, director of Ski Maine, says there is new energy and excitement in Maine for the first time in several years, with new lifts and new leaders at the helm of ski areas around the state.

"This is an exciting sign for Maine skiers, especially as community ski areas are receiving capital investment and new management," said Sweetser. "I think Maine skiers and riders can anticipate changes for the better at ski areas with new general managers including Titcomb, Black, Camden Snowbowl and Big Rock. And of course there is so much happening at Saddleback."

Saddleback debuts a new quad chair, seven new trails, expanded snowmaking coverage, and a brand new base lodge - three times the size of the original lodge, (that is not a typo - Saddleback now has a quad).

Skiers will see dramatic improvements on opening day Dec. 18, upgrades that Saddleback's new proprietors, the Berry family, were not able to implement when they bought the resort last fall.

As part of Bill Berry's plan, the new lower mountain quad replaces the old South Branch T-bar and doubles its length, to serve new beginner terrain on this gentle slope below the expanded base lodge. Next summer, construction will begin on a slopeside hotel, which will be located adjacent to this beginner area.

Also, the Rangeley chair has been modified with a new loading station below the base lodge; no more hiking up to the chair, and a more gradual top unload ramp, no more luge.

In an effort to rejuvenate Saddleback as a family destination, prices will remain the same as last season. The terrain park and pipe will have a permanent home on the Wheeler slope, which should allow prime viewing from the Sandy chair and from the lodge. The first improvement apparent at Saddleback is the paved access road - which previously warranted double black diamond status for bumps and potholes on the way to the slopes.

Black Mountain is the other extreme ski area makeover in Maine. The Rumford ski area has doubled its vertical this year to 1,150 feet with a new Dopplemayr triple chair, which will take skiers to the top of the mountain, and bring the trail count to 20 from the previous 12. Black also constructed a new 12,000-square-foot day lodge.

Terri-Anne Bennett, formerly Sunday River's director of Maine Handicap Skiing, comes to Black as the new general manager.

"Now that Maine Winter Sports is involved at Black Mountain, I look forward to carrying out their mission of re-creating skiing as a way of life in our Maine communities. We are launching many new programs with local businesses, school kids, and families to make skiing a healthy, accessible activity for everyone," said Bennett.

Black is also making national news as the first ski area in the nation to adopt a resort wide no-smoking policy. Black is prohibiting the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco in the parking lot, lodge, lifts and trails. Bennett said, "The no-smoking policy re-enforces our commitment of providing a healthy environment at Black."

So the previously humble hill in Rumford is now a more serious ski mountain, with a top-notch lodge, and a mission of getting more Mainers out on the slopes by lowering lift ticket prices ($18 a day for adults/$14 for juniors all day).

Sunday River has opened for its 45th season with a new general manager, Dana Bullen.

"I have watched Sunday River's expansion over the years, and I am looking forward to guiding the resort in this new era," said Bullen, who has 16 years experience in the ski business. "We have an aggressive capital improvement plan for our base facilities during the next several years, we're committed to improving our customer service, and staying focused on snowmaking and grooming."

Sunday River's Jordan cafe, Barker and South Ridge base lodges have been expanded and food service improved. On the slopes, Sunday River has four new high-end Bombardier groomers and increased snowmaking to smooth the way for all those anticipated All East bargain pass purchasers

Sugarloaf will launch a new Superpipe this season, located between Lower Winter's Way and the former Gondi Line.

"This superpipe will establish Sugarloaf as the premiere halfpipe venue and training facility in the East," Rich Wilkinson, Sugarloaf's vice president of operations, said, "and serve as a high-end training ground to cultivate future Olympians and champions."

Sugarloaf now offers multiple park and pipe options, including the previous superpipe with walls lowered to 12 feet; the Quarantine Zone and The Stomping Grounds, which vary in difficulty.

Sugarloaf plans to open Nov. 19, with discounted lift tickets that weekend for every donation of three canned food items.

Mount Abram is all lit up about its season. The Burns family added lights to the T-bar for Saturday night racing, and will now be open both Friday and Saturday for night skiing.

"The tubing has been really well-received," owner Susan Burns said, "so we are glad to be able to add a second tubing run for the season as well as increasing our night skiing."

Mount Abram plans to open Dec. 18 with free skiing for emergency medical personnel, an annual tradition.

At Shawnee Peak, it's all about paved parking lots, pruned pines and pass deals. On the mountain, glades have been expanded on Last Chance. Shawnee Peak will continue $10 Monday night ski tickets and the $209 Sunday pass, and introduce a new $209 night skiing pass and a $20 Maine resident day on Dec. 16. Shawnee Peak plans to open Dec. 11 offering $15 tickets with a food pantry donation.

Lost Valley changed hands in July, when the five-year management team completed its sweat-equity agreement. Diane Moreau, co-owner, said skiers and riders will see upgrades in the lodge plus four new trails in the terrain park, designed by Maine park designer Josh Lempert of Snowgrind and Sunday River fame.

Lost Valley opens Dec. 17, and will continue to offer ski by the hour tickets, at $13 for 2 hours of skiing.

Camden Snow Bowl has a new general manager, Jeff Kuller.

"I came to Camden because it is such a unique community-based family ski area," Kuller said, "and I am just part of that team. My vision is to offer more activities, bringing back ice skating and cross-country."

Camden skiers and riders will find increased snowmaking, a new glade trail, and improvements to last year's terrain park. Prices will not change, and traditional school programs, night skiing and toboggan competitions (celebrating 15 years) will carry on, according to Kuller.

The news from Big Squaw in Greenville is less promising. The summit double chair, which had a chair-grip malfunction last March, is at a standstill, said Willie Charles, hotel manager at the Greenville mountain.

"The state is involved and it doesn't look like the chair to the summit, which is almost 40 years old, will run this winter," Charles said. "The owner has looked into a new replacement chairlift or a possible retro-fit, but I doubt that anything can be done in time for this season."

The lower mountain triple chair at Squaw will operate, snowmaking has been added to the Rip Gorge trail located under this lift, and prices will remain the same for the coming season, with plans to open Thanksgiving, weather permitting.

"Maine has been hovering around 1.3 million skier visits," Sweetser said. "The biggest boost to Maine skiing has historically corresponded to new lifts and real estate development. Sunday River and Sugarloaf have carried the load in Maine skiing in the past by adding lifts, and developing real estate around the base.

"It's great for Maine's inland economy, which has experienced other losses, to have increased numbers at ski areas. It creates jobs, it improves business and everyone is happy - not just the skiers," said Sweetser. "With recent changes and improvements at Maine's other ski areas like Saddleback and Black, my goal is to see 1.4 million skier visits in Maine."