Maine Sunday Telegram - SKIING  
January 30, 2005 “This is probably the most exciting day of my life,” said Ethan Carter of Rumford, as he awaited the opening of the new triple chairlift at Black Mountain. Carter has been skiing at the Rumford hill since he was four; he now serves as a race coach.  The
new triple, installed last fall, opened on Saturday, Jan. 16 to a
small crowd of eager skiers and riders. The grand opening of Black’s
new summit lift, more than doubling the area’s vertical from 470-feet
to 1,150-feet; was far quieter than at other ski areas, no ribbon
cutting, TV coverage or dedication by the Governor. Shiny new blue
lift towers and cushy chairs, a new palatial pine day lodge, and
perfectly paved parking lot are all intended purely for the locals.
Aaron Cayer of Rumford said after his inaugural chair ride and run down the new Upper Androscoggin Trail, “That first run was awesome, worth waiting years for.” Chummy Broomhall, a figurehead at Black Mountain since its inception in 1962, said, “I never thought we would see the day. This new lift is amazing, these are exciting times for Black.” Broomhall watched the first triple chairlift riders from the Ski Museum Room of Black Mountain’s grand new base lodge. Broomhall, in his eighties, has retired his skis after a Hall of Fame career including twice competing in the Olympics, serving in the revered 10th Mountain Division, and performing as Chief of Course at numerous Olympics. “For my family and I, this is a dream come true,” said Broomhall. “For the last ten years, we have been hanging on by our teeth to keep the ski area open. Now with Maine Winter Sports, we have this beautiful new lodge, more snowmaking, and this great lift to the top.” Maine Winter Sports Center (MWSC) purchased Black, thanks to a grant from the Portland-based Libra Foundation. Andy Shepard, MWSC’s CEO said, “Our goal is to re-establish skiing as a lifestyle in the Rumford area by investing in the quality of the skiing experience and in the development of programs that engage people of all ages.” Broomhall explained that in its heyday, Black Mountain (also referred to as Chisolm Ski Club) was a social center and provided healthy recreation for mill employees and their families. “We used to climb up to ski,” said Broomhall. “Skiing has given me so much joy and friendships. We need to bring back that healthy, social activity. Youth obesity is a real problem these days, and part of our program is to get kids outside and exercising.” Tom DeLuca of Hanover considers the Nordic terrain at Black to be the best in Maine, and among the top five in New England. “Black has hosted National Championships and Collegiate competitions. Now that they have improved the alpine side with a triple to the summit and over a thousand feet of vertical, they have made it.” Chris Dickson, ski patroller at Black Mountain, said, “This new lift is great for the community, I hope it sparks lots of new interest, bringing more skiers out.” John Morang of Dixfield was inspired by Maine Winter Sports’ investment. Morang had not skied in ten years, but decided this was the year to buy new equipment and tickets to ski at Black. “My seven year old daughter has learned to ski in the new programs here,” said Morang. “This place would not be able to run without Maine Winter Sports, so this is a great thing for families like us in the community.” Kate Kelly of Rumford has skied Black for 40-years, her father worked at the mill for 45 years. “People are coming back to the sport because it is affordable and it is exciting again,” said Kelly who worked at Sunday River for 10 years prior to returning to Black. “I love working with the local people here. Volunteers are doing so much of the work; Maine Winter Sports looks for local involvement. Their mission is all about engaging the community.” Posters throughout the expansive new post and beam lodge state, “Historic Black Mountain of Maine, where the past comes alive everyday.” That motto is certainly reflected in the flashback prices. Lift ticket prices are the lowest in New England, according to General Manager Terrie Anne Bennett, $18 a day and a half-day ticket is $11. Private ski lessons are $25-30 per hour, versus $70 at Maine’s ASC resorts. And the affordable emphasis continues into the homey cafeteria with $.75 hot cocoa, versus over $2.25 at major ski areas. Jeff Knight, mountain manager at Black since 1980, remembers when Black had just the T-bar. “People have been waiting a long time for this new lift. We are seeing a lot of new faces this season,” said Knight. I was one of those new faces, skiing Black for the first time with my family on the triple’s opening day. The machine-made snow quality and grooming were exceptionally good. The views of the River Valley from the summit are beautiful. We shared the slopes with only a couple of hundred other skiers on that Saturday, a pleasant treat compared to resorts where “skier density “and “peak time” are oft-used phrases. While Black Mountain’s improvements are community based, I recommend a day trip to this up and coming, but historic ski area. Don’t miss Chummy’s personal ski photo collection in the lodge and the donated Adirondack chairs by the stone fireplace in the Last Run Lounge. Jan. 23, 2005 Have you always wanted to ski long after the lifts stop, to the light of the moon? How about skiing in the dark carrying a flaming torch?  “Skiing
at night in the torchlight parade is such a unique experience, you get
a great view, it is kind of nostalgic,” said Alan Ormondroyd of
Carrabassett Valley, a Perfect Turn Coach at Sugarloaf.If this evening ski adventure sounds enticing to you, you will have your chance Friday, January 28 to “Carry the Torch.” The revered torchlight parade at Sugarloaf will for the first time be open to guests, an activity previously reserved for ski patrol and instructors. “Guests have been asking to participate in the torchlight parade for years, but we weren’t able to allow that for a number of reasons. We are finally able to include them, and we’re making it part of our fundraising effort for the Maine Cancer Foundation, it should be a great event,” said Bill Swain, communications director at Sugarloaf. Swain actually contacted the Guinness World Record organization to enter this history-making torchlight ski event into the record books. “I found out that a Torchlight Parade record was set in 2000 in Switzerland, with over 1,300 people,” said Swain. “We could not achieve those numbers in our first year but we may aim for that next year. This year we are hoping for a couple of hundred torch bearers.” The Carry the Torch for the Cure parade on Friday, January 28 is the kick-off to a weekend of drumming up dough on snow. To be a Torch Bearer, skiers and riders must contribute at least $25 to the Maine Cancer Foundation. This is a new twist on Sugarloaf’s Charity Summit weekend, now in its 6th year.  The
weekend Charity Summit continues Saturday with a ski and snowboard
race. The Sugarloaf Charity Challenge is a cordial but competitive
showdown on the Boardwalk trail. Speedy times are important, but
buying down your results with donations is an even faster way to
finish first. Prizes are awarded to the top racers, and any one who raises $1,200 will receive a new pair of Rossi Bandit skis or snowboard. Sugarloafers definitely know how to have a Ball. Saturday night will be the culminating Charity Ball, a “feel good” party as more money is raised with a live auction of Sugarloaf items signed by Bode Miller, Tiger Woods and tickets to the Red Sox/Yankees opener. One lucky Loafer will win a classic Sugarloaf gondola car at the Base Lodge bash. Governor Angus King, Joanie Benoit Samuelson, and WMTW’s Steve Minich will be attending. The all-female Edith Jones Project will provide music for dancing. The Charity Ball is open to all; tickets are $50 per person, or $90 per couple, free for fundraisers of $600 or more. In the past five years, this event has raised more than $200,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Maine charity. Meredith Strang Burgess of Cumberland, Sugarloafer since 1960 and breast cancer survivor since 1999, is the catalyst in dedicating this year’s fundraising to cancer. “When I was going through my treatment, my Sugarloaf friends were so supportive and skiing was my inspiration. There is a real connection for this event to benefit Maine Cancer, with a portion going to the Martha Webber Cancer Awareness Fund, Martha was a Sugarloafer who died of breast cancer,” said Burgess. John Diller, Sugarloaf President said, “The Charity Summit is a fun way to spend the weekend with friends on the slopes of Sugarloaf and make a very substantial contribution in the fight against the illness that touches so many lives.” Those interested in Torch Bearing must be 18, pre-register, and be able to ski black diamond terrain without ski poles (remember you will be carrying a flaming torch). Words of caution include wearing eye protection and older ski clothing, as sparks and ash may damage your duds during the dark descent. Omondroyd said, “The torchlight parade is not glamorous, but it is an awesome, unforgettable experience. Kudos and hats off to any one joining us for the first time in this fun event, for such a worthy cause.” To register for the Sugarloaf Charity Summit: www.sugarloaf.com/charity.html Jan. 16, 2005 My chairlift neighbor had more piercing and tattoos than you see at a Harley-Davidson Poker Run. We chatted about the conditions; he said the parks were “primo.” As he slid down the ramp on his snowboard he shouted over his shoulder, “Be safe.” Why did this strike me as odd? Do snowboarders push the sport of downhill sliding beyond its “safe” boundaries? That may be the perception, but is it a fair rap?  The
sport of snowboarding has caused a groundswell of Terrain Parks that
have radically altered the slopes. According to Sporting Goods
Manufacturing Association, snowboarding has increased 221.2 percent in
the past decade. 80% of ski areas now have parks. How are resorts managing the mayhem, you might ask? As we enter National Ski Area Safety Week, Jan 15-21, many Maine ski areas are promoting “Smart Style.” What sounds like a college-prep fashion trend is actually a 3-point code to address safety in Terrain parks and halfpipes. “The Smart Style signs help put park etiquette and rules into an easily understood forum,” said Patrol Director Matt Bell of Black Mountain. “At the entrance of our park is a huge sign with the NSAA approved language for Park Courtesy,” said Melissa Rock of Shawnee Peak. The orange signs simplify etiquette into three bullets: 1. Look before you leap, 2. Easy style it, and 3. Respect gets respect. Olympic Gold medalist Ross Powers is a spokesperson for Burton Snowboards, the originator of the one-plank movement and collaborator on “Smart Style.” Powers explains Smart Style #1, “Safety in terrain parks is really important from scoping stuff before you hit it so you don’t go too big and clear the landing or go too small and come up short.” Pro-riders recommend a preliminary run through the park to inspect the size of the elements, the approach and landings, and the snow conditions, then have a spotter make sure the feature is clear before take off. Simply put –“look before you leap.” “Easy style it” tells riders and skiers to start small and work up to larger, more difficult elements. “Respect gets respect. When dropping into the halfpipe, call that you are going first and say ‘Drop in,” says Powers. “Know the rules, like getting out of the landing quickly. You don’t want someone to come off behind you and hit you and ruin both your days.” An additional sign I have seen posted in parks states, “Check yourself before you wreck yourself,” with a graphic stickman impaled on a rail. “Safety and courtesy are key in any park with limited terrain holding a larger than normal number of skiers per yard,” said Rock. “Shawnee Peak employs three fulltime park rangers to keep the elements and halfpipe in the best shape possible. Our trained rangers are an offshoot of ski patrol, they are always on the lookout for opportunities to share etiquette training.” Lost Valley dedicates 3 of their 15 trails to terrain jumps and features and employs a park staff to shovel, rake and groom the elements. Diane Moreau, co-owner of Lost Valley said, “Ski patrol frequently sweep the park to maintain safety.” Camden Snow Bowl’s terrain park has grown substantially over the past few years according to Park Manager Geoff James, with safety as a primary concern. Camden participates in Smart Style. “Our park crew includes several teenagers who are peers of many of the users, and as such can communicate well with them the responsible use of the park.” “Mt Abram has a core group of riders who take great pride in the safe and friendly operation of the parks,” said Patrol co-director Vicki Wharton-Goodman. “They enhance our efforts (ski school, patrol, and mountain operations) to stay within the guidelines of Smart Style.” Patroller Bell said, “Terrain park safety is multi-faceted. A coordinated effort between the ski patrol, the park builders, signage and the park users make for a user-friendly yet challenging environment. There is etiquette, and regular users of freestyle terrain follow the Smart Style recommendations.” While Emily Post would probably not have chosen to snowboard, she may have given a polite nod to the new wave of etiquette amongst energetic rail riders and snow surfers. Maybe it is time for skiers to give a new rap to riders? Jan. 9, 2005 “If your New Year’s resolution is to go with the flow, then you may want to flow to “The River” where they have taken the expression to a whole new level. Skiers at Sunday River cannot miss the new florescent green “Go With the Flow” signs strategically placed all over the eight mountains.  Some skiers appear confused as to what this “Go With the Flow” is all
about. Nick Handanos of Portland was skiing Sunday River on New Year’s
Day. Handanos has skied the River for years, but did not know what the
“Go With The Flow” signs meant. He was not alone. My brother in law,
Stuart Burke of Hopkinton MA, thought the signage was a promotion for
some type of “flow” ski boot. Not all skiers have learned or retained the seven point Skiers’ Responsibility Code, which has been around for decades, endorsed by the National Ski Patrol and often found on ski area trail maps, napkins, signs and lift tickets. In an effort to simplify the safety message for a keep it simple society, Marvin Collins, Sunday River’s Vice President of Operations, has implemented the “Go with the Flow” program. The new green banner campaign is intended to encourage skiers and riders to use judgment and moderate their speed specifically when entering a learning zone, a family skiing area, trail merges and lift loading zones. “People feel intimidated when others whiz by them faster than they can go,” said Collins. “We need to give beginners and intermediates their space on the mountain without feeling intimidated.” Beth Limerick of Portland has been a Sunday River Perfect Turn coach for over a decade. Limerick said, “I think Marvin Collin’s new concept is great because fast and slow mean different things to different abilities. Some people have lost their sensitivity of what it is like to be a beginner or to be teaching a child to ski. I applaud the Go With The Flow and hope it works to remind people to be more considerate.” “I think the lack of courtesy on the slopes is a function of the times,” said Dana Temple of Cape Elizabeth who has skied at Sunday River for 20 years. “The equipment has changed things too, shaped skis and snowboards are designed to carve big fast arcs. Go with the Flow makes sense in that you should slow down in a beginner area, but that could also be misinterpreted by inexperienced skiers who may feel they need to ski faster than they are comfortable.” Heather Manning of Hingham Mass, who was skiing with her family on school vacation said, “Go with the flow is a problem if you are not comfortable skiing as fast as the other skiers around you.” Courtesy on the slopes is not unlike that on our highways. Most drivers are courteous and obey posted signs, but it only takes one reckless speeder to cause an accident. More advanced skiers are comfortable moving at faster speeds. Go With The Flow zones are reminders to be conscientious of less experienced skiers and riders in that area. “Once you clear the Go With the Flow environment, you can ski to your level,” said Tim Bruce, Sunday River’s Risk Manager, and former Ski Patrol Director. “Go With The Flow is a simple common sense approach, our way of addressing courtesy on the slopes,” said Susan Duplessis of Sunday River communications. “We wanted to spark some interest. We would like to see the message become ingrained in our guests. It has been part of our staff orientation. It is even a topic in our website chat room, although there are a few jokes, people are discussing how it really makes sense.” One Sunday River Chat Room participant commented, “It is their way of indirectly saying slow down, because if they just say SLOW DOWN no one is going to listen.” “My biggest issue with skiers is that some people still do not know the Responsibility Code, they don’t look up the hill before pushing off, and they ski too fast for their ability,” said Katy Coughlan of Yarmouth. “This new program does not do any good if people do not know what it means. Perhaps Sunday River can get this Go With The Flow message out better.” Chris Labbe of Topsham said her two children have learned all about this safety initiative from their instructors. “My kids are in the River Runners program, and each day they spend time in class talking about safe skiing,” said Labbe. “Everyone wants to have the same fun experience and wants to be safe,” said Nick Handanos. “I think people for the most part are very courteous on the slopes.” Handanos admits that he does not know the seven point responsibility code, but he could relate to the simplicity of Go With the Flow. I resolved to go with the flow at Sunday River. I proceeded with caution through the marked green zones, then pointed my boards toward the flow of freshly made silky soft snow on White Heat. I think we should all Go With The Flow in 2005. Sidebar: Skiers and Riders, Your Responsibility Code: 1. Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects. 2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them. 3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above. 4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others. 5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment. 6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas. 7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.
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Adventure
was the topic of a ski conference at
Dan
Egan, host of the new weekly winter Television series