Turns out that Maine ski areas are undergoing some serious expansion. We
mentioned Sugarloaf Mountain just yesterday as one of the
nation’s top ten ski areas. Now it turns out that several other areas are about to undergo
major expansion. Black
Mountain in Rumford, Big Rock in Mars Hill and Saddleback in western Maine are all making plans to attract more
visitors from both in and out of state and to “re-establish skiing as a lifestyle in Maine”. I guess this means were
going to have to haul our asses up north to give Maine skiiing a try.
Top Ten Ski Resorts for Experts
Ski and Snowboard lists its top ten ski resorts for experts, and I have to say I mostly agree. As I write this,
having just returned from snowboarding on Mammoth
Mountain — SIX inches of freshie — I am glad it made the list. The only area I’m not so sure about is Sugarloaf. Maybe
someone can enlighten me why it should make the list while Vail and its backbowls do not.
2. Snowbird, UT and
Alta, UT
3. Whistler Blackcomb, BC, Canada
5. Taos, NM
7. Kirkwood, CA
Photo of the Week (12/28)
Photo of the week is this sweet
photo by Skye Chalmers of skier Noel Lazenby being devoured by powder while having some backcountry bliss in
Vermont. Really make you want to wax up the boards and hit the sweet virgin.
Uphilling Quite the Workout
There’s a growing trend at ski resorts which is providing a great workout. A new form
of skiing or snowboarding? Nope. Uphilling, Red Nova
reports, involves ditching the ski lift and instead hiking up the slope to the start of the run wearing gear
ranging from snowshoes to skis with climbing skins. People typically then ski or walk down. Trainers in particular are
recommending this to athletes as a great way to get the cardio going and give those leg muscles something to scream
about. There’s even a growing number of races targeted towards the uphiller set.
Globe Ski Section
I am packing for and pondering my imminent trip to California where I will be spending
several days attacking the slopes at Mammoth Mountain, probably my
favorite slope on the West Coast (OK, maybe Whistler’s better, but I meant the US West Coat). Anyway, in preparation, I
did some clicking around the various online pubs and found this rather extensive
ski section by the Boston Globe. Now, I don’t
recall Boston being much of a skiing Mecca, but then again it relatively is close to Stowe or Killington, Vermont and
some other East Coast shusshing spots. Anyway, the site has got loads of info on ski areas, weather, events, and
deals, but also links to Web cams that
are kind of entertaining. Worth a look by East Coasters jonseing for the approaching season.