The big news in Maine skiing as we head into a new season is the change in ownership of two areas. Black Mountain is now a part of the Maine Winter Sports Center and Saddleback has been purchased by retired UMF professor Bill Berry in moves that bode well for both areas.

Already at Black Mountain a new double chair will service a new teaching area and snowmaking has been upgraded and expanded on both alpine and nordic trails. Night skiing has been expanded to six trails and the rental shop has been stocked with new skis and snowboards.

At Saddleback the new owner wasted no time. The entire existing trail network has been mowed and brush has been cut on the upper expert trails and inceased glade skiing coverage. Snowmaking has been expanded with a new pump, snow cannons, snowguns and hose to improve efficiency. Two new snowgroomers with all attachments have been added, the staff is growing as well to provide more services and a master plan is underway for lifts, trails and base facilities.

Mt. Abram has added a new groomer, increased the size of the rental shop, increased snowmaking capacity, renovated and enlarged the Loose Boots Lounge and added day care.

Shawnee Peak has added a special groomer for maintaining jumps, terrain features and the half pipe while being available for traditional grooming as well. The half pipe has been lengthened and room at the top has been increased with tree cutting, rock blasting and terrain smoothing. A new Blizzard’s Pub deck has been added, along with inside improvements to the base lodge.

Sugarloaf continues its trend to making everything within the boundaries skiable by adding glades in several areas. Fifty new low energy snowguns have been added to improve early season snowmaking and a new snowmaking system on Sluice will get that run open earlier. Two new groomers have been added and a new 20 passenger snow cat will transport guests to Bullwinkles for on mountain dining at night.

Sunday River has four new grooming machines and renovations to the South Ridge base lodge include new retail space, lockers, tuning shop, and rest room improvements. The biggest visible change will be seen by skiers at the top of Jordan Bowl who look down on the fairways of the new 18 hole golf course under construction and scheduled for opening next summer.

At Titcomb a new handle tow is in place for the regraded beginner’s area which will make it possible to increase the number of new skiers that can be taught. The terrain park has been expanded and two new snow cannons will increase snowmaking capacity.