With vacation under way and snow in good supply, it’s time to wish skiers everywhere a Merry Christmas.

And it’s even more important to extend those wishes to the folks who make our skiing what it is.

We also have some golf wishes to send along, even though I know many of our local pros have headed for points South, well beyond the circulation area of these pages.

We offer special greetings to Abby Spector. I know this is one family who will be closer than ever this year. The Spector family has always been close and that has surely played a big part in Abby’s fast recovery.

There is still a long way to go, but her father, Gary told me a week ago that she has regained 90 percent of her eyesight and her fine motor skills were doing well.

Rehab three times a week and yoga classes are working and her doctor recently cleared her to raise her hands over her head. Hitting golf balls has already started and this will allow full swings in another month as she works on her big motor skills.

Her dad says she wants to win another Maine Amateur title next summer.

For Abby Spector and her dad, Gary, and brother Toby, our wish is for continued success in what is a full family recovery.

There is one group at golf courses with a watchful eye on the weather. Course superintendents spent many hours putting their greens and fairways to bed for winter, but when we get snow followed by rain they get anxious. Our wish for them is that the snow protects the turf and they find things in good shape when the snow melts.

The folks who watch over golf at Sugarloaf got an early present when the town of Carrabassett voters approved a new clubhouse.

The 5,500 square-foot facility will overlook the 10th tee with a new practice green near the ninth green. There will be an expanded pro shop, restaurant and lounge, restrooms, day locker area and a screened in porch and patio.

With great views of Bigelow and Crocker, this is going to be a terrific spot to relax after a round. While the greenskeepers keep an eye out, another group is anxious for other reasons.

Snowmakers and groomers examine approaching weather systems with one eye on the thermometer and the other on the storm track. Will it be all snow or will an inland track bring rain? Will temperatures be low enough after a thaw for a quick recovery by the snowmakers?

For these hard workers who give us our great ski conditions we wish steady cold with enough natural snow to take some of the pressure off. And none of the deep freezes we had last winter.

To date we’re in good shape with the snow wish, but we could do without the rain that seems to follow each storm. But with all the cover the vacation outlook couldn’t be much better.

For one group our wish is for a lack of business. Ski patrollers will be plenty busy checking out trails, maintaining lift lines and helping skiers in little ways.

We wish them a winter free of major emergencies and no midnight searches for skiers who stray beyond the bounds of the ski area. Skiers can help by simply staying within the boundaries and following the rules of the slopes.

Ski instructors need to be endowed with patience and understanding. Skiers learn at different levels and in different ways. Let’s hope ski instructors enjoy enthusiastic students who progress rapidly up the ladder of skills.

For all who toil at ski areas to provide our pleasure on the mountain, we wish the kind of winter that keeps skiers happy. That will keep the skiers on the hill and out of the complaint department. It would be a winter with warm sunny weekends and all the snow storms occurring between Tuesday and Thursday.

That way the roads will be good for travel and groomers will have a chance to get all the trails ready for the busy weekends.

Lift attendants deserve skiers who pay attention when riding lifts, especially loading and unloading. When a lift stops, it’s rarely anything to do with the lift.

Almost every time it’s a skier who falls or gets tangled up getting on or off. Usually it’s the result of inattention and we can make their jobs easier if we pay attention.

We can all help out the mechanics in the ski shops by getting our equipment in ahead of time.

Rather than stopping on the way to the mountain we can drop off our skis after skiing so they can be done during off peak hours. This will make it easier for them to do a good job and we won’t have to wait on a ski day.

And for skiers everywhere, may you enjoy all packed powder when you try out those new Christmas skis. May those new boots fit just right giving performance, comfort and warmth from the first run. And may all your ski days feature fresh snow and sunny skies.

Merry Christmas!

Dave Irons is a freelance writer who lives in Westbrook.

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