February is the peak month of most ski seasons. Normal weather patterns mean plenty of snow, and temperatures are cold enough to make even more snow and maintain good skiing. At the same time, the days are getting longer. It’s the month when skiers do the most skiing, with many families planning around school vacations.

My plan is simple. Monday, I will be at Mt. Snow checking out next year’s Volkl skis. The next three days will be spent at Stratton Mountain at the annual On-Snow Expo skiing on all the other lines. Over a four-day period, I will get on 30-40 different skis, check out new boots and look over some of the accessories. All the manufacturers will have their new products on hand to show ski shop owners, buyers and employees what they will be selling before the start of the next season. Look for a report on what to look for next year in a couple of weeks.

After that, the focus will be on skiing as many areas as possible by day and maybe add in an overnight trip or two. Of course, there will also be plenty of events. The sharpest focus in competition will be the Olympics, but locally, state high school championships will peak during the vacation week.

Both Mt. Abram and Sunday River will be hosting some of these competitions.

The games run from Feb. 10 through the 26. The full schedule can be found on www.usskiteam.com. We know there will be Maine skiers to watch, and we’re beginning to learn who they will be. Everyone expects Bode Miller and Kirsten Clark will be there and CVA has some others. Farmington’s Seth Wescott was included as expected of the reigning Snowboard Cross World Champion when the snowboard team was officially named.

They’re following a great tradition. There has been a Maine skier in every Olympics since 1948 and over thirty are members of the U.S. Ski Team alumni. The 2006 games will be no different. Now if we can just get NBC to cover a few more ski races instead of figure skating.

Freestyle teams named

This past week the freestyle team was named, and the folks at CVA were disappointed when David DiGravio was left off the team. DiGravio was named a few weeks ago to the U.S. Ski Team, but the four who were named are veterans and the Farmington rider could easily be in Vancouver in 2010.

Another CVA grad, Emily Cook of Belmont, Mass., was named to the freestyle aerial squad.

We had already learned that Bethel’s David Chamberlain just missed a spot on the cross country team. Brian Welch of Scarborough missed being named to the jumping team and promptly jumped to fifth place in the National Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colo. He told me by e-mail that he was pleased with his finish, but felt he could have jumped better.

You can help the ski team by skiing one of the areas participating in the U.S. Ski Team Day, Feb. 10-11.

The areas will donate $1 for each lift ticket sold on that day. Mt. Abram, Sunday River and Sugarloaf will make the donation Feb. 10 and Saddleback Feb. 11.

The Sugarloaf/USA Charity Summit exceeded its goal, raising $152,000 in the battle against cancer. The event included fundraising by individuals, sponsorship sales, a reception, ski races, an auction and a charity ball. To date, this event has raised over $500,000 for the Maine Cancer Foundation and the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center in Farmington.

Pay day

Locals will have an opportunity to qualify for a big money event next Friday at Sunday River. The Jeep King of the Mountain Series is holding its 13th annual Professional Skiing and Snowboarding World Championships Saturday, and through the National Open Qualifier on Friday, locals can get into the finals.

The 32 finalists will compete for $450,000 in prize money along with another $20,000 in bonuses from Paul Mitchell Systems.

In addition, the top male and female skiers and snowboarders will get the keys to one of four brand new Jeep Commanders. For information check www.jeepsports.com.

Other Sunday River events include the 4th Annual Telemark Festival, Feb. 25-26. Mt. Abram has the annual Charity Auction on tap for Feb. 24. At Sugarloaf, kids and teens ski free Feb. 5-9. Saddleback has a Telemark Festival next Saturday and will cap the vacation week with a torchlight parade Feb. 23 and Mardi Gras Night on the 25. Shawnee Peak has the WBLM Winter Games Feb. 11.

These games are strictly for kids, building snowmen, creating snow angels and other competitions. The area will have sleigh rides on the night of the 14th to celebrate Valentine’s Day, which falls on Twofer Tuesday. Family Day is set for Feb. 23. These are only a handful of the happenings next month.

For more and details on these, check www.skimaine.com and click onto your favorite ski area. In their calendars, you can find events and dates of the high school championships.

Dave Irons is a freelance writer who lives in Westbrook.