RUMFORD – Black Mountain of Maine, in cooperation with the University of Maine at Farmington’s Ski Industries Program, has announced sign-ups for the new affordable, season-long Alpine Snow Kids lesson program for skiers of all abilities, ages to 12, for the 2007 ski season.

Children in the Alpine Snow Kids program will be offered ski or snowboard lessons for nine weeks from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 6 to March 4. The price for 18 lessons, approximately 36 hours of instructional time, is $200, including lift tickets.

While the price of lift tickets is included in the program, the price of rental equipment is not included. Daily and season-long rentals are available from Black Mountain of Maine’s sponsoring partner, Ski Depot, as well as other area ski shops.

Alpine Snow Kids was designed by Leigh Breidenbach, director of UMF Ski Industries Program, in 2000 to help smaller ski areas attract the youngest members of the skiing community. Based on the success of Alpine Snow Kids, UMF has created a program specifically tailored to Black Mountain of Maine.

Black Mountain’s Alpine Snow Kids instructors have been trained by the UMF staff for five weeks. The mountain’s instructors will be assisted by UMF Ski Industries student teachers and be overseen by the UMF Ski Industries faculty. Training for the mountain’s instructors is being conducted by John Carey and Nick Poplawski, UMF ski industries teaching and coaching interns.

Parents interested registering their children should call the lodge at 364-8977, ext. 104. Gift certificates are available.

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