With the Christmas vacation under way, skiers and ski areas are giving thanks for the best combination of cold and snow in December we’ve seen in years. It started with great snowmaking weather in mid November and continued with below average temperatures, and snowfall well above normal as well. As a result, ski areas are going into the holidays with 50 to 80 percent of their trails open, and we could see 100 percent operation or close to it at most areas for the week.

That’s the best Christmas present we could wish for, so make plans to get out and enjoy it.

Check out U.S. Ski Team

One thing I always look forward to receiving was missing for the second year in a row. The U.S. Ski Team media guide gave me a quick reference source with all the team members, alpine, cross country, jumping, freestyle and snowboard. Earlier editions also listed past champions, both national and international, and a full list of alumni members. It was from these guides that I was able to determine that Maine has had a skier in every Olympics since 1948. One year, 1956, that skier was actually a coach, (Al Merrill of Andover and Dartmouth coaching fame), but Maine was represented, and with the skiers and snowboarders coming along, we can expect the string to continue. I also have a list of more than 30 Maine skiers who have skied on the team over the years.

Without the media guide, I had to go to www.usskiteam.com to see what Maine skiers will be representing the U.S. in international competition this year. It wasn’t quite as simple as flipping through the pages, but I did find four.

At the top of the list is Seth Wescott, who won the Gold Medal in Snowboardcross in the 2006 Olympics. Seth is a favorite to win in this event this season. Carl Burnett, of Cape Elizabeth, who lost the use of his legs in a car accident at age 5, returns to the disabled team as a sit skier. On the Freestyle B team is Dave DiGravio of Farmington, a mogul specialist, and Bump Heldman of Auburn is on the alpine development team.

Mainers on the slopes

As the season moves along, we will probably see more Maine skiers involved in various levels of competition as they work their way toward the U.S. teams. For now, our Christmas wish is for a successful season for all Maine skiers at every level, junior, high school, college and on up.

One Maine skier whose season ended early last year with a broken leg is taking another shot at the team. Sam Sweetser of Cumberland and CVA is skiing out of Park City racing Nor-Am in the Western Region. One reason for his giving it another shot is the schedule which has some home-mountain advantage. He plans on being at Sugarloaf for a Nor-Am SG and DH Jan. 8-9, and the National Championships are returning to the Loaf March 20-26. Sweetser skied in a downhill at Lake Louise as did Bump Heldman and placed eighth.

Just how many Maine skiers are in competition at various levels is demonstrated by checking with CVA for both Alumni members and current students. Forest Carey, who skied on the U.S. team and at Middlebury, is coaching Bode Miller. Kirsten Clark, who ended a long career with the team last spring, is expecting her first child. Liz Thompson, Rangeley, Ben Manter, Vassalboro, Jake Hardy, Farmington, and Whitney Fahey, Carrabassett Valley, are skiing for Bates. Julia Coffin, Carrabassett, and Tory Gray, Farmington, are skiing for Colby, and Christian Talmadge, Kingfield, has transferred from Colby to Dartmouth.

Current students are also busy in competition. Dom Cyr, Van Buren, and Ben Morse, Carrabassett, are training with the U.S. development team. Kristin Waddle, Harpswell, and Makayla Brown, Naples, competed at the junior nationals last year and are working to make it back this year and possibly ski in the National Championships at Sugarloaf. Kristen Sweeney, Falmouth, is a development team member and is studying in Colorado while rehabbing a knee injury. Also on the team is Jeremy Cota from Carrabassett. CVA grad Dan Marion, Windham, is a student at the University of Rhode Island and a professional freeride skier. Alison DiGravio, Farmington, and Rebecca London, Carrabassett, are competing for spots on the team.

In snowboarding, along with Seth Wescott, there are several students on the circuit: Benjamin and Julie Bisson, Carrabsassett, Alex Tuttle and Dylan Darienzo, Stratton, Alex Rodway, Stratton and Heather Doolittle, Belgrade.

To these young skiers, we wish the best of the season and success the rest of the way.

Season greetings to those who make skiing possible

Along with the competitors there are many others who deserve our best wishes during this holiday season. The snowmakers who are out dragging hoses to keep the snow guns going in the right places on long cold nights. The groomers, who are more comfortable in the heated cabs of the snowcats, are responsible for turning that snow into the smooth surfaces we enjoy so much. The ski patrollers keep us safe and ski instructors, especially those who bring the little kids into the sport perform a special service. And don’t forget the volunteers who work with handicapped skiers at Lost Valley, Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Shawnee Peak. There are more volunteers in skiing. Without them, there would be no competition at any level. They act as timers, officials, gate keepers and provide course maintenance. Don’t forget the guys who check out bindings and tune our skis in the ski shops. All add to our ski experience.

All of these deserve our support and thanks, and that’s why we wish all of them and any we may have failed to mention a very Merry Christmas.

Dave Irons is a freelance writer who lives in Westbrook.