As we enter the final month of the ski season for most operations, it’s time to mark the calendar for an event that will kick off the next season. The date is Friday, October 28.

Bob Flynn, Chairman of the Maine Ski Hall of Fame selection committee, has released the names of the Class of 2011 to be inducted at Lost Valley at the annual banquet on that date. The eight skiers to be inducted this year will bring the total enshrined to 80 plus one couple.

The Hall of Fame was created in 2003 to honor Maine skiers who have made significant contributions to a sport that has become not only a way of life for many, but a vital industry in the state’s economy. Each year a program book documents the achievements of each new member. Their biographies constitute a written history of the sport and the eight skiers to be honored this year span a range of activities from ski instruction, officiating at national and international competitions, creating Maine Handicapped Skiing, creating a program that gets Maine kids outdoors in winter and building ski areas. This year’s class follows:

— Werner Rothbacher brought the Austrian Wedeln technique to Sugarloaf in the fifties where he directed the ski school for ten years. He also coached the Colby College Ski Team, the Bowdoin Ski Team and directed the Lost Valley ski School for 20 years, always developing successful skiers and instructors. He was certified by the Austrian ski instructors and PSIA. Unfortunately, Werner died just a week after his election.

— David Farrar was part of the Masters Program at Pleasant Mountain that produced so many champions in Freestyle and that led to his becoming a judge in that discipline. He has just retired from an officiating career that saw him judging at every level from national to World Cup and Olympics.

— Dr. Omar “Chip” Crothers was the driving force that led to formation of Maine Handicapped skiing. When one of his patients suffering from Cerebral Palsy demonstrated the ability to ski after beginning with her parents, Crothers convinced Les Otten to back the program at Sunday River and today thousands of people with varying disabilities have benefited from this program which has spread to several Maine ski areas.

— Thanks to Carla Marcus thousands of Maine school children are learning about life in the outdoors during winter. Winterkids is a program actually taught in schools exposing kids to the benefits of outdoor sports in winter and increasing the pool of potential skiers each winter.

— At a time when skiing was hardly organized, Horace Chapman was involved in getting people into the sport and bringing that aspect to skiing. As one of the first skiers in the Bangor area he helped organize the Penobscot valley Ski Club, led ski instruction efforts, helped cut trails at Bald Mountain and Sugarloaf, served on the Maine Ski Council, and was the first president of the Sugarloaf Ski Club.

— As a four event skier at Edward Little, John Greene was named to the National junior Nordic Team in his senior year and went on to excel at St. Lawrence University earning Skimeister honors at many carnivals. His impressive competitive record was followed by even greater contributions to skiing when he joined Bass Sports and developed an injection molded XC boot to fit the Eie binding. His film “Quiet Skis” dramatized the sport of cross country skiing.

— For decades Ed MacDonald covered every aspect of skiing for the Lewiston papers, always working to bring the complete picture of the competition to his readers, especially the story of the athletes. He gave the same level of devotion to high school athletes that he gave to college and Olympic skiers. He not only covered the sport for the Daily Sun, but he served as Chief of Press at the 1960 and 1980 Olympics, assisting other journalists with logistical support, while sending results and stories back to Maine.

— Few Maine skiers have even heard of Owen Wells, but every time they read about an international cross country competition or biathlon in the state his behind the scenes work is on display. He started in the 90’s securing sponsors for athletes including Marcus Nash, Scott Loomis and Kirsten Clark. Later he embraced the idea of cross country skiing and biathlon to provide an economic boost to Aroostook county. As director of the Libra Foundation he was responsible for investing millions of dollars in the Biathlon Center for Excellence in the County. His efforts have led to the rejuvenation of Black Mountain, Big Rock and Quoggy Jo alpine areas. His vision has resulted in numerous Maine athletes making Olympic Teams and getting close to 20,000 kids on cross country skis, while creating facilities that attract world class events.

Each of these skiers has contributed to Maine skiing and a full house is expected at Lost Valley to honor them as they are inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.

As always this time of year skiers speculate on how long the season will last. Most of the smaller areas will not ski into April, but a few will go on. Easter is often the target date, but coming late this year on the 24th, not many will make it. One area, Saddleback, has announced plans to ski weekends into May. Look for Sugarloaf and Sunday River to ski well into April and the final days will be determined by the weather. See you on the slopes.