PORTLAND — The Ski Maine Association and title sponsor Outside TV are hosting an event Thursday, Oct. 11, at the DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom in support of the Ski Museum of Maine in Kingfield.

The “ski season launch party” will feature several aspects of Maine ski history, including Portland’s role in Maine winters and Skiing. On display are long forgotten photos, original motion picture footage, artifacts and vintage ski equipment.

One lift ticket voucher will be presented to each of the first 75 guests attending the event.

Evening Schedule:

*6 – 8:30 p.m.: Reception & displays, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar

*6 – 8 pm.: Silent Auction

*6:30 – 8:15 p.m.: Door prize drawings

*7 – 7:30 p.m. Fireside Chat with Scott Andrews, Ski Museum of Maine historian

Admission – $15 ($20 at the door)

On line ticket purchase through Eventbrite.

http://skiseasonlaunchparty.eventbrite.com/

Featured displays:

* Fryeburg, Maine, The birthplace of modern skiing in Maine. John Weston, ski coach of the Fryeburg Academy Ski Team, and local historian will share the history of skiing and winter sports in Fryeburg. The Weston family owned the hillside where “Ski W,” which later became known as Starks Hill, was an important component of winter sports during the late 1960s and 1970s.

* The Ski Museum of Maine and the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. The Ski Museum will display photos and artifacts highlighting the early years of skiing in Maine. The Maine Ski Hall of Fame has created an extensive archive of the 80 individuals who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

* Early Lifts and Snow Grooming in New England. The New England Ski Museum will display its photo gallery of early ski lifts, snow-grooming techniques, and snow-making systems that formed the basis of today’s modern ski and snowboard industry. Jeff Leich, executive director of the museum, will be on hand to add detail to the multimedia slide show on display throughout the evening.

* Featured Historic Film reels: From Tree to Ski. The Paris Ski. Newly rediscovered high quality film footage of the ski-making process at the Paris Manufacturing Co. of Paris, Maine. This home movie was expertly produced by the Morton family, owners of Paris Manufacturing, and follows the ski-making process from the delivery of the great logs to the sawmill, to the finished ski that fueled the growth of skiing in Maine.

* Maine’s first ski tow at Jockey Cap, Fryeburg, Maine. This long lost film footage of Maine’s first ski lift, a rope tow on Jockey Cap offers a glimpse into Maine’s skiing past, capturing the first lift riding skiers in the state of Maine. Hundreds of people lined the base of the slope, watching this new winter spectacle. In fact, there were more spectators than skiers on this first day.

* Ski Maine Association. The Ski Maine Association display will highlight the current status of Maine’s downhill and cross country ski areas.

Door prizes will include ski apparel, gift certificates, and lift tickets.

* Maine Ski Areas. Ten Maine areas will be setting up information booths at the event and feature photos from their archives, plus information about upcoming winter season events and activities.

Additional displays include programs designed to get Maine kids and families outside for winter and Maine Ski History book.

Proceeds from the event benefit the efforts of Ski Maine Association and Ski Museum of Maine to obtain, record, and protect information and artifacts from Maine’s skiing history.