Between February and March, the best ski month is a toss up. February usually gives the area the most snow, and it has has been abundant this year.

My memories of the best February go back to 1969, when the winter ended with cars sporting bumper stickers that stated: “We survived the Winter of 69.” That winter Sugarloaf received 300 inches of snow and Mt. Washington 500!

I remember sliding under the upper T-bar at Sunday River with the snow towering above our heads as we loaded. It had been shoveled out. The famed Inferno race was revived in Tuckerman Ravine, and when we approached the Hermit Lake shelter, we saw snapped-off trees by slides off Lion Head. In September of that year, I hiked into the ravine and saw trees that had been snapped off well above our heads, some 10-12 feet above the ground. As I listen to  weather forecasters, I wish I could send them one of those bumper stickers.

While the weather folks on TV talk of extreme cold, skiers have enjoyed perfect temperatures, which have been cold enough to maintain the powdery consistency of the skiing surfaces, but warm enough for properly dressed skiers to ski in comfort.

As we head into March with the sun high, the snow is deep on and off the trails and we can look forward to another two months of skiing. Of course, March is a transition month, with the inevitable switch to spring conditions, but might not come until the end of the month.

The official start of the spring, no matter the actual skiing conditions, is St. Patrick’s Day, this year coming on a Tuesday. There will still be plenty of celebrations, with Irish music and green beer. Brodie, a mountain down in the Berkshires no longer in existence, used to be called “Kelly’s Irish Alps” and added food coloring to the snow guns to produce green snow.

I don’t know if that happens anywhere else, but if you’re Irish, plan on taking Tuesday off to ski. If you can’t get off midweek, Saddleback will celebrate on Saturday, the 14. For the record, I plan on skiing both days. Due to circumstances, I’m a little behind on my 30-day goal so March will be a make up month.

Fortunately, I’ll have plenty of events to draw me to the slopes starting next weekend. Next Saturday, I’ll b e at Mt. Cranmore for the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race, one of my favorite events. In honor of the famed Ski Meister, the New England Ski Museum fund raiser includes a dual giant slalom race, an ice carving contest, vintage ski wear show, silent auction and prizes. The 10th Mountain Division will be represented both by veterans and present day division skiers who will provide an honor guard and compete in the race. The event lasts all day and is a fun party atmosphere.

Next on my list is Sugarloaf (March 25-29). I don’t know how many times Sugarloaf has hosted the U.S. National Alpine Championships or even how many I have attended, but the resort is a regular, and U.S. Ski team officials have told me that they can count on Sugarloaf to do a great job putting on these races. It’s a tribute to management, personnel in the racing program and the tremendous team of volunteers furnished by the Sugarloaf Ski Club. Many of today’s skiers are unaware that this ski club actually founded the ski area with a goal of hosting important races. The resort may now be owned by a large corporation, but the club has met its goal many times over and continues to play a key role in many ways at Sugarloaf.

The event will include super-G, giant slalom and slalom for men and women, and the finish areas will be accessible on foot whether on Narrow Gauge or Comp Hill. It’s a short hike to either, or you can ski to the courses. The opening ceremonies will take place on the 26 and there will be fireworks and autograph sessions. This is a chance to see the best skiers on the current U.S. Ski Team and future stars who will get their chance to compete against our best. Look for some CVA students to be either in the races. Full details on the event can be found at www.sugarloaf.com.

Sugarloaf is also hosting the Nor Am speed finals March 14-19, the 5th annual Banked Slalom for Snowboards March 21-22, and the USSA U-16 Nationals March 30 to April 1.

Sunday River has a handful of big events, including the state’s biggest fundraiser Saturday, March 21. This is the 30th Annual Maine Adaptive Skiathon, which funds this yearround adaptive sports program and raises over $300,000 each year. You can participate by skiing in the event or donating to someone who is on a team.

The biggest free skiing competition in the East can be watched on the 27 when Simon Dumont returns to his home ski area for the annual Dumont Cup. Details of both events can be found at www.sundayriver.com

Those events are only a sampling of the biggest events in March. There are plenty more you can find by checking your favorite area’s web site on www.skimaine.com. While events are important and a lot of fun, the best part is the skiing. We no longer have to drive to and from the mountain in the dark. The snow is deep and we can ditch the heavy parkas. March can be the best ski month of all, so get your sun glasses, get out early and relax on the deck after lunch.

See you on the slopes.

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