While the actual skiing has just arrived here in Maine, plenty of ski-related activities have already occurred.

A number of ski areas celebrate Columbus Day with homecoming weekends. Some have special events, such as Sunday River’s craft fair and wife-carrying championships. Sugarloaf has homecoming weekend and Shawnee Peak and Mt. Abram have special get-togethers.

The next big event was the 14th annual Maine Ski Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, held Oct. 29. Nearly 300 skiers gathered at Sunday River for this event, which honored eight of Maine’s top skiers.

Since its inception in 2003, this event has become a reunion of skiers that kicks off the season, and it is a major fundraiser for the Ski Museum of Maine, which is located in Kingfield above the Sugarloaf Ski Shop outlet store.

Earlier this month, we traveled to Boston for the Boston Ski and Snowboard Expo. This is one of the biggest ski shows in the country and draws 40-45,000 skiers each year. The show features ski resorts displaying their mountains and amenities, most with drawings for lift tickets or lift-lodging packages.

They all have one thing in common: a line for your email address. Along with your mailing address, these go into the resort’s database so they can include you in email blasts that offer specials.

Ski manufacturers also have products on display and reps on hand to explain the new ski and boot features. This leads into another big attraction: the big ski sale.

The show always partners with a ski shop, and the folks manning the booths, both for ski equipment and the resorts, watch the floor to see how many are carrying new gear as they walk the floor. The thinking is simple: If skiers are buying equipment, they are going to ski.

Attendance at the show and equipment sales are indicators of the coming season. But we all know that the one thing that will guarantee skier turnout is snow.

We’re off to a better start than last year, but it’s still early. The mountains have had some good snowmaking weather, and if the forecast of below-normal temperatures over the next two weeks is on the mark, we’ll have plenty of skiing by the time holiday vacation season rolls around. That should be a reminder: After today we have only 20 shopping days until Christmas to find gifts for the skiers on our lists.

Over the years I have listed many items for skiers. If you know what your skier needs or wants, you can combine skiing with shopping.

While there are many items any skier can use, a gift card at his or her favorite ski shop is probably the safest bet. It can be used for a ski tune, boot fitting or any number of small items such as ski socks. You may think your skier has absolutely everything — that’s what my wife thinks — but there’s always something in the ski shop that could be put to use. The key is to not let shopping interfere with your skiing.

If new skis are on your list, there will be demos at Sugarloaf next Saturday. This is always advised if you’re buying skis for yourself, but not particularly useful when buying skis for someone else; unless, of course, they ski exactly the way you do.

If you decide to head to the Loaf next Saturday, you can also take in the grand opening of the new competition center. The official opening will be at 2:30 p.m. followed by an open house from 3-5 p.m.

If you’re reading this early enough you can still earn a lift ticket at Sunday River, provided you have your own Santa suit. Today is Santa Sunday. Each year, hundreds of skiers dress as Santa to ski the mountain and take part in a group photo. Details can be found at www.sundayriver.com.

The weekend of Dec. 16-18 will be Winterfest at Sunday River.

At Shawnee Peak, skiers are invited to ski with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 17.

I checked in with owner Scott Shanaman at Lost Valley and learned that the projected opening is the weekend of Dec. 16, but it might open next weekend if all goes well with snowmaking this week.

Since taking over a year ago, snowmaking has been upgraded, making it more likely to cover enough to open Lift One for next weekend, with full operation starting the following weekend. Of course, there is always the usual caveat, “weather permitting.”

A new magic carpet being installed for beginners is the last of a bunch of improvements this year.

Lost Valley will operate seven days a week, Monday-Thursday 3-8 p.m., Friday 10-9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holidays will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Shanaman noted that the recent rains were actually a bonus. The brook that runs behind the base lodge was “bone dry” and now that critical water source for snowmaking is running full.

Now, let’s hope for seasonal cold.

See you on the slopes!

Copy the Story Link