Counting today, there are only 19 days left to shop for the skier on your list. And at least five of those days should include skiing. I can’t help with the rest of your list, but for skiers, all ski areas open at this point in the season have ski shops, so you can combine […]
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The ski season is officially under way
For some skiers, the season starts when they make their first turns on snow. For me, the season is well under way at least a month before I actually put on the skis. Since 2003, when we first celebrated the skiers who became the first class to enter the Maine Ski Hall of Fame, the […]
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On skiing: Plenty of runs left in this season
By now, the results of the U. S. Alpine Nationals are old news, but there are still observations worth mentioning. One is the remarkable finish of the Men’s super-G on opening day. After the 25 or so racers had completed their runs, those of us in the warm sun at the finish area concluded the […]
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March is a funky month when it comes to weather
As I have noted in previous ramblings, March can bring us anything in terms of ski conditions. Some years we have rapidly deteriorating conditions when the first day of spring arrives, and other years we get a blast of winter. This year the temperature in my car registered 7 degrees when I went out to […]
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On skiing: A look at the U.S. Alpine Championships through the eyes of a former champion
Few skiers know Narrow Gauge better than Gail Blackburn. The Sugarloaf skier from Brunswick knows all about the championships coming to Sugarloaf this week. Gail joined the Sugarloaf junior racing program at 10 years old and rapidly progressed through the ranks of junior racing. She expanded her competition when she entered Burke Mountain Academy, but […]
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Skiers melt away with the snow in our backyards
When the snow dwindles in our backyards, skiers also start to melt away in the spring. There was a clear example of this at the Portland Golf Expo last weekend. Each season, as temperatures climb and the snow disappears — not from the ski slopes — but from golf courses and boatyards, skiers turn to […]
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Giving the new hardware a test run
One of my favorite excursions each ski season is a trip to take a look and test drive some of next year’s skis. This year it was a drive over the “Kanc” (New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway) to Loon Mountain where the New England Ski Reps had set up their demo tents to offer ski shops […]
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On skiing: Get out and March to the slopes
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.” […]
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On Skiing: Class of 2015 honors some great names in skiing
Selection committee chairman Bob Flynn has released the names of the Maine Ski Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Eight skiers who have made their mark in skiing as competitors, coaches, officials, resort managers, a handicapped Olympian and an academy headmaster will be honored at the 13th annual induction banquet October 23 at Lost Valley […]
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On skiing: Lots of snow great for resorts, not for racing
Wednesday afternoon, I tuned in to watch the men’s downhill at the World Alpine Championships taking place at Beaver Creek, Colo., Vail’s sister resort a few miles down the highway. What I saw was a rerun of the women’s super-G from the day before when Lindsey Vonn finished third after being held up by a […]