Prime Time Ski Club Column for Bethel Citizen 3/16/17
By Terri Messer
For further information contact:
Terri Messer at tmesser@aol.com or 207-671-0715
This past week once again brought varying temperatures and snow conditions to Sunday River, from several inches of snow flurries to mixed precipitation to bright, sunny skies. Springlike conditions gave way to strong winds and single digit temperatures, leaving many lifts on wind hold. Despite what Mother Nature throws at us, snowmakers and groomer have made sure that Sunday River continues to offer some of the best trail conditions in New England. Hopefully a major snow storm this week will bring back mid-winter conditions.
As I sit on the sidelines recovering from a broken arm (which, by the way, is healing and strengthening nicely but I’m not ready for skiing yet), I am envious of my ski friends on the sunny, warm days. However, on days with gale force winds and negative temperatures like we had this past week, I don’t mind watching skiers from inside my warm condo. Oddly enough, during my hiatus from skiing, I’ve learned the importance of my ski club membership. With “ski” in its title, you would expect that the Prime Time Ski Club is all about skiing but mainly it’s more about friendships, both on and off the snow. Although I have a home in southern Maine, I am spending my recovery time at Sunday River because of the great social life here, thanks to ski club members.
“When did I ever find time to ski?” I remark to friends who ask what I do all day when not skiing. I spend a fair amount of time at the local gym, which another club member introduced me to, expending the energy I usually use for skiing to try to burn the extra calories from one too many $5 specials that I enjoy with other ski club members at area restaurants. Along with other ski club members I enjoy game nights, pot luck dinners, celebrating club members’ birthdays and on-mountain lunches with skiing friends. I’ve been introduced to new-to-me games such as Backgammon and Mahjong and enjoy the ever-popular Mexican Train. I’ve also had more time to explore the Bethel area with friends, including a stop at the Bethel Historical Society where I especially enjoyed the exhibit, “The Mountains of Maine; Skiing in the Pine Tree State,” created by the New England Ski Museum at Franconia Notch, N. H., and augmented by posters and artifacts from the Ski Museum of Maine.
So if you’re looking for someone to ski with or maybe just socialize with, stop by North Peak Lodge around 10:15 a.m. weekdays (lower level, to the left of staircase headed downstairs). Members usually break into small groups, based on skiing ability as well as speed and terrain preference. We hope you’ll join us either on or off the snow.
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