Sunday River’s Go50 Week, which celebrates the “mature” skier and is usually held the last week of January, is a season highlight for some Prime Time Club members who offer mountain tours to visiting guests each morning during the week as well as attend the various activities. This past month’s Go50 week started out at North Peak Lodge with cinnamon buns, yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, coffee and tea for well over 100 skiers. It was so crowded members did not get to meet and greet Sunday River’s guests during that social, but our Membership Secretary did not let that stop her. She’s been actively involved with finding potential new members by being present at 10 a.m. at Peak Lodge and inviting skiers to join her.
Due to a snowstorm on Tuesday, the Go50 game night was attended by only a few Prime Timers, several of whom managed to win gift cards in a raffle sponsored by Sunday River management. The Ski Museum of Maine’s talk, featuring the history of the Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation program, was cancelled. The planned Wednesday Go50 ski race on Monday Mourning was also cancelled due to “too much snow,” which was very disappointing. There were a few members who planned to participate and one who said he would if we got him a spandex suit! Instead, a few members “raced” to the Shipyard Brewery at Barker Lodge for an après-ski beverage. The final Go50 event, the Thursday bourbon-inspired dinner at Sliders, also had a few Prime Timers in attendance, and the feedback indicated they were highly pleased with the menu.
A few club members missed out on Go50 Week activities and the incredible Sunday River snowfall because they were in the French Alps, enjoying a 12-day skiing and sightseeing trip, organized by the national 70+ Ski Club. Les Trois Vallées, in the heart of the French Alps, is the largest integrated skiing area in the world with 318 marked ski-slopes, 373 miles of trails, 180 ski lifts, and elevations from 4,300 to 11,000 ft. The valley encompasses four major ski areas, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Meribel-Mottaret and Courchevel as well as the smaller skiing areas of Saint Martin, La Tania, Orelle and Brides les Bains. Despite a lack of snow until the last two days of skiing and persistent fog and flat light some of the time, Prime Time members said it was incredible to experience the vastness of the interconnected ski areas and to be able to ski from village to village and enjoy a fabulous lunch at quaint restaurants along the way, some only accessible by mountain trails.
However, to paraphrase an old saying: “The snow isn’t always whiter on the other side.” You don’t have to travel to Europe or out West to experience some of the best snow around. Come to Sunday River and find “Your Happy Place.” And if you are looking to share your excitement, consider skiing with members of the Prime Time Ski Club. Stop by North Peak Lodge at 10 a.m. weekdays (upper level, right hand side past the bar). Members usually break into small groups of four to eight skiers, based mostly on skiing ability and speed and terrain preference. For Prime Time Ski Club membership information and a schedule of activities check out our web site at www.primetimeskiclub.com.
