What an interesting week it was for skiing at Sunday River last week. After a couple of days of excellent conditions, many Prime Time Ski Club members found that by Wednesday the warmer temperatures produced a soft snow that “grabbed” the skis, leaving them feeling like a face plant could happen any time, especially on the lower slopes. A strong wind, resulting in many lifts on wind hold, made it difficult to get to higher elevations and firmer snow. By Friday, when the temperatures dropped considerably, the same skiers who were looking for firm snow earlier in the week were now looking for softer snow as the below-freezing temperatures created firm and fast ski conditions. However, a clear blue sky with the sun at full tilt made up for any complaints about the snow underfoot.
So far the weather is looking very good for this Saturday which is the 30th annual Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation Ski-A-Thon to raise money for its program that offers year-round, free-of-charge sports and recreation opportunities for individuals ages 4 and up with physical disabilities. Several of our Prime Time members volunteer for the program and the ski-a-thon. Most activities are based at the Grand Summit Hotel so stop by and try the tropical obstacle course, watch the costume contest or view educational presentations. And don’t forget that Sunday is the 25th Annual Eat the Heat Chili Cookoff and Firefighters Race which will be held slopeside at South Ridge Lodge for the first time. A Prime Time Ski Club member is one of the judges who will decide which Bethel area eatery wins the title of “Best Chili.” Chili samples are a dollar each so you can judge for yourself which one is best.
Last week’s column discussed what information you should carry with you when skiing to help ski patrol in case of an accident. However, the most important piece of advice was omitted – how to reach ski patrol quickly to report an accident. Make sure that you have the ski patrol number in your list of cell phone contacts and, to find the number easily, add “aa” to the front of the “Ski Patrol” contact listing. This way the patrol number should come up first on your contact list, so you don’t have to waste valuable time scrolling through your contacts in case of an emergency.
The Prime Time Ski Club year-end dinner will be held next week at the Bethel Inn. Although many of our members will continue to ski through April, some who live in the Bethel area for the winter return home the end of March. Most ski club members agree that the winter seems to pass by very quickly when you are busy skiing and socializing. So if you are 50 years or older and are looking for friends to ski with, consider joining the Prime Time Ski Club whose motto is “you never have to ski alone.” The club boasts a membership of nearly 150 skiers and non-skiing spouses or partners, ranging in age from 50 to 80 plus. Anyone looking for someone to ski with on weekdays should show up at North Peak Lodge at 10 a.m. (upper level, right hand side past the bar). After a brief time for announcements, members usually break into small groups of four to eight skiers, based mostly on skiing ability and speed and terrain preference. There’s still time this season to join us or put it on your to-do list for next year. For membership information and a schedule of activities check out our web site at www.primetimeskiclub.com.
