December 15, 2008 E-MAIL PRINT

Around the Region: Sunday River chondola set to debut

by Marty Basch/

Sunday River's new chondola lift is scheduled to open this weekend. This is a graphic artist's rendition of what it will look like. (photo: Sunday River)

Sunday River's new chondola lift is scheduled to open this weekend. This is a graphic artist's rendition of what it will look like. (photo: Sunday River)

MORE IMAGES     previous   next    start over

Sunday River's chondola is slated for launch Dec. 20, and the Newry, Maine, resort is throwing a party for it. The new high-speed lift — alternating six-person chairs and eight-person gondola — will run from the South Ridge base area to North Peak's Peak Lodge. Estimated time: less than seven minutes. That's down from a 20-minute journey on two lifts.

Here's the best part: There's free skiing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Maine's governor is expected to on hand for the 6 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony that includes fireworks.

Part of the River's $14 million improvement plan, the lift will also play a role in select 12-hour ski days at the mountain.

Holiday Hill Climb at Sugarloaf

Ever wonder what it would be like to skin up a portion of Sugarloaf as the sun sets and then race down? Then the new Dec. 27 Holiday Hill Climb at Sugarloaf is the randonee race for you. Randonee skiing is a form of free-heeling where skiers propel themselves up the mountain and then zip downhill after locking down their heel like an Alpine skier.

Expect to see competitors on randonee, telemark or cross country ski gear. There is also a snowshoe division.

“Ski mountaineering, or randonee skiing, has its roots in the European Alps, but it’s growing fast here in the states,” Nina Silitch, the Holiday Hill Climb organizer and member of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Team, said in a release. “Night rando races are fun events that bring folks together on the slopes and then after at the postrace meal."

Racers will start at 4:30 p.m. at the base of the SuperQuad and journey some 1,200 vertical feet. This is the first of two such events Sugarloaf plans this season.

Events update

Nordic skiers, weather permitting, can start to take advantage of those bright full moon nights in December with moonlight tours like one at Gunstock planned for Dec. 23.

For those whose heels are firmly placed in bindings, it's time for The Main Event at Crotched in southern New Hampshire, Dec 20 and 21. The pro-am series attracts some of the top snowboarders in the region because a wild-card slot at the U.S. Open in March at Stratton is on the line.

Black Mountain in Jackson, N.H., is hosting a 12 Days of Christmas promotion through the big day. Show up in the slopeside Lostbo Pub at 4 p.m. each day for a raffle with a shot at lift tickets and other prizes.

There's a one grand cash purse up for grabs at Okemo's SoB S-Rail Jam on Dec. 20. The rail is about 40 feet long, so come with some style.

Connecticut's Ski Sundown has a Saturday rail jam and snowskate scramble on its event calendar.

Wachusett has a couple of fun events coming up. On Friday, it's the second annual Jingle Bell Slalom, a dual head-to-head slalom. Then Saturday is the Roxy demo day, so try on some new gear. Plus, the Princeton, Mass., mountain is holding a coat drive. It's trying to tally some 2,000 winter jackets.

Want cheap lift tickets? How about free for children 12 and under on Christmas Day at Sugarloaf and Sunday River.

E-MAIL PRINT