December 17, 2008 E-MAIL PRINT

Venture into Sunday River's terrain parks and woods

by Tony Chamberlain/

Sunday River has terrain parks for all levels of abilities, but riders also like to teeter by the woods. (photo: Nick Lambert/Sunday River)

Sunday River has terrain parks for all levels of abilities, but riders also like to teeter by the woods. (photo: Nick Lambert/Sunday River)

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There have always been plenty of reasons to pack the car for Maine and head to Sunday River. Eight of them, to be specific, given the varied glories of this ski area’s eight distinct peaks.

But do not overlook the wonderful — and yes, varied — array of terrain parks at the area. Sugarloaf used to have bragging rights in the state, but these days Sunday River is pushing the competition.

Following is a roundup of Sunday River’s offerings for the jib and phat air set:

Starting at Who-ville, this is where is all begins for little jibbers. Situated near the area’s learning terrain, this is a first-time-ever park that features some gentle rollers and softish bumps.

It also lets anxious parents watch their wee ones do something (isn’t it scary?) they may be nervous about in a perfectly amicable setting.

Graduates can now move to the South Ridge Jib Park, which is kind of a practice area before moving on to the major leagues. The park has a mini-pipe to get the rhythm of wall climbing and hand-plants at low intensity.

A relatively short staircase with rails on both sides is where most riders congregate, and the park finishes with a C-rail and uprail jib. This park is for riders with moderate skills and much work ahead of them, located at the South Ridge trails and base area.

Next step up is Rocking Chair, located directly below the Barker Quad. This park is loaded with big hits with a large staircase that leads into a number of outsized tabletops and steps.

If you survive these and the people riding the quad haven’t spotted you yet, they’ll watch your performance on the final hit, which is the largest in the park. Then you’re all set up for the wall ride and several tricks to the bottom.

And now you’re ready for the real big stuff, also right in the face of spectators at the Barker base lodge. If you’re a real ham — and you’re good — check out the Superpipe. This pipe is created by the now famous Zaugg Pipe Monster, similar to the Sugarloaf reamer.

This pipe is really easy to get into but maybe harder to get out of in front of all those spectator eyes.

The earliest season park opening usually goes to Sunday River’s T2, with its rails and boxes formed to the left of the chair.

And for free riders and bushwhackers who stay out of parks and prefer real terrain, some of the best riding (and skiing, for that matter) is found at Jordan Bowl, the most remote peak in the chain.

Warm up on Lollapalooza for a long, scenic ride, then roll with the white horses all the way down Rogue Angel and Excalibur.

These will set you up for the two glades off Jordan. There's Blind Ambition, a wide-open bowl with trees spaced far enough apart to keep the stress low.
Or, for a wilder woods ride, go for Wizard’s Gulch, which takes you down through some truly hairy terrain.

This part of the mountain stays fairly uncrowded, as it’s so remote you miss the crush of weekenders who don’t have the patience to drift that far away.

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