Maine ski areas offer improved facilities

Camden Snow Bowl, Camden

Bargains
Camden will partner with five other Maine ski areas to provide 2-for-1 lift ticket discounts to season pass holders from each of the areas. Participating areas include Hermon Mountain in Hermon, Black Mountain in Rumford, Titcomb Mountain in Farmington, Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn, and Mount Abram in Greenwood.

Learn to Ski
Learn to Ski / Snowboard partnership – This agreement with three community ski areas, Camden Snow Bowl in Camden, Lost Valley in Auburn, and Black Mountain in Rumford, and two destination resorts, Sunday River in Bethel and Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley, entitles participants to two introductory experiences at the community areas and a full day experience at the destination resorts.

Capital Improvements
-- New glade has been cut between Clipper and Mussel Ridge Trails; existing glades have been expanded
-- The Terrain Park will expand with new features in both advanced and beginner sections of the park
-- The Town of Camden and the Snow Bowl are moving forward with a $6.5 million redevelopment plan that will expand the ski area, toboggan chute, Nordic trails, mountain bike trails, hiking, athletic fields, and activities on Hosmer Pond.

Eaton Mountain, Prospect

Capital Improvements
-- New groomer, additional snowboard rental equipment, new handle tow and lights for the tubing park, reworked tubing trail, upgrades to the base lodge

Lost Valley, Auburn

Bargains
2 for 1 days – The best bargain is Tuesdays and Wednesday, when two guests can ski or ride for the price of one, for $24.
For the first time, Lost Valley has partnered with Sugar Loaf and Sunday River.
A Learn to Ski and Ride Card $89 buys one lesson and three days lift tickets and rentals at Lost Valley, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf.

Capital Improvements
Lost Valley now has wireless internet. All you need is a wireless card and you can log in to the network. No fee, no password required.
New features and redesign of the terrain park Also, Lost Valley has purchased a stone grinder for the rental shop. So we can better tune equipment including snowboards and racing skis.

Mount Abram Ski Area, Greenwood

Programming
-- Mount Explorer expands service from downtown Bethel to Mount Abram every Saturday this season.
-- Night skiing on January 9, February 6, and March 6
-- Ski Country buffet every Saturday night in the loose boots lounge

Capital Improvements
New England Telemark Association and Mount Abram team up to expand Boundary-to-Boundary terrain with the clearing of three new double black diamond glades

Saddleback Ski Area, Rangeley

Bargains
-- Saddleback is offering any veteran or soldier of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan who served during January 2008 to the end of this ski season a complimentary lift ticket.
-- Blue Star Family Pass is for families of soldiers who have been or will be deployed between January 2008 and the end of this ski season. Spouses of deployed soldiers can get a Saddleback lift ticket for $25 and their dependant children can ski for $20 a day.
-- First Responders discounted season pass -- Legitimate firefighters, ambulance crews and police, and their dependants qualify for a discounted season pass.
-- In addition to Saddleback's Maine Days, where residents of Maine can get a lift ticket for $35 on the first Sunday of each month, there is a new College Day each Friday and college students can get a Saddleback lift ticket for $35.

Programming
Saddleback PEAK program - (Promoting Education and Activity for Kids) - The PEAK program is designed to encourage Maine students to perform well in school, promote getting outside and enjoyment of winter sports. Saddleback Maine will give a $49 season pass to all Maine students in grades through grade 12 who are on the honor roll.

Capital Improvements
-- Casablanca will offer a challenging double black diamond glade experience, including chutes, steeps, and tight lines. There is so much space that skiers and riders will think they have the place to themselves
-- Two new Pisten Bully Snow Groomers added.
-- New trail under Kennebago chairlift named Family Secret, new 44-acre gladed area named Casablanca, increased snowmaking to Wardens Worry and Tight Line

Shawnee Peak, Bridgton

Bargains
-- Carload Day Mondays -- Get to the mountain before 11 a.m. and everyone in your vehicle skis for $79.
-- Family of Four Deal -- $159 for four people (one must be a junior, ages 6-12). Valid any weekend or holiday of the season.
-- Sunday Afternoon Tickets -- $27 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Add $25 for rentals. -- AAA Card Discount -- Get $6 off any adult ticket when you show your AAA Card at the ticket window. Some blackout dates.
-- 3-2-1 Snow Fun! -- Get three days of lessons, lift tickets, and rentals plus a full season pass for the rest of the season. $450 plus $35 processing fee. Ages 8 and up.

Learn to Ski
-- Free Learn to Ski/Ride Day -- December 19, 2009. Get a lesson, lift ticket, rental free ($78 value). Sign up in advance. 
-- Learn to Ski/Board package for $78 -- Offered every day of the season at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Includes lift ticket, rental and lesson. Ages 8 and older.

Programming
-- WiFi in the base lodge
-- New wine bar has opened in the East Lodge

Capital Improvements
New trail from the peak, Sunset Boulevard, is a 2000-foot easy trail from the summit. New groomer, more snow making guns

Sugarloaf, Carrabasset Valley

Bargains
-- The New England Pass -- Full access to Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Loon, all for one low price. The New England Pass starts at $399, with many different pass levels for all ages, including college students.
-- Lift and Lodging Offers -- Families and friends planning ski trips can take advantage of numerous weekend, week-long, and daily offers throughout the season including:
  -- Maine Days -- Maine residents can ski or ride on Wednesdays for $29.
-- Maine Family Sundays -- Every Sunday in January and first Sunday in February Maine families receive $30 lift tickets and $30 Learn to Ski or Ride Clinics for ages 7 and older.
  -- Sugarloaf College Snowfest Week January 3-7, 2010 – A week away from the books with entertainment every night and lift tickets for $35 with a college ID. 
-- Classic Ski Weeks -- Available at various times throughout the season, packages start at just $299 per person for five midweek days of skiing and riding, lodging, access to the Sugarloaf Sports and Fitness Club and Perfect Turn adult clinics.
  -- Children's Festival Week January 10-14, 2010 – Spend time on the slopes with your family and save. Families who stay three midweek nights January 12-16 receive free lift tickets, rentals, and Perfect Kids lessons for children 4-12 years old.
-- Kids and Teens Ski Free Weeks February 1-5, March 22-26, and April 5-9, 2010
– Families who stay for three midweek nights receive free lift tickets for children who are 18 and younger.
-- The Frequent Skier Card -- The perfect option for anyone planning to ski and ride multiple days at multiple resorts, the Frequent Skier Card saves money on full priced lift tickets every single day at all three of Boyne’s eastern resorts.
-- eTickets -- Guests can save up to 10 percent off the regular price of 2-to-7-day passes by buying lift tickets online. Purchases must be made at least four days in advance. 

For Children
-- Mooseketeers -- is designed to provide a fun-filled first experience on skis for 3-year-olds. Children enrolled at the Child Care Center may take a private coaching session or join a morning group session.
-- Mountain Magic -- The fun of skiing is revealed through an innovative program that uses games and activities to encourage learning for 3-to-6-year-olds.
-- Mountain Adventure --Advancing skills, or learning to ski or snowboard, while having fun with peers is the goal for 7-to-12-year-olds.
-- Perfect Turn Junior Development Programs are specialized season-long programs for children ages 3 to 16. Through these programs, kids cultivate on-snow skills and friendships with coaches and peers.
-- Minicuffers -- program focuses on confidence building and well-rounded skiing skills in a fun-filled environment for 3-to-5-year-olds. 
-- Bubblecuffers -- This program is committed to the development of young athletes from 5 to 12 year olds. The program focuses on diversity and mileage on skis/ snowboards.
-- Snowboarding -- For 8-to-16-year-olds those who want to develop their snowboarding skills, encompassing riding on a variety of terrain.
-- Alpine and Snowboard -- Athletes from 8 to 16 years old split their time between the two disciplines.
-- Junior Professional Program -- This program is for the more serious 13-to-16-year-old athlete who has the goal of becoming a ski or snowboard professional.

Capital Improvements
-- The Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel received $600,000 worth of renovations in the form of new furniture, flat panel televisions, and the exclusive Boyne Bed in every room.
-- New wind fencing along the Double Runner West lift and #3 T-Bar. Modifications were made to sheave trains on the SuperQuad and Whiffletree lifts to reduce wind.
-- Sugarloaf continued to upgrade its snowmaking system last summer with more than 8,000 feet of new lines throughout the mountain and to the summit on Gondola Line Extension. New lines were also installed on the Sidewinder Snowboardcross Course, Lower Winters Way, and Peavey Crosscut.
-- New snowmaking on the Sidewinder Snowboardcross course and along the Superpipe (Lower Winter's Way)

Sunday River, Newry

Bargains
-- Season Passes -- Passes for skiing and riding at three resorts (Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon Mountain) with discounts on friends and family lift tickets. Three versions of the New England Pass (Gold, Silver and Bronze) allow consumers to pick the price best suited to their needs.
-- New England College Pass – starts at $329 (until November 30, 2009).
-- Lift Tickets -- Two ways to save on lift tickets include Sunday River’s Frequent Skier Card and. With the Frequent Skier Card, consumers purchase the $89 card up front and present the card at the ticket window to save on lift tickets. With E-tickets, consumers purchase tickets online in advance and save 10 percent.

For Children
-- 12-Hour Skiing and Riding allows young ones to keep going well after the sun goes down. Available on Saturdays throughout the winter, this program provides children with eight beginner/intermediate trails to choose from.
-- Perfect Kids Ski and Snowboard School -- is available for kids of all abilities and emphasizes safety, fun and learning. Games, activities and kid-friendly coaching techniques are incorporated. Available in half-day and full-day sessions.
-- Sunday River Day Care -- For children age six weeks to six years. State-licensed facilities are located in the South Ridge Base Area, the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, and the Jordan Grand Resort Hotel.
-- The Who-ville terrain park is located in the South Ridge learning area. The park includes rollers and mini-jumps and built with children and families in mind.

Capital Improvements
-- Both Sunday River Grand Resort Hotels received $1.4 million worth of renovations with the exclusive Boyne Bed and bedding package, along with new 42-inch flat screen televisions.
-- Other improvements include new drives for the White Cap and Spruce Peak chairlifts, new lift houses, new loading ramp for the White Cap chairlift, upgrades at the Bark Pump House, new drying tower at the Snowflake Factory