For some skiers, the season starts when they make their first turns on snow.
For me, the season is well under way at least a month before I actually put on the skis. Since 2003, when we first celebrated the skiers who became the first class to enter the Maine Ski Hall of Fame, the fourth weekend in October has been my kickoff date. This year, though, things started earlier with the honoring of two friends.
The first was Oct. 2, when I traveled to Bates College. Bob Flynn, the school’s longtime ski coach, was recognized with the naming of new rooms for the ski teams. Previously, the alpine and Nordic teams had shared a single room in the basement of the gym. It was not only crowded, but equipment for tuning cross country skis and alpine skis is totally different. Now, each team has its own room where the tuning and waxing benches are set up with the specialty vises for each type of ski. A crowd made up of skiers who skied for Coach Flynn over the years was on hand for a reception, and it was fun to see someone who has given so much to so many skiers over the years be honored.
Next was a trip to the University of Maine at Farmington, where another longtime friend was being honored and one of the most successful programs in the history of that school was being resurrected.
The friend was Coach Tom Reynolds, whose list of achievements in skiing could fill this entire space. That day, he had attended a meeting of school staff and advisers from the ski industry to discuss the return of the Ski Industry Program to the school. It was “Coach” and Doc Desroshes who had started and run the program which was so successful in placing graduates in the ski industry at the highest levels. At the reception, many of them, along with skiers who had raced on his ski teams at UMF, were on hand to honor “Coach”.
Reynolds is now teaching skiing three days a week at Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire after moving to New London to be nearer his children. When not teaching classes or private lessons, he clinics Sunapee’s instructors, especially those preparing for certification exams. When we asked for the check at the Homestead in Farmington, we were told it had been paid by a UMF alumnus who didn’t want to be named. As there were several seated at different tables in the restaurant, we had no way of knowing which one it was, but it was an example of the high regard in which “Coach” is held by former students.
Two nights later was the 13th annual Maine Ski Hall of Fame induction banquet at Sunday River. The Ballroom at the Grand Summit Hotel handled the 300-plus crowd of skiers with ease, and the eight inductees were enthusiastically received. Over the years, this event has turned into a reunion of skiers to kick off the season, and the biggest regret is always that there isn’t enough time to spend with all the longtime friends on hand.
Another regular part of preseason prep is our annual trip to Boston for the BEWI Ski and Snowboard Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center on Nov. 12-13. Thursday afternoon was spent in news conferences learning what’s new at New Hampshire and Vermont ski resorts, followed by several hours at the show. With booths from big and not so big ski areas, along with displays from ski resorts in the West, both the U.S. and Canada and still more from Europe, we could have spent a full day or more. Also on display were the latest ski and snowboard equipment with manufacturers reps on hand to explain the new toys. Over four days the show draws as many as 45,000 skiers and the ski resorts judge the enthusiasm for the new season by how many show special packages they sell.
Friday at noon we attended the annual BEWI Award Luncheon, where show owner Bernie Weischel recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to our sport. This year, it was Dave Ingemie, who is retiring as CEO of Snowsports Industries of America, a trade organization of ski industry suppliers. The organization was founded by Doc DesRoches of Rumford, who hand-picked Ingemie as his successor. Dave joins a long list of award winners from every aspect of skiing from Maine’s own Frank Langois, a ski rep to Stein Ericson.
Once back in Maine, all that was left in season preparation was the conversion of my basement work bench to a ski tuning center. I knew my brothers-in-law and my sister would soon be bringing skis. I also needed to heat up the wax on my own skis, which had been coated for the off season. A quick heating with a wax iron and scraping had them ready for the first day out.
If all went according to plan I will have made my first turns on the beginner area at Sunday River the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I don’t need to challenge the mountain the first day out, so I take it easy and spend time also talking with the reps on demo weekend. If you’re ready to try some new skis, the demos will be at Sugarloaf next weekend.
To learn my thoughts on the new skis, watch for the upcoming Winter Sports section. Also, of you’re going to be at Sugarloaf next Saturday, take some time to visit the Ski Museum of Maine in Kingfield during open house from 3 to 8 p.m. The season is under way.
See you on the slopes.
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