As I sat in my office Monday looking out on five to six inches of new snow, I knew it was not snowing at either of the ski areas still open. All but Sunday River and Sugarloaf had closed, and at most only and inch or so was forecast for those areas. Choosing the only sunny day forecast for the week, the next morning I drove to Sunday River and the further I drove, the less snow was on the ground. It was mostly gone by Gray and at the mountain, there was no evidence of any new snow at all.

It’s been that kind of winter, but even though it was March, the snow makers had been busy.

Once on the mountain, I stopped where a Gould coach was directing traffic across Monday Mourning between runs by racers. There were only three racers making GS training runs, so no one had to wait long to cross. They could also ski down the right side with plenty of room to stay away from the course set down the left side. Watching, it was obvious two of these kids were among the best in the Gould/Sunday River program, and the third was close. Not only were these young racers setting up well above the gates, they were carving around them and holding their lines well. That told me two things: First, the kids were exceptional skiers; and second, the snow was nearly perfect. It was firm, but they had no trouble holding their edges.

My run down the right side confirmed the quality of the snow. While I had only time for a handful of runs, I found the conditions on the trails I hit to be about the same as Monday Mourning, firm but freshly groomed and very skiable, more like February than March. The temperature was around 30 and with the breezes, there was no melting. The skiing we still have is a tribute to the snowmakers. One resort formally recognizes their efforts.

On April 6, Sugarloaf will have its annual Snowmakers Ball. Instead of being out on the mountain at night dragging hoses and relocating snowguns, the guys and gals who brave the coldest nights will be dressed in tuxedos and feted by their fellow Sugarloafers. It’s one of those celebrations that has always made Sugarloaf special. The following weekend, April 9-10, will feature the Passholders BBQ and what the Loaf bills as the East Coast Pond Skimming Championships. There will also be bands and other entertainment as the spring season moves into high gear, especially on the “Beach,” that sunny spot in front of the base lodge which is always crowded on warm spring days.

Sunday River’s Spring Festival kicks off on the first with the 26th annual Eat the Heat Chili Cookoff and Firefighter’s Race. This one is always fun to watch and raises money for charity. The following weekend, April 9-10, is Passholder’s weekend with BBQ, dining and retail deals. Their version of Pond skimming is called Pond-A-Palooza, on April 9.

It seems as if every ski area now has a pond skimming contest in the spring. The first one I remember was about 1971 or ’72, when Sepp Gmuender, then manager of Sunday River, had a pond built between the snowmaking pond by the chair and base lodge. There were a number of memorable moments, and two involved members of my ski patrol.

One convinced his girlfriend to ride a rescue sled, with which he would ski across the pond. Halfway across the water, he realized he couldn’t make it with the sled and let go of the handles to finish the crossing alone. His girlfriend was left to sink with the toboggan. Interestingly, she still married him some years later.

Another patrolman who really liked speed and air decided he could clear the pond as it had a small kicker at the entry point. On his first try he hit the water just short of the other side and skied out. He figured he needed just a little more speed and started higher on the hill. This resulted in planting the tips of both skis in the snow on the far side of the pond. The resulting cartwheels into the ski racks were caught on film by Claus Weisse, who was president of Sunday River at the time and worked as operations manager at Channel 8. If that film still exists, it would be great to show during these spring celebrations. I didn’t identify either patrolman, because they are still friends — and I would like to keep it that way.

Today’s pond skimming events are a bit more regulated as to where the skiers are allowed to start and the speed involved. Forty years ago, insurance companies were not as nervous.

On Saturday, April 16, you can find me at Barker Mountain Lodge at Sunday River. The occasion is the Second Annual Skee Spree. This is an opportunity to show off your memorabilia (pins, patches, photos, vintage ski wear and equipment) and share your memories with other skiers. There will be a silent auction from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a live auction at 2 p.m., all part of another event put on for the Ski Museum of Maine.

Finally, for all you iron men and women skiers, here is a real challenge: On April 19 is the 17th Annual Inferno competition, named after the original Inferno race from the thirties, where skiers raced from the top of Mount Washington to the base of the Sherburne Trail in Pinkham Notch.

More than 200 athletes are expected to compete in an 8.3-mile run, a 6-mile kayak race, a 3-mile run up the Fire Trail, a climb of the Tuckerman Ravine Headwall and a GS race down. For details, visit www.friendsoftuckermanravine.org.

Next Sunday we’ll take a look at skiing in the Ravine and how to prep your gear for summer storage.

Happy Easter, and I’ll see you on the slopes.

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