CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Following months of planning, constructing and fundraising, Carrabassett Valley Academy, Sugarloaf and the Sugarloaf Ski Club celebrated the grand opening of the new, state-of-the-art Bill and Joan Alfond Competition Center on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Kate Webber Punderson, Carrabassett Valley Academy’s head of school, led a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, with more than 300 guests in attendance.
The $2.1 million facility was made possible by a $1 million grant from the Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation, the combined efforts of Carrabassett Valley Academy, Sugarloaf, and the Sugarloaf Ski Club, in addition to aggressive fundraising efforts that saw contributions from 231 donors.
The center is on an expanded footprint of what was originally the loading terminal of the famous Sugarloaf gondola and features office space for staff from Sugarloaf, CVA and the Ski Club, tuning and waxing facilities, trainers’ room, locker rooms, and dedicated team rooms for the Colby College and University of Maine at Farmington ski teams.
The new facility is also home to more than 200 members of CVA’s weekend programs and will serve as the base of operations during the U.S. Alpine Championships, which return to Sugarloaf on March 24-29, 2017.
The included conference space and full working kitchen will allow use of the center during the summer months for wedding receptions and conferences, bringing year-round vitality to the building.
The Competition Center is now open daily to the public.
For more information on the Bill and Joan Alfond Competition Center, visit www.sugarloaf.com/compcenter.
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