Small Ski Areas in Maine Value Added to Local Communities

Maine used to have a large number of small community-based ski areas; however, a many factors have combined to significantly reduce the numbers. Over 70 Maine ski areas - mostly small operations - have gone out of business since 1970. However, there is a sense that the remaining small ski areas will be able to stay open and possibly see more come back into operation.

The small ski areas that shut down were affected by a number of factors to include increased competition (especially from the bigger resort areas), increased insurance costs, warm winters, and community apathy. Those small ski areas that remain open have found that local community involvement is a big help. Currently the Ski Maine Association lists 12 small ski areas still operating in Maine.

Read more about Maine's small ski areas in "A sense of community keeps central Maine's small ski areas afloat", Morning Sentinel, January 12, 2014.

Snow Conditions for Maine Ski Resorts

Are you wondering what the snow conditions are on Maines' ski slopes?  The Ski Maine Association provides this information for almost all of Maines' ski areas on its website home page at the link below:

http://www.skimaine.com/

Listing of Maine Ski Areas

The VisitMaine.net website offers a listing of Maine downhill ski areas.  Info includes resorts such as Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Black Mountain, Saddleback and others.  See the link below:

http://www.visitmaine.net/skiareas.htm

For more info on downhill skiing in Maine visit

http://www.travel-maine.info/skiing.htm

Maine Map of Ski Areas

The Ski Maine Association has a map of some of the major ski areas that are found in the state of Maine.  See the link below:

http://www.skimaine.com/map.php

Click here for information about maps of Maine:

http://www.travel-maine.info/Maine_Maps.htm

Book: "Winter Sport of Skeeing" by Theo Johnsen

The first book ever published on the sport of skiing was by a man who lived in Maine in the early 1900s - Theo A. Johnsen.  Johnsen immigrated from England at age 21.  He worked in his father's wood working business and then later opened up his own business in the Portland, Maine area.  He was a businessman who manufactured summer and winter sports equipment - to include skiis.  He is noted for writing the first book on skiing and helping to advance skiing as a sport.  (info from Wikipedia entry on Johnsen).  His book is available on Amazon.com at the link below:

The Winter Sport of Skeeing (Originally published in 1905 in Portland, Maine)

Maine Ski Heritage Classic - Sat, Feb 12, 2010

The Ski Museum of Maine will present its 3rd Annual Benefit - called the Maine Ski Heritage Classic - on Saturday, February, 13, 2010. It will take place at Sugarloaf. Click here to learn more about skiing in Maine.

Maine Learn to Ski & Ride Card

The Maine Learn to Ski & Ride Card is an inexpensive way to learn to ski in Maine.  The participating ski areas are Camden Snow Bowl, Sugarloaf, and Sunday River.  For just $89 you can pack in three days of skiing and ski rentals along with one day of lessons.  Click here for more information.  Click here for more info on ski areas in Maine.

Sunday River Ski Area in Maine Celebrates 50 Years

The Sunday River Ski area located in Bethel, Maine is celebrating 50 years of business. 

"It was Dec. 19, 1959, when the first skiers rode a single T-bar lift and made the first turns on a brand new ski hill in Newry, Maine. This new area took its name from the stream that flowed by its base - Sunday River."

Read the rest of the article in "Sunday River celebrates 50 years", Concord Monitor, December 21, 2009.  Click here for a listing of Maine ski resorts, snow reports, history and news articles.

January is "Learn a Snow Sport Month"

January is designated "Learn a Snow Sport Month".  I guess it is the ski industry that has made this designation (the governor issuing a proclamation makes it official).  What is important to us is that some recreational packages and winter sport equipment deals are offered along with the "event".  Read more in  "Learn a Snow Sport Month means cool deals for Mainers", Maine Outdoor Journal, December 6, 2009.

Map of Maine Ski Areas

Are you looking for different locations of ski areas in Maine? The website http://www.skimaine.com/ has a map for determining where these ski resorts are. To view the map click on Ski Maine Map. Click here for more information about maps or skiing in Maine.

Skiing in the Rangeley Lakes Region of Maine

Ski season in Maine is upon us and one of the super areas to go skiing in Maine is in the Rangeley Lakes Region.  There just happens to be a website loaded with information on skiing in this area.  See Alpine Skiing in Rangeley, Maine.

The History of Maine Skiing - Presentations by The Ski Museum of Maine

The Ski Museum of Maine provides a presentation of the history of skiing in Maine.

"Scott Andrews, a writer and researcher with the Ski Museum, will survey the entire history of Maine skiing, from its beginnings with Swedish immigrants in Aroostook County in 1870 to the present day. Using dozens of historic photographs, Mr. Andrews will cover such varied subjects as the winter carnivals of the 1920s and 1930s, early rope tows in western Maine (including one in Bethel), and the growth of today's large-scale resorts. He will also recall a few skiing-related failures, such as the expensive saga of Evergreen Valley in Lovell/Stoneham. Key personalities in Mr. Andrews' talk will include Olympic athletes, plus other men and women who built skiing from a fringe sport for a hardy few into today's multi-million dollar industry . ."

Click here to view the schedule of presentations. Click here to learn more about skiing in Maine.

Small Ski Hills of Maine Offer Lots of Outdoor Winter Fun

Read an online article about skiing the smaller ski hills of Maine. These venues offer inexpensive family fun. See "Smaller hills can offer big, quirky fun", Maine Outdoor Journal, October 11, 2009. Click here for more information about skiing in Maine.

History of Maine Skiing

The Ski Museum of Maine now offers a narrated digital slideshow about the history of Maine skiing. Called the "Fireside Chats" - the presentation looks at recreational skiing in Maine and goes back to 140 years ago at its start. Read more in "Fireside Chats - 140 years of Maine skiing", Maine Outdoor Journal - Ski Tracks, November 13, 2009.

Annual Down East Ski Sale

The 48th Annual Down East Ski Sale will be held today, Saturday - Nov 28th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Portland Expo Building on Park Avenue - next to Hadlock Field.

"This is the Down East Ski Club’s 48th annual ski sale. The event was one of the first of its kind in 1962. The idea was to give skiing families an opportunity to “swap out” equipment to help make skiing more affordable. For many, standing in line waiting for the sale to open to find the best deals has become a tradition, but with over over 10,000 pieces of ski equipment: boots, skis, bindings, helmets, clothing and poles, great deals can be found all day long. Most southern Maine ski enthusiasts wouldn’t overlook this event any more than they’d forget the turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving."

Read the rest of the article in "48th Annual Down East Ski Sale" by prmaine.com. Click here to learn more about skiing in Maine.

"Fireside Chat" about the History of Ski Craftsmanship in Maine in North Berwick

North Berwick, Maine will be the site of a "Fireside Chat" on the history of ski equipment manufacturing in Maine.  The presentation will be made by the Ski Museum of Maine and the North Berwick Historical Society on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 7:00 pm.  Read more in the online news article on this event by clicking here.  Click here to learn more about skiing in Maine.

Maine Ski History at Bethel Historical Society

The Bethel Historical Society will open an exhibition celebrating the skiing heritage of the Bethel, Maine area. The display will include photos, old equipment, and more. The exhibit will be open through May 31, 2001. Read more in "Ski history on exhibit at BHS starting Nov. 21", The Bethel Citizen, November 15, 2009. Click here to learn more about skiing in Maine.

News about Maine Ski Areas

A recent post by nj.com has described some of the new looks that Maine ski areas and resorts are providing us. Among the changes are news from Mt. Abram, Saddleback, Shawnee Peak, Sugarloaf, and other Maine ski areas. See "Here's what 's new this season at Maine ski areas".

Ski Museum of Maine

The Ski Museum of Maine will have an Exhibit Opening of "Preserving Theo Johnsen" on Friday, June 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The museum is located at 109 Church Street in Farmington, Maine. Theo Johnsen was a Portland, Maine author who wrote the first ski book in America which was published in 1905. He also made skis. Click here for a listing of Maine museums.

Maine Alpine Racing Association (MARA)

MARA is a non-profit corporation active in the state of Maine and affiliated with the alpine division of the USSA program. MARA's mission is to unite various alpine skiing organizations in Maine in one association that promotes amateur alpine skiing competitions for all ages. Here is their website: The Maine Alpine Racing Association (MARA). Click here for more general information on skiing in Maine.