Birthday turns when said birth date is in October always comes as a pleasant treat. The trick involved with Birthday turns at Sunday River today was navigating the patches on Lower Sunday Punch. At times it was questionable whether today offered more tricks or treats? But the smile on my face while making turns down Upper Sunday Punch gave credence to the treat side of the saying.
Every once and a while, either a retailer or a manufacturer does something so amazing that you become a loyalist. A life long customer that not only becomes brand loyal but screams about said loyalty from the highest proverbial mountain tops of the internet. I am this way with very few retailers or manufacturers. Backcountry.com has earned my dedication and loyalty for their great prices, quick shipping, and stunningly exceptional service. Giro is being added to my very short list of companies to which I am a loyal customer for life.
Still hard for me to believe, but I have decided not to get a Jay Peak pass this year. Which is not to say that I will not be skiing at Jay more than any other mountain this year. Surely I will ski Jay more times than any other mountain during the season. However, I could not justify the risk of a season pass.
There are two risks in getting a season pass: financial and medical. The financial picture is very easy to work out. Take the total cost of a season pass and divide by what you would pay in ticket costs. If you can easily attain that number of days, it is a no brainer. If you will likely attain that number of days, the decision is likely. If you are uncertain you will attain that number of days, the decision is more difficult. Combine that with the risk of personal injury that would ensure you do not achieve that number of days and the picture is much more murky. Having had an injury last season that sidelined me for an entire month and a major injury three seasons ago that sidelined me for three months, I am wary of the risk.
Sunday River was the first ski area east of the Mississippi to open for the season two day ago. That certainly got my attention. Sunday River has opened for Halloween these past two years but it was a surprise to see the resort pulling out all the stops during an extremely below average temperature month of October. Having to work on Saturday and having other commitments on Sunday, I arranged to leave work early on Friday to get my first turns of the season.
My excitement for first turns of the season had my mind out of sorts as I missed the Barker Lodge turn off and ended up at the main lodge unloading my gear. After a quick reality check, I was soon at an empty Barker Lodge getting my $25.00 lift ticket and buckling into my new boots. First day of the season is no way to break in new boots, but no pain no gain as they say!
Uploading on the Locke Triple was sensational with great colors still lingering despite being past peak. The transition from just colors to colors with snow was sensational and vibrant. Views were sensational from the top of Locke Mountain with a relatively clear day and views to the Presidentials off the backside. T2 was the only open run with downloading on the Locke Triple Chair as Sunday Punch was not yet ready for top to bottom traffic.
Sunday River became the first eastern ski area to open for the 2009-2010 season today. Utilizing the uploading and downloading capabilities of the Locke Mountain Triple’s mid-station, Sunday River has T2 currently open with potentially more trails open for this weekend depending upon temperatures and snow making. Today featured an unannounced “soft” opening featuring free skiing and riding until 3:30 P.M. Thursday through Sunday, skiers and riders can enjoy T2 from the mid-station of Locke Mountain for $25.00. Snow making continues as temperatures allow.
This season saw a significant early season snowmaking push from former ASC brand resorts Sunday River (now owned by Boyne USA Resorts) and Killington (now owned by Powdr Corp). Both resorts began snowmaking operations earlier than any other year in recent memory and dropped hints of an early opening. Currently, Killington has neither committed to nor denied opening this coming weekend. Since Sunday River has already opened, the race is over and the pressure is off Killington for first to open honors.
The mid-mountain load station on the Lock Mountain Triple lift provides the Newry, ME based resort with significant advantages for opening faster than other ski areas. Unlike Killington and other ski areas in the early to open race, Sunday River need not have top to bottom skiing to open. Whereas Killington and other early opening mountains generally need temperatures to drop low enough to allow snow making top to bottom.
Thus begins the 2009-2010 ski season!