Extensive snowmaking fills in for lack of natural snowfall

Portland, ME:  Ski Maine Association. Maine ski and snowboard areas were pleased with business during the all important, February school vacation week. Although the lack of natural snow has eliminated snowman building along the coast, ski trails are covered with well groomed snow at Maine ski areas. Snowmaking sustained the industry as snow storms tracked south, through the mid Atlantic states.

According to Shawnee Peak’s owner, Chet Homer, “with our conversion to high efficiency snowguns, we were able to expand our snowmaking through the dry spell leading up to vacation. We had a solid week and continue to have excellent snow cover and base depths."

At Saddleback Ski Area, Conrad Klefos, Marketing Director reports that “we shattered all records. Lodging revenue was up 30%, skier services revenue exceeded budget and was up an astounding 46% over the same period last year. Our aggressive snowmaking and grooming, new lifts, trails, and events are contributing to this surge in business.”
 "Attendance was very good over the President's Week vacation period," said Jim Costello, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sunday River. "Sunday River's reputation for snowmaking and consistently great conditions resulted in higher revenues year-over-year across our lodging properties, ski and ride school, retail and rental, as well as food and beverage." 

At Mt Abram, owner Matt Hancock surveyed his overflowing parking lot on Friday with a smile saying, “This is our best day and business has increased over last year. Grooming has been and continues to account for our success.”
 
The Camden Snow Bowl posted a record day on Saturday, Feb 13, and continued to see an increase in their Learn to Ski and Snowboard lessons throughout the week. Jeff Kuller, GM at Camden was pleased to see “how strong the introductory lessons were this week. Ski Maine has made an effort to promote introductions to our sport during January, and we saw the excitement continue this week.”

Vacation week proved to be a very good one for Sugarloaf. Ethan Austin, Communications Manager states that “For the period from Friday Feb 12 through Sunday Feb 22 we were 5.6% ahead in revenue and 7.9% ahead in paid skier visits vs. the same period last year. Our snowmaking was a huge factor in this success. Thanks in large part to the improvements we made to our snowmaking system we have pumped 17 million more gallons than last season, covering 500 acres.

The weather certainly influenced the vacation and mostly in a positive way. Greg Sweetser, Executive Director at Ski Maine Association noted that, “Big storms can suppress the crowds, and although we love snow, the sunshine really got people outside. The indications are that the weather pattern is changing to a stormier cycle and snow is in the forecast! March is traditionally the snowiest month in the Maine mountains insuring a long season for all Downhill and Cross County areas.”