There's spring in the air at Saddleback Mountain and participants are sure to get a dunking, when the resort hosts its sixth annual Pond Skimming contest on Saturday, April 4.

This is the second event of the 'Spring Fling' series that began last Saturday with the fifth annual Cardboard Box Race and continues on April 11 with 'Park Shark Two.'

Pond skimming isn't for the light of heart, as participants geared up in their skis and snowboards trying to navigate a manmade pond from one side to the other while trying to stay dry. Those who don't make it get a cool ice water dunk in the pond.

Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m., is free and does not require a lift ticket. Contestants will be required to sign a liability release and entries under age 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign.

"It's fun, it's exhilarating, and anyone can do it," said Jim Quimby, director of Saddleback's Mountain Operations in a press release. "Just don't lean forward or too farm back and you'll sail right over it like glass."

It's a zany way to celebrate springtime skiing and riding in the GREAT State of Maine!

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet. It may save your life.

It's hard to imagine, skiing four interconnected mountains

in one day. Lutsen Mountains are located on the shore of

Lake Superior, about two hours northeast of Duluth.

Longer days and higher temperatures are on the rise at Sugarloaf, and with that come some great savings on lift tickets and stay packages.

Some better news if the weather holds out like last year when Sugarloaf remained open until May 5, they plan to stay open into May again this year.

I found the skiing today just 'Stella!' Tons of Sun, no wind and a nice Maine day crowd made this day one for my best days of skiing book. I did notice that many Canadians are skiing Sugarloaf more. The reason? The snow!

Saddleback, Sugarloaf and Sunday River are all reaping the benefits due to the best snow of the year, especially with cool temperatures and dry air, reducing the melting factor.

Sugarloaf's Maine Family Days which allows families from Maine to ski on Sundays through April 12 for just $30 per person, and Maine residents can also purchase lift tickets on Wednesdays for the rest of the season for just $29.

A Sugarloaf affair
That's right. Skiers with a season pass to any other resort can purchase a lift ticket at Sugarloaf for just $39 for the remainder of the season.

Sunday River and Sugarloaf passes on sale
The 2009-2010 New England Passes are now on sale. The passes include access to Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. Guests who purchase the passes before April 30 will enjoy additional benefits and the lowest rates.

Now is the time to ski and ride at Sugarloaf. There are 122 trails, including White Nitro on the front face of the snowfields that are still open. Don't forget the 21st. Annual Bud Light Reggae Festival set for April 16-19.

Kids and teens ages 6 to 18 can see for free when lodging for three or more mid-week nights during Sugarloaf's Kids and Teen Ski Free week, April 5 thru 10. Pricing starts at $59 per adult per night.

For additional information on these specials, log onto: www.sugarloaf.com

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet.

Having just spent a week snowmobiling, skiing and touring along the western shore of Minnesota's Lake Superior, I had the feeling of a touch of home. The shoreline and forests from Lutsen to Grand Marais resembled the coast and woods of Maine's villages and towns.

Grand Marais is about 20 miles northeast of Lutsen, and not too far from the Canadian border. It is a quiet charming village in the winter time and a thriving lively tourist resort in the summer. Many residents earn their livelihoods dabbling in the arts and fishing. The art colony was established in 1947 and is the longest lived art colony in Minnesota.

As our shuttle vans approached Grand Marais Harbor, we were greeted with a large banner welcoming North American Snowsports Journalists members who were attending a conference in the Lutsen area. After shopping and touring the village community, our group was invited at the North House Folk School for a tour and wonderful buffet dinner, catered by Chez Jude Restaurant. The menus are contemporary Minnesota cuisine of Chez Jude reflecting the freshest offerings of the Minnesota seasons. The owner and chef of the restaurant is Judi Barsnes.

The North House Folk School is located right on the shore line at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Grand Marais serves North House Folk School as its extended campus. Greg Wright, executive director and Scott Pollock, program and communications director gave tours and a presentation.

The campus offers over 225 courses with 120 instructors. Courses offered are from a wide range of northern crafts including outdoor courses such as bird watching, fly fishing to building a traditional toboggan, skis, snowshoes, boats, basket weaving and canoes are attended by students from all over the country. Courses last from half day to several weeks.

To learn more about North House Folk School, visit www.northhouse.org or call toll-free (888) 387-9762.

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet.

It's a sad day when a skier dies. Natasha Richardson, a 45 year old actress died of blunt impact to the head while taking a private lesson on a beginner's trail at Mont Tremblant Ski Resort near Montreal Canada yesterday. The accident occurred on Monday.

Imagine, taking a lesson, falling and ultimately dying of a blunt impact to the head. It is widely agreed upon that skiing is a relatively safe sport, and she was just taking a lesson, not tree skiing, bouncing down a mogul trail or racing down a double-black diamond, but just an accidental fall that ultimately caused her death.

Spring is arriving in a big way here in Lutsen, Minnesota. That's right. I arrived on Sunday to temperatures in the mid 40s in Duluth, along Lake Superior's lower west shore.

The Sun is higher and that ushers in spring skiing in Maine. Recent storms have dumped several feet of new snow on all ski areas throughout the state.

Now if we could get the wind to settle down, that would be a bonus. This Wednesday was the primo day to hit the slopes. And if you've been dragging your feet to get up to the mountains, you better hurry because the end of the season is in sight.

Season passes for 2009-10 on sale
Sunday River, Sugarloaf and Loon Mountain in New Hampshire have announced that New England passes for the 2009-2010 seasons are now on sale. And the best news is there will be no price increase from the 2008-09 prices.

The New England Pass is the best value in the northeast, with prices starting at $349. The pass offers access to three of New England's premier mountain resorts, Loon in New Hampshire; Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine.

Purchase your pass by April 30 and you can take advantage of the new Easy 3-pay plan option that will allow you to pay for the pass in three equal payments due of April 30, July 1 and September 1. Special discounts are also offered with the purchase of the Gold pass.

For additional information, log onto: www.loonmountain.com; www.sundayriver.com or www.sugarloaf.com

*****

Shawnee Peak offers a great 'family tradition' pass
Shawnee Peak has announced that most of their 2009-2010 season passes will be the same as 2008-09. They're 'hot off the presses' and you can save paper and postage by buying online.

Save $140 when you purchase your Family Pass before April 6th. Skiing is a great family tradition. The pass offered for families with two or more children for skiing day, night, weekends, midweek and holidays for less than $450 per person.

Other passes include the unrestricted for adults, students and juniors from $299; Sunday passes for $255 and others. For additional information call: (207) 647-8444.

Saddleback Mountain is still working on their 2009-10 season pass rates.

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet.

There are days when time goes by so fast, you even get out of touch with the real world. This is one of those times I seem to have been going so fast I've even left cyber space behind, due mainly because there wasn't able to log onto it.

It's been a whirlwind tour that began last Thursday at Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley, Maine and ended up yesterday at Stoneham Mountain, Quebec, Canada. The week's events were part of an Eastern Ski Writers Association (ESWA) conference.

Saddleback has added a new quad chair to replace the old Kennebago T-bar that makes access near the summit very easy. Several new trails have been cut and new condos and private homes are being built close to the mountain. On Thursday evening, we enjoyed a wonder hospitality hour and dinner at the Loon Lodge Inn.

The towns, villages, B&Bs, hotel, condos and mountain visits have gone by like a blur. began with a pre-trip to Saddleback Mountain, staying over at the Saddleback Motor Inn. This writer then traveled to the Eastern Townships of Quebec to a town called Magog. My two day stay was at A Tout Venant B&B that included a trip to a Nordic spa. On Saturday, our itinerary included skiing at Owl's Head and Mont Orford on Sunday.

After our official ESWA Conference ended Sunday morning, several members traveled to Quebec City for a post trip, where we hosted by Richard Seguin, representative of the Quebec City of Tourism, to see what Quebec City is planning for the future. Our hotel accommodations were at the wonderful Hotel Manoir Victoria located in the heart of the Old City of Quebec. Everything in the Old City is a close walk from the front door. Many of their rooms have been redecorated and others are being done so at this time. You can spend time in their lovely pool or work out in their gym. From their bountiful buffet breakfast to dinner, you'll enjoy a wonderful meal at affordable prices.

Skiing is what we came for
Monday, our group was shuttled to LeMassif Mountain. We were greeted with moderate snow falling, covering the trails with a beautiful white blanket.

Tuesday, was a bright, bluebird sky day. This was the day several in our group had the opportunity to ski the Charlevoix Trail, rated a triple black diamond. It is one of the steepest trails in North America. We were the first skiers to take our turns this season, and the course was freshly groomed. Our guide, Lisa Rice gave us final instructions before making our decent to the river's edge. It was a 'rush' I can't really explain.

We continued several runs with Gold Medal Olympic mogul skier, Jean Luc Brassard. It was a treat to ski with the 36 year Gold Medalist. It was wonderful to young children especially older girls that were drawn to him like a magnet. Brassard competed in four Olympic Games, winning two Gold medals. He is a classic example of what an ambassador can do for a mountain's image.

Wednesday, our group visited Mont-Sainte-Anne, a very skier friendly family mountain that has first class accommodations at Chateau Mont-Sainte-Anne. Skiers and riders can make turns from early morning to late night under the lights. We got the opportunity to ski with Yves Juneau, Director of Sales and Marketing, Samantha McKinley, Public Relations Manager, and Sebastian Roy, General Manager of Chateau Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Our group went on their separate ways after this ski day, but I chose to lay over a couple more days to ski a wonderful family ski area just 25 minutes from Quebec City called Stoneham. From the approach to the mountain, you may have second thoughts, as all you see are about four trails. But as you arrive in the parking lot, many other trails come into view, along with their newest addition of a permanent Olympic Super-Pipe laid out right in the middle of the mountain. The half pipe is one of the largest in the East.

It was a great time to take some runs with Lisa Marie Lacasse, Communications Coordinator, getting the grand tour of the trails and even a trip to the Sugar Shack to get a lick of maple syrup poured on snow and rolled up on a stick.

Friday morning it is snowing hard with about a half foot already on the ground. I made some last turns in the powda' before heading back to Maine.

Back at home now, I'll be providing details of this special trip in upcoming columns to whet the appetite for you to plan a trek to visit new friends in the Province of Quebec. It's close to home and Quebec is a skier's paradise.

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet.