03/15/2009
from the Kennebec Journal
Sport of Kings
New Medicaid billing system inspires doubts among some
Christmas spirit
Guidance counselor: Dismiss complaint based on criticism of same-sex marriage
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Trust eyes orchard purchase
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Bonenfant rises up Cony ranks
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
YES ON 1 BACKER REBUTS CLAIM
New system for Medicaid payments worries providers
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YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
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from the Morning Sentinel
Staff Writer
In the midst of a recession, many sports enthusiasts have refused to give up skiing -- but they also are looking for ways to keep costs down.
At Saddleback Mountain, year-to-date visits are up 21 percent from last year and are expected to peak at 75,000, and season pass sales are 23 percent higher than last season, said Saddleback's manager and chief executive officer, Warren Cook.
"People are excited about what we are doing here," he said.
"Our snow conditions have been fantastic," Cook said. "The $40 lift ticket brings people the first time, but our terrain, glades, snowfields, our new Quad lift to the summit and Saddleback service by our outstanding staff (are) bringing them back. There is a spirit here that has infected our staff and our guests, even in our tough economy."
Sugarloaf/USA also is having a good season, spokesman Ethan Austin said.
"Skier visits at Sugarloaf have remained fairly strong this season despite the current economic climate. We have recorded strong numbers during our midweek periods, and our season pass sales were actually up this year over last," he said.
"One trend we have noticed is that people are being more careful with their spending. They're shopping around, searching for the best prices, and waiting until later to book their vacations. As a result, we've been more proactive with offering more competitive price points and getting our prices out into the market," he said.
At Saddleback, Cook noted a big jump in sales of condominiums and private house lots. The resort has about 3,800 acres in a planned development district and is focusing on creating a four-season recreational resort.
Overall, Saddleback owns 8,000 acres of mountains and lakes, and most of it will remain untouched wilderness, according to the Saddleback Web site.
"We've sold $4 million of real estate in the last three months. No one is doing that," Cook said.
He said buyers are mostly families from southern Maine, but there is interest from out-of-state, as well as from the United Kingdom.
Condominiums cost $200,000 to $350,000, and some quarter-shares sell for $50,000 to $60,000, Cook said. Saddleback has not cut prices, but he noted the resort's price point is about 10 percent lower than other resorts.
"Interest in trail-side condominiums and house lots over February vacation week was incredible. Real estate sales this season, despite the economic climate, have approached the $4 million mark; and we expect to exceed $5 million by May," said Chris Farmer, director of planning, development and real estate at Saddleback.
According to freelance ski writer and avid skier Dan Cassidy, most of Maine's ski areas are having a reasonably good year, and it looks as though the season will last through April.
Sugarloaf/USA in Carrabassett Valley and Sunday River in Bethel, both owned by Boyne Resorts, have seen good attendance on weekends and holidays, Cassidy said.
"People from all over are still getting out, playing on the snow. I've noticed that some alpine skiers are limiting their time to downhill and going cross-country skiing and/or snowshoeing," he said.
"Skiing at Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Saddleback on a regular basis this season, I have found that many families are getting their kids on the snow, thanks mainly to the Winter Kids program here in Maine," Cassidy said.
"This is a learn-to-ski program that both Sugarloaf and Sunday River seem to have in full gear that allows parents time to ski while their kids are in the programs being tutored by ski instructors," he said.
To learn more about Winter Kids, log on to: www.win terkids.org.
"It's a neat way for kids, fifth through seventh grades, to ski free; and parents can get ticket prices at about half off, making the skiing for the whole family quite affordable," he said.
Skier Ave Vinick of Waterville was at Saddleback last weekend. He has gone to the mountain twice this winter. He is also a frequent skier at Sugarloaf.
"Saddleback is a change of pace. People often think exclusively of Sugarloaf when they think about skiing, but the Rangeley area is only about 45 minutes further," said Vinick, admissions director at Good Will-Hinckley School in Fairfield. "And the $40 lift ticket price is much appreciated."
Since buying Saddleback in 2003, the Berry family of Farmington has made more than $25 million in improvements to the resort and created more than 100 new jobs. Upgrades include a new post-and-beam base lodge, a new grooming fleet, a 44 percent
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