And now for a little "lift porn."

Do you have an infatuation with ski lifts? Probably not because it’s pretty weird fetish to have and yet nonetheless, ski lifts are some of the most fascinating engineering wonders in the world. Sure, there are millions of people that love to ski or ride, but only a handful of people that truly love and appreciate the history and technology that is behind the carriers that get us up the mountain. Yep, I’m one of them and it probably makes me a dork, but I can look at ski lift pictures for hours on end, especially old and rare lifts. Thankfully, I know that there are a lot more of you out there and I encourage you to embrace this little hobby and take a look at what other lifts are out there other than the ones you ridden and the resorts you’ve visited. Several websites around the world focus on ski lifts, but one of my favorites is called Skilifts.org and not only has information of all the components and terms for lifts as well as a whole glossary, but they have a extensive photo and statistical library for ski lifts from all over the country that continues to grow by the month. Now get back to work!

Sunday River lands Snowboarding World Cup for 2009

In 2001, Jeremy Bloom and Johnny Moseley dueled on the bumps of White Heat in an F.I.S. World Cup Freestyle Mogul stop at Sunday River, Maine. While the event was a huge success and brought the spotlight to Sunday River, it's been 7 long years since a World Cup event of any sort has beckoned. Meanwhile, Sugarloaf, Maine has hosted two U.S. Alpine Championships. Sunday River has been fortunate to remain on the radar of the USSA by hosting a few snowboard Grand Prixs, but the World Cup is a whole different level and with the event straddling February and March of 2009, the names competing will be many of the same that will don their nations colors the following year in whistler for the Olympics.

Anyone see a Gondola cabin?

There have been reports of Big Sky Montana gondola cabins showing up at Sugarloaf, Maine by the truck load, but the problem is that Sugarloaf doesn't have a lift permit to install anything this year. As you can imagine, skiers and rider from the Loaf are once again crying foul as their sister resort is getting a new hybrid, but folks in Carrabassett Valley should be stoked in my opinion. I mean you don't truck 35 gondola cabins from Montana to Maine for no reason. Sure, their currently sitting in bushes, but perhaps next year they will be cruising above the West Mountain trail???

Dig a hole and a lift will be built!

While there is still and air of mystery about the whole “chondola” project and others happening at Sunday River, Maine this summer; one thing is for sure, the hole that’s being dug in front of the South Ridge base lodge is not a new pit for pond-skimming. Given that I have very little knowledge of the hard plans for the lift, I can only assume that they are digging to pour concrete for anchors for the base terminal, but then again, depending on what Sunday River has for plans, they could be building an actual base station, which would be beneficial for those folks that will be using the gondola part of the lift and need to be shielded from the cold more than skiers and riders. Yes, I could come up with a bunch of different ideas, but quite frankly, no one cares to read about those despite the fact my imagination constantly produces them.

Skiers take to the boards?

It may sound funny, but in the summer, skiers take to the boards, message boards, that is. Actually, skiers can be found on websites like this all year round, but in the summer we tend to be doing far less skiing (Like none) and a lot more talking about skiing. By talking about the sport with other like minded souls, it makes the summer months go by faster.

Sunday River's "Chondola" blog is up and running

With construction under way at Sunday River, Maine for the new hybrid lift, or "Chondola," the resort has set up a separate website blog for those wishing to track the progress of the lift. Starting with the deconstruction the Borvig triple that was dismantled and will be on route to Michigan, there are facts, videos, links to related topics such as the company doing the installation - Doppelmayr, and lots of pictures. The site should be updated daily and will be linked off the main Sunday River website, but for the time being, it can accessed via www.chondola.com.

Ski Bowl development

Looks like all this development is just past the new triple at the Ski Bowl which opened this past season. The proposed quad would probably connect with the base of the new Burnt Ridge trail pod. This shows the quad and trails being built by ORDA vs. the developers. Not sure how I feel about this since the only benefit of this lift is to the private development although it could possibly take some pressure off the Gore base if parking at the Ski Bowl is expanded. There's barely enough there now for tubing and the triple.

The lengths to ski in the summer

I've never skied in the summer and was thinking about the lengths that soem people go to, to do it. Would you battle altitude sickness and pay a lot of money to go skiing in the summer? Have you considered Chile or Argentina? I know that if I had a little (or a lot) more money and perhaps some more time off, I would be done there in a second. As for the altitude, it would probably be an issue for a while, but I'd find a way to get through it. Of course I could just live in a place like Bend Oregon or Vancouver, BC and then I could go to Mt. Hood or Whistler respectively, but then again, what else would I do in one of those places?

Mount Abrams Changes Hands

Two Maine businessmen have purchased Mount Abrams in Greenwood, Maine. The resort got a bit of an overhaul after being bought at foreclosure auction several years ago and went back on the sale block this season when the current owner decided it was someone else's turn to operate the family-friendly resort in Western Maine, near Sunday River. The new owners pledge a commitment to keeping the resort a small family environment with the only immediate changes being an increase in the size of the ski school.

Oops! A little snag in Boyne's lift plans...

With the new Hybrid being installed at Sunday River, Maine this summer, the plan called for the 22-your-old Borvig triple chair to be moved to one of Boyne's resorts in Michigan. The process of moving the lift began last month as the chairs were loaded onto flatbeds and take across the country, but when it came time to take the lift tower (In picture) out, it seems that someone forgot to get a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency and not the resort can't take legally take the towers out. Whereas I'm sure a permit will be issued, someone dropped the ball...

Need a lift?

If you’re looking to charter a jet, there is a lot of information you need to know. Pricing, jet availability, FAA regulations, pilot credentials, and where specific jets are available. While a lot of corporations went away from the use of private jets in the not-so-distant past due to shareholder concerns, the recent rise in fuel costs has brought the corporate business back and one of the best ways of utilizing this resource has been to get a jet charter as opposed to purchasing a new jet for the company.

Boyne weighs their lift options for Sugarloaf

While Boyne Resorts is installing the northeast's first hybrid lift at Sunday River this summer, Sugarloaf, Maine has been told that no new lift is in the plan for the next year. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen as the rumors continue to fly and some activity has others talking. Big Sky Mountain Resort in Montana recently shipped 35 gondola cabins to Sugarloaf and the chatter perked up. Resort official indicated that their is a chance that a gondola may be installed somewhere on the mountain, but no plans are imminent and none are in the works for next season. All this comes as Sugarloaf has speculated that along with Sunday River, they too, would like a lift to access their mid-mountain restaurant and their has often been talk about a new lift or used gondola being used to access this area on West Mountain. For now it's all speculation, but sometimes it's just more fun that way...

Sunday River rated #1 in east by readers of SnowEast

Snoweast Magazine offered someone new to its' readers this past year. No, polls and surveys aren't new at all to the ski and snowboard world, but it's the first time that any publication has done an exclusive reader survey of eastern ski resorts. While the vote for favorite mountain was broken into resorts over and resorts under 1000 vertical feet, there were also categories from scenery, grooming, and terrain parks. It's no surprise that Sunday River, Maine did well across the board, but it was a pleasant surprise to learn that readers ranked the resort their favorite in the east. Congrats to Sunday River.

Sunday River nabs World Cup snowboarding event!

In 2001, Jeremy Bloom and Johnny Moseley dueled on the bumps of White Heat in an F.I.S. World Cup Freestyle Mogul stop at Sunday River, Maine. While the event was a huge success and brought the spotlight to Sunday River, it's been 7 long years since a World Cup event of any sort has beckoned. Meanwhile, Sugarloaf, Maine has hosted two U.S. Alpine Championships. Sunday River has been fortunate to remain on the radar of the USSA by hosting a few snowboard Grand Prixs, but the World Cup is a whole different level and with the event straddling February and March of 2009, the names competing will be many of the same that will don their nations colors the following year in whistler for the Olympics.