Section Contents - Quick Links to Articles

• 1 - MOUNT SUNAPEE - MORE UPGRADES & FAMILY PROGRAMS FOR YOU

• 2 - WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN IS IDEAL FOR FAMILIES

• 3 - GUNSTOCK - WHERE MEMORIES BEGIN

• 4 - SUNDAY RIVER IS ALL ABOUT THE SNOW & WORTH THE TRIP

• 5 - SUGARLOAF GETS QUICKER SERVICE, MORE SNOW and BIGGER SUPERPIPE

• 6 - OKEMO IS BIG ON IMPROVEMENTS

• 7 - ATTITASH CONTINUES UPGRADES & DEALS

• 8 - MOUNT SUNAPEE IS A JEWEL IN SOUTH CENTRAL N.H.

MOUNT SUNAPEE -

MORE UPGRADES & FAMILY PROGRAMS FOR YOU

NEWBURY, NH — An upgraded grooming fleet, fresh and healthier food choices and new rental skis and snowboards highlight a $500,000 capital program at Mount Sunapee. This brings the total capital investment at Mount Sunapee since 1998 to $14.5 million.

The entire grooming fleet at Mount Sunapee will be upgraded to state-of-the-art BR-350 grooming machines enabling the resort to freshen the snow like never before. The added horsepower and extra wide tracks allow these machines to groom as effectively traveling uphill as downhill, greatly increasing productivity.

These machines will also be equipped with Terrain Master blades, which can haul more snow. “We will be able to build terrain park elements faster and with crisper edges with the Terrain Master blade,” said assistant mountain manager Alan Ritchie. These machines are also environmentally friendly because, despite the added horsepower, they are more fuel efficient.

New Culinary Director Brian Faille is putting the emphasis on fresh food and healthier food choices for 2005-06. At both Sunapee and Spruce Lodges fresh made-toorder salads and deli sandwiches will be available. The Spruce Lodge food court will receive a facelift, and structural changes will be made allowing it to operate more efficiently. Items like grilled chicken sandwiches, vegetarian entrees and healthy daily specials will be added to the menu. Many existing sandwich favorites will be offered as wraps for guests watching carbohydrates. Even the food served at the Children’s Learning Center will be fresher and healthier. Potato chip snacks will be replaced with apples or yogurts. “Don’t worry,” says Brian, “we will still offer cheeseburgers and fries; we just want to make sure we have a lot more healthier options.”

The Mount Sunapee Rental Shop will be restocked with over 350 pairs of new skis and snowboards and 350 pairs of new boots. There will be 100 pair of children’s skis from Atomic, which were selected because of their soft flex and the performance characteristics of the ski. Likewise, there will be 250 pairs of Atomic children’s boots, which are easily flexed by children. There are also 120 pairs of new adult skis and boots from Salomon.

Mount Sunapee will become a Burton Learn to Ride Center this winter with the addition of the Burton LTR snowboard to the rental shop. There are 60 adult boards and 20 children’s boards. The LTR board has a soft torsional flex, deep side cut and specially tuned to enhance the learning experience. The board helps beginners link turns on the first day while keeping falls to a minimum. For more information on the Burton Learn To Ride Centers, go to burton.com.

For more information about Mount Sunapee, visit sn.mountsunapee.com (no “www”) or easily link to it from the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

NEWBURY, NH — Mount Sunapee has earned the reputation over the past 57 years as one of New England’s top family resorts by providing a wide variety of innovative programs and special rates that make planning a family get-away easier than ever. Mount Sunapee’s layout and trail network is family friendly. Families can ski and ride together from virtually any lift or go their separate ways to explore varied terrain.

Mount Sunapee won an award this year for its innovative Families First beginner program at the National Ski Areas Association’s National Convention. The award was in the category for the best national program to increase trial by new participants. Families First allows families, with children beginning at age 8 and higher, to learn together in the same class with one instructor.

“Skiing and snowboarding is one of the few activities that families can enjoy together for a lifetime,” said Maura Gorman, director of the Learning Center at Mount Sunapee. “It seemed to make sense that families should be introduced to the sport the same way that they can enjoy it in the future: together.” Families First is offered weekends and holiday periods.

The Children’s Learning Center, built in 2003, puts all programs for children ages 1 to 7 under one roof. This state-of-the-art facility features the Mother Goose Childcare for children ages 1 to 5. It is also headquarters for Mount Sunapee’s Snow Stars, ages 4 to 7, customized instructional programs. There is even a children’s rental equipment shop in the Center. The Children’s Learning Center is located at the base of South Peak, Mount Sunapee’s outstanding beginner’s area.

For children ages 8-12, Mount Sunapee offers the Mountain Explorer program in half- or full-day sessions. Those who prefer to stay at the beginner’s area can enroll in the half-day South Peak Explorer program.

Mount Sunapee features young adult ticket pricing for ages 13-18 offering significant savings compared to adult ticket pricing at other resorts. Plus, little ones 5-years and under will ski free with a ticketed adult.

Mount Sunapee also offers the largest season-long Alpine Program in the state of New Hampshire. With a brand new Alpine Race Program building in 2004, the program offers training and competitive programs for skiing, snowboarding and freestyle, as well as recreational programs for young athletes ages 5 to 18.

For more information about Mount Sunapee’s family programs, please visit sn.mountsunapee.com (no “www”) or log on via an easily found link on the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

NEWBURY, NH — Mount Sunapee offers big mountain skiing and riding only a short drive from metropolitan New England. It is truly one-of-akind in south central New Hampshire.

The stereotypical ski area near major New England metropolitan centers is a smaller, familyoriented area. Mount Sunapee breaks the mold. Mount Sunapee offers big mountain skiing and riding on more than 1,500 vertical feet of terrain with runs up to two miles long.

There are spectacular views from the summit of Lake Sunapee, where you can see the Green Mountains in Vermont and the White Mountains in New Hampshire. You can travel hours farther north and west of Boston, Mass., and find resorts with the same or even less vertical.

Mount Sunapee is part of a family of ski resorts including Okemo Mountain in Vermont and Crested Butte in Colorado owned and operated by Tim and Diane Mueller. Because of the attention to detail and personal touch that Tim and Diane employ at their resorts, Mount Sunapee benefits from the synergy of being part of a large ski operating company without any of the corporate stigma. Tim and Diane put all of the focus on the identity of the individual resorts.

Despite being the “baby bear” of the family, Mount Sunapee offers services and facilities that rival Okemo, Crested Butte and other big destination resorts. The lift system features three quad chairlifts, including the base-to-summit Sunapee Express, ensuring that guests get in all the skiing and riding they want.

The snowmaking system covers 97 percent of the terrain, which is one reason why Mount Sunapee was ranked sixth in the East for snow quality by the 2004-05 SKI Magazine Reader Survey. The entire grooming fleet is state-of-theart 350-horsepower machines. The Sunapee Lodge features classic New England architecture on the outside, but when you step inside it has the ambiance of a Western destination resort.

Another advantage of being in the family is that “best practices” are shared between Mount Sunapee, Okemo and Crested Butte concerning guest services, programs and technology. In fact, the only thing about Mount Sunapee that resembles other ski areas close to metropolitan New England is the friendly service and family atmosphere is called “The Sunapee Difference.”

Mount Sunapee, you need to ski it or ride it to believe it.

For more information about Mount Sunapee please call (603) 763-2356 or visit (no “www”) sn.mountsunapee.com or log on via an easily found link on the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN IS IDEAL FOR FAMILIES

PRINCETON, MA — Wachusett Mountain is a great place for families and it shows. In addition to great on-mountain programs, Wachusett is a natural for families for a host of other reasons, as well.

Here are some of those extras that make Wachusett special.

The base lodge is on the same level as the parking lot offering easy access for kids to maneuver from the car.

The terrain is perfectly suited for families with all of the terrain meeting at the base area. The trail and lift configuration is also great for families with the Monadnock triple perfect for beginners, the Minuteman Quad ideal for intermediates, and the Polar Express Quad fun for advanced skiers.

Wachusett’s convenient location in central Massachusetts ensures a short trip in the car with a minimum of “Are we there, yet?” questions. Wachusett has been recognized in the past by Ski Magazine as the most accessible ski area in the East.

It takes a “friendly family” to make Wachusett Mountain “family friendly.” Wachusett is operated by the Crowley family who grew up on the mountain and now enjoys the mountain with their own kids.

Kids and parents can ski, snowboard or take lessons. Mom and Dad can feel safe knowing that the younger children, who are not quite ready to hit the slopes, can stay supervised in the “Polar Cub Nursery”.

The “Polar Kids Sled” is a beautiful hand-made wooden sled is used to pull kids from the Polar Den to the teaching area helping them have fun before they’ve even started skiing.

The “Polar Kids Area” features a slowmoving carpet lift to give young skiers and chance to get the feel of moving around on the snow before riding the larger lifts. There are also two other easy-to-ride carpet lifts on the Ollie’s and Easy Rider beginner areas.

Wachusett’s on-mountain food service has been ranked by Ski Magazine readers as No. 1 in the East.

A recent issue of Ski Magazine ranked Wachusett Mountain among the top ski areas in the East for family programs.

Wachusett Mountain welcomes the new season with exciting changes on and off the mountain.

ON THE HILL:

New Half-Pipe - A new 350-foot builtin half pipe is now at the bottom of Look Mom Trail.

Improved Snowmaking Efficiency – New pipeline was installed on all three, summit trails (Conifer Connection, Smith Walton, 10th Mountain).

Increased Snowmaking Capacity - 40 new state-of-the-art HKD tower snow guns are installed on Conifer Connection and Look Mom trails bringing the total snowmaking artillery to more than 200 guns.

New Snow Cats – Two new BR 350 snow groomers are added, because of their power, balance and agility. These machines can handle any task, from creating and maintaining terrain features, pushing tons of machine-made snow, to climbing and descending the steeps of Smith Walton.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES:

Rental Equipment – There are 1,200 sets of new Head Rental Skis. To get you out on the snow quicker, Wachusett features a new state-of-the-art “BYS” System -- designed to substantially reduce the time required to be fitted for equipment.

New Century Pass Lineup – With Wachusett’s new Gold Century Pass, you can ski or ride all season for only $499 ($100 less than last year!) The classic Century Pass (valid all nights and midweek days) is now the Bronze Century starting at just $199. The new Century Pass lineup is the most economical way to ski and ride the mountain.

COW card now valid at WVI – The Card of Wachusett (COW Card) is available for lift tickets, rental equipment, lessons, Mountainside Sports Shop, Black Diamond Restaurant and other Wachusett food outlets. This year, the COW Card is also valid at the Wachusett Village Inn. COW Card holders may now use their cards for on-line purchases, as well.

For more info, link to Wachusett’s web site from www.skiernews.com.

GUNSTOCK - WHERE MEMORIES BEGIN

GILFORD, NH — Nestled in the heart of the Lakes Region, Gunstock Mountain Resort has something to offer to all skier and riders. Less than two hours from Boston, you can be carving long turns on impeccably groomed trails while taking in some of the region’s most spectacular views. New for 2005-06, are the new expanded glades terrain and the increased snowmaking. You and your family can spend more time cruising and less time traveling. Gunstock Mountain Resort’s motto is, “Easy to get to… Hard to leave!”

When the mountains are covered white with snow, in six minutes Gunstock’s Panorama High Speed Quad will take skiers and riders on a 6,427-foot joy ride. Feel as if you are on top of the world at 2,300 feet of elevation and then take a spectacular view-filled run down Flintlock, just one of the 51 trails.

Gunstock Mountain Resort offers a variety of programs for skiers and riders of all ages and abilities. The youngest in the family will be introduced to the sport of skiing and riding in the Children’s Center, while meeting new friends along the way. Those looking to learn the latest and greatest air grabbing, gravity defying moves will find themselves begging for more in Gunstock Mountain Resorts Learning Center. This is a school day that you will not want to miss. Then test out your new moves in Blundersmoke Park and the Rail Garden, the closest 12 acres of freestyle terrain to Boston.

Want to experience the magic of winter? Gunstock invites you to try the nationally recognized, award winning learn to ski or ride program – Mountain Magic™. This is Gunstock’s best way to learn, guaranteed. Whether you are 6 or 106, your first day is magical. The equipment is customized, instructors are patient, fun and trained to teach you to ski or ride. Like a wizard teaching his students, they have a love for the sport that they magically transfer to you. Even if skiing or riding is old hat, there is always room for improvement. Let Gunstock Mountain Resort’s PSIA/AASI instructors improve your skills and increase your confidence in the Mountain Adventure and Mountain Excitement Programs.

The day does not end when the sun goes down at Gunstock Mountain Resort. Catch the winter thrill of night skiing and riding on 21 trails and five lifts. Turn off the video games, toss the TV Guide and make family night something to remember. Enjoy dinner at one of the Lakes Region’s fabulous restaurants, and then take a couple of runs for dessert. With your first visit you will understand why this is where memories begin.

Bring the whole gang. Gunstock Mountain Resort’s Children’s Center offers the chance for Mom and Dad to rekindle the love for the sport during a day of skiing, knowing that the kids are in a safe place to play, learn, and meet new friends. Introduce your entire family to the magic of skiing and riding at Gunstock Mountain Resort. “You can do it” is the adaptive center’s theme.

Gunstock Mountain Resort’s Adaptive Ski Program is personalized for skiers with physical, emotional and cognitive needs. The Adaptive Ski Instructors embrace the challenge of expanding the world of skiers with disabilities and teaching them how to conquer the hill. It is easy to see how instructors have touched the hearts of their skiers by the smiles on their faces at the end of the day.

Experience more for less with this year’s new Multi- Day Tickets. Call in sick to work on Fridays. With the purchase of your two- or three- day ticket, you will ski Friday night free. Spend the weekend in the Lakes Region and make it your base for your winter vacation. There are numerous hotels and B & B’s with all the amenities of home and great restaurants that complement the unbeatable views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

If you would like to take the trail less traveled then visit the Cross Country & Snowshoe Center and listen to the sound of your skinny skis swish or have the snow crunch under your snowshoes. There are 50 kilometers of groomed terrain ready to explore for cross-country, skate skiing and snowshoeing. Rentals, lessons and guided tours are available.

Snow tubing at Gunstock Mountain Resort is easy family fun with nothing to learn and no equipment to buy. Put the word ‘WEEE’ back into your vocabulary. Experience the thrill of sledding down the hill without the hassle of the walking back up. Grab a snow tube and let the lift bring you atop New Hampshire’s longest tubing run. If it is your child’s birthday, you can party on the mountain when you have Gunstock Mountain Resort host your child’s birthday party. You will have a great time with all of the fun and none of the clean up.

For more information on Gunstock Mountain Resort’s programs and events visit their website directly at www.gunstock.com or via an easily found link on the home page of www.skiernews.com. Please call either 1-800-GUNSTOCK or (603) 293-4341 for more info.

SUNDAY RIVER IS ALL ABOUT THE SNOW & WORTH THE TRIP

BETHEL, ME — An adventure is waiting for you in the mountains of Maine. Sunday River offers diverse terrain spread across 128 trails on eight interconnecting mountain peaks, and it is all serviced by an award-winning network of 18 lifts.

Sunday River offers a complete outdoor experience that satisfies everyone’s needs for escape and relaxation. Short of controlling the weather, Sunday River can brag that it will do everything possible to ensure its guests have a great time.

Carved from the mountains, Sunday River evokes the spirit, raw beauty, and lively soul of Maine. Guests will find stunning views of the Mahoosuc Mountain Range and Mount Washington and the Presidentials from atop the peaks. The terrain offers a variety of steeps, glades, and wide-open corduroy cruisers as well as an expansive learning area. There are four terrain parks for varying ability levels, as well as a rail park and Zaugg-cut Superpipe.

At Sunday River, it’s all about the snow. The resort was built on the premise that the most important ingredient to a successful ski resort is the snow; the resort refined and developed snowmaking, taking it from a simple science to an art. The snowmaking system is the most technically advanced system in the East, capable of converting 9,000 gallons of water per minute to snow. The system is the world’s largest high-pressure snowmaking system, with a pioneer computer-controlled system that was developed in-house.

The computer analyzes air temperate and humidity level to determine where gauges controlled by the snowmakers should be set. Though the system is sophisticated, snowmakers emphasize that experience aids in the process. The resort’s snowmakers are among the most veteran in the industry. If the snow being produced does not pass their own litmus test, they adjust accordingly. “If you are experienced, you know what to look at, how it should feel and what it sounds like when it is being produced. We still need to hand-check the snow,” said Greg Warner, a Sunday River snowmaker for nearly 20 years.

The snowmakers take pride in their snow and look forward to guests getting on the snow each morning to sample the product. For first-time skiers or riders, getting on the slopes is easy thanks to the resort’s renowned Perfect Turn ® ski school program, which includes a three-day guaranteed Learn to Ski/Ride program as well as a variety of other learn-to programs.

Guests also may take their skiing or riding to the next level with a Perfect Turn clinic. Group and private lessons are available and specialty clinics are available for Black Diamond skiing, moguls or glades. Learn to Ski programs are also available for children 3-years-old and up, and the resort has three licensed daycare facilities on site for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years.

When it is time to settle in, Sunday River features the most slopeside lodging in New England. The Jordan Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center or Grand Summit Resort Hotel and Conference Center both offer a variety of amenities including outdoor heated pools, whirlpool spas, full service fitness centers, on site child care, full service restaurants and café, valet and room service and slopeside access and convenience. Guests can ski or ride from the door of their hotels to some of the longest and most exciting trails at Sunday River. Sunday River also features over 700 slopeside condos with direct access to trails.

All condominiums feature a full kitchen and bath and are ideal for groups or families. Condominium amenities offer on-site laundry, heated pools, hot tubs, free trolley transportation throughout the resort and free public transportation to and from the quintessential New England village of Bethel, just six miles down the road.

The Snow Cap Inn and Snow Cap Ski Dormitory are both within walking distance of the lifts and are one of the most economical ways to lodge at Sunday River. Snow Cap Inn features New England charm at its best. The Snow Cap Ski dormitory is the only group facility of its kind in New England and is ideal for school groups or youth ski trips.

When the lifts shut down, the fun continues at Sunday River. Both on-mountain and off-mountain restaurants along the access road and in the village offer a diverse selection of dining options including traditional pub fare, wood-fired pizza, vegetarian, fine dining, and ethnic cuisine.

For those who like to end the day in an active mode, the White Cap Fun offers two lighted, lift-serviced tubing runs, ice-skating and arcade. It is also home to the Budweiser Rocks the River Concert Series, which brings top national acts to the stage, and it is the best place to view frequent fireworks displays. Other evening options include dog sledding, which is offered from the resort’s South Ridge base area each evening.

Last season the resort has invested more than $1 million in capital improvements. Among those capital projects were upgrades to the Grand Hotels, the Barker and South Ridge base lodges and various other improvements throughout the resort.

Projects at the Jordan Grand included the installation of wireless Internet, expansion of the health facilities with two new massage rooms and a spa room, expansion and renovation of the café, pool and hot tub area and enhanced landscaping and gardens. At the Grand Summit the lobby and public spaces at have been renovated.

At Sunday River, Mother Nature and world-famous snowmaking team-up to make eight peaks of heaven. Whether your plans include a family getaway or a romantic winter vacation, Sunday River is worth the trip.

For more information or to make a reservation, please log on to www.sundayriver.com or via an easily found link on the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

SUGARLOAF GETS QUICKER SERVICE, MORE SNOW and BIGGER SUPERPIPE

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, ME — When skiers and riders return to Sugarloaf/USA this season they will find more snow, a bigger superpipe and quicker service as a result of upgrades put in place during the summer months of 2005.

Through Sugarloaf’s continued partnership with Carrabassett Valley Academy, Sugarloaf’s showcase superpipe, called Pipe Dreams, will be bigger and better than ever thanks to the purchase of an 18-foot Zaugg Halfpipe Designer.

The Zaugg is renowned throughout the winter sports industry as a leader in park and pipe equipment for their ability to produce large, rider-friendly superpipes. The Zaugg will allow Sugarloaf’s pipe groomers to create a superpipe with 18-foot walls and smoother transitions that will make it easier for pipe riders to throw bigger tricks. The Zaugg will be mounted on one of Sugarloaf’s winch cat groomers to further improve efficiency and allow for more frequent pipe cuts. The plan is to cut the pipe a minimum of three to four times per week throughout the season.

New snowmaking lines have been installed to improve early season capacity on the lower half of the mountain. Lines were replaced on Boardwalk which will not only ensure adequate snowmaking on that trail but will make it possible to make snow elsewhere simultaneously. “In the past if we were making snow on Boardwalk we could not make snow in the halfpipe or Whiffletree,” said Rich “Crusher” Wilkinson, Sugarloaf’s vice president of operations. “With this new line we can get water to more than one trail at a time, which will greatly improve our early season coverage.”

Snowmaking lines have also been added to Lower Scoot and Lower Binder, two trails that did not previously have snowmaking coverage. Glade skiers and riders will find better lines and clear access to Rookie River, Stubs Glade and Cant Dog thanks to extensive brush sawing and clean up. This year’s effort is the continuation of Sugarloaf’s commitment to glade work each summer to improve the woods skiing experience.

As part of Sugarloaf’s ongoing commitment to onmountain safety and awareness, there will be more ambassadors on the mountain more often. Ambassadors will be visible on the mountain seven days a week as opposed to weekends and holiday weeks as was the case in the past. Their role will be to serve as a resource to guests to promote safe skiing and riding. “One of our key initiatives is to offer parents the resources to talk with their children about safety on the slopes,” said Nancy Peabbles, Sugarloaf’s director of skier services. Ambassadors will also be available for mountain tours to help first time guests get the most out of their visit to Sugarloaf. New trail signs in the shape of green circles, blue squares, and black diamonds will also be installed on the mountain to provide instant awareness of the trail difficulty. “We’re working on a number of little things, that when they are added together, will make an impact on safety and enjoyment on the mountain,” Peabbles said.

At the base of the mountain, skiers and riders will find an improved ski rental shop. The shop on the ground floor of the Base Lodge has been renovated to improve efficiency and shorten the time it takes to rent equipment. “The fun is on the ski slopes and not in the rental shop,” said Jeff Rosenberg, vice president of retail operations for Sugarloaf and Sunday River. “With this renovation we’re going to make it easier to get your gear and get out on the slopes.”

Guests will also notice many other improvements throughout the resort such as new paving, renovations in the village and a new property management and maintenance facility.

Sugarloaf hosts the 2006 U.S. Alpine Championships

America’s top alpine racers, many of whom may be adorned with new Olympic medals, will close out the 2005- 06 winter season at Sugarloaf/USA for the 2006 U.S. Alpine Championships on March 25-29.

Sugarloaf has a proud heritage of hosting world-class competitions, including the U.S. Championships in 1996 and 1997 and a World Cup event in 1971, and has been the proving ground for numerous top winter sports competitors for more than 50 years.

“The entire Sugarloaf community is ecstatic to welcome the nation’s top skiers including Sugarloaf’s own Kirsten Clark and Bode Miller to close out what is likely be one of the most exciting seasons the U.S. Ski Team has ever had,” said Sugarloaf’s President John Diller.

Miller is expected to be joined at Sugarloaf by America’s best World Cup racers including Daron Rahlves, Eric Schlopy, Kirsten Clark and Julia Mancuso who will go head to head with the nation’s best new skiers.

The 2006 U.S. Alpine Championships will feature a downhill and super-G on the fabled Narrow Gauge trail. Racers will cover nearly two miles at speeds of 85 miles per hour or more to the finish that will be staged in front of the Sugarloaf base lodge. Several jumps will hurtle racers more than 100 feet along the way and are sure to be fan favorites. “Our course will very spectator-friendly, so fans can truly appreciate the speed and skills of these racers from just a few feet away,” said Karen Greene, Sugarloaf’s brand manager. Photo and autograph sessions and festive opening ceremonies will also provide fans the chance to interact with these skiing superstars off the slopes.

Lift and Lodging offers

Families and friends planning ski trips can take advantage of numerous weekend and weeklong packages offered throughout the season.

• Sugarloaf College Snowfest Weeks: Jan. 2-6, 2006 — Students will want to put away the books and enjoy $30 lift tickets and specially priced packages with their valid college ID.

• White White World Week: Jan. 23-27, 2006 — A traditional week of winter festivities, wacky on-snow events including the infamous Dummy Downhill and nightly theme parties. Celebrate winter the way the locals do with packages starting at just $59 per person per night, with daily lift tickets offered at only $35.

• Classic Ski Weeks: Sugarloaf’s Classic Ski Weeks may be the most affordable ski vacation in the business. Available at various times throughout the season, packages start at just $299 per person for five midweek days of skiing and riding, plus lodging, access to the Sugarloaf Sports & Fitness Club and Perfect Turn® adult clinics.

• Children’s Festival Week: Jan. 9-13, 2006 — Spend time on the slopes with your family and save. Families that stay three midweek nights between Jan. 13-17 receive free lift tickets, rentals and Perfect Kids™ lessons for children who are 4 to 12 years old. Plus the week is full of activities for the whole family including evening activities such as Festival Night.

• Kids & Teens Ski Free weeks: Feb. 6-10 & March 20- 24, 2006 — Families who stay for three midweek nights receive free lift tickets for children who are 18 and under. Both of these weeks offer special evening activities for all families to enjoy.

For more information visit their website directly at www.sugarloaf.com, or via an easily found link on the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

OKEMO IS BIG ON IMPROVEMENTS

LUDLOW, VT — There is always something new and exciting happening each year at Okemo and 2005-06 promises to be OKE-MONUMENTUS!

In addition to nearly $3.5 million in improvements and a variety of new program options, on January 31, 2006, Okemo will celebrate 50 years of history and tradition and its emergence as one the most successful snowsport enterprises in the country. A 50th Anniversary Celebration, along with an exciting improvement line-up, lies ahead for skiers.

Here is a preview of what is to come this winter.

New Trails:

Two new trails have been added in the Jackson Gore Peak area increasing the resort’s total skiable acreage to 624 acres. Big Bang and Eclipse (double black diamond trails) can be accessed from the top of the Jackson Gore Peak and promise plenty of challenge and excitement this season!

New Lift:

The new F-10 Carpet lift, tailor-made for beginner skiers, replaces the F-10 Poma lift in the Okemo base. The new surface lift will enable novice skiers to easily access the learning area and lift network and begin the thrill of downhill even faster.

Groomed to Perfection:

Okemo’s Mountain Operation team will be all smiles on the trails this winter with two new Camoplast Park Cats, and two new trail grooming machines added to their fleet. The new Park Cats will enable the grooming team to prepare the Parks, Pipes and trails with even greater efficiency.

Snowmaking Pond Upgrade:

Okemo’s massive 70-million gallon snowmaking pond is undergoing a major upgrade, bringing its total capacity to 153 million gallons. This massive increase in size will ensure that the Snowmaking Team will have plenty of water for snowmaking during the winter season. Construction on the snowmaking pond will be finished in 2006-07.

Cutting Edge Learning Center Programs:

New this season - Young Mountain Explorers and Young Riders (ages 7-14) are offering a full day option for all ability levels - including beginners! The full day program lets young adults explore Okemo’s vast terrain network and have fun with kids of their same age and ability. Young Mountain Explorers is offered every day as a full-day program, a morning lesson or an afternoon lesson for all ability levels. Lift ticket and rental equipment is additional.

The Penguin Playground Day Care Center is offering an expanded Mini Stars lesson program for children ages 3-4. A new 2-hour morning session has been added to the Day Care line-up of lessons for tots (running from 10 am until noon). Children can reserve a spot in the Mini Stars program as an add-on to their Day Care reservation, or take a Mini Stars lesson as a regular group lesson (without Day Care).

Okemo’s Culinary Services:

“Which wine tonight?” The Coleman Brook Tavern, located in the Jackson Gore Inn, features the perfect marriage of food, wine and ambience with the opening of their new Wine Room. The Wine Room’s decor is romantic and warm, giving the feeling of dining in an exclusive cellar. Fabulous selections of wines are displayed along the walls. Guests will enjoy exquisite entrees, delicious desserts and the most diverse selection of wines under one roof. With seating for up to 40 guests, the Wine Room is ideal for private parties and will cater to an adult clientele during the winter months. Whatever the occasion, the new Wine Room in the Coleman Brook Tavern will leave a lasting impression.

Gables Restaurant at Solitude is sporting a brand new look and new menu, all with easy access to the Solitude Express Super Quad. It just keeps getting better every year!

50 Years of History & Tradition:

On Jan. 31, 2006, Okemo will celebrate 50 years of history and tradition, and its emergence as one the most successful snowsport enterprises in the country. Lift ticket and lodging specials will be available on selected dates throughout the month of January. Stay in touch with www.skiernews.okemo.com for more details.

For more info, please call 1-866-746-5366 or visit Okemo’s web site via a link on www.skiernews.com or log on to Okemo directly at (do not use the “www”) skiernews.okemo.com.

ATTITASH CONTINUES UPGRADES & DEALS

MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY, NH — Over $800,000 was spent at Attitash on improvements for the coming winter and locations from base to summit were on the receiving end. A leading improvement for the 2005-06 winter season at Attitash will be the remodeling of the Adventure Center - the one-stop location for all Perfect Turn programs, rentals and day care.

“When folks pull into the parking lot they are focused on what they need to do before they hit the slopes,” said Tom Chasse, managing director for Attitash. “We have, in turn, focused on how to make the arrival process smoother. That includes better signage, mountain ambassadors and new this year our Adventure Center remodeling project. This will streamline getting the kids set for their day.”

All children’s rentals will now take place alongside all children’s check-in. Kids will do less trudging up and down stairs, and parents will be able to complete all paperwork at one time. The result will be a quicker and hassle-free check in process.

Already possessing the state’s most powerful snowmaking system, Attitash is investing $175,000 in their snowmaking system to attain greater reliability and compressor power. These upgrades will be evident as Attitash works to unveil a new early season terrain park on the Far Out Trail to whet the appetite of freeriders waiting for the Thad’s Choice Signature Park to open.

The early season park will transform into the resort’s smaller size park for the duration of the season, supplying a training area for dialing a new trick or learning how to slide a rail. Maintaining the snow surfaces of both terrain parks and the trail system will be aided by the addition of a new Camoplast Grooming Machine. Attitash will continue to offer the Valley’s only Superpipe along with the signature terrain park on Thad’s Choice.

Skiers and riders looking for an edge will want to head to the Attitash Sports Shop to have their equipment tuned by Attitash’s new Winterstieger tuning machines. The resort’s rental fleet will be maintained with new tuning equipment as well.

The Bear Notch Trail Bridge connecting Attitash and Bear Peak over Stoney Brook has been resurfaced for the coming winter. Other improvements include re-grading and paving of the pedestrian tunnel between the mountain and parking areas, plus new ATMs in the base lodges.

Attitash’s tentative opening date is slated for the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 25. All For One Season Passes valid at Attitash and fellow eastern American Skiing Company resorts have been on sale. More information is available at www.attitash.com/pass.

Attitash is part of American Skiing Company (OTC: AESK), one of the largest four-season mountain resort operators in the United States. The resorts include Killington and Mount Snow in Vermont, Attitash in New Hampshire, Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine, Steamboat in Colorado, and The Canyons in Utah.

More information is available on the company’s website, www.attitash.com.

MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY, NH — For those skiers and riders who chuckle at the idea of paying full rate for a lift ticket, www.attitash.com acts as a treasure trove of deals and specials. Whether guests are reserving their All For One Pass, booking their ski and stay package, or signing up for the Attitash Newsletter to stay up to date, the website is the key to a winter’s worth of deals.

Below is an overview of ways to save using www.attitash.com.

Etickets

With a 2-day online advance purchase, guests save an additional 10 percent off the already discounted multi-day ticket rates.

Edge Card

With the Edge Card skiers and riders can earn a free lift ticket with each six lift tickets purchased. Accumulated days are carried over for three years, so even occasional skiers and riders can save.

mEtickets

With the mEticket, skiers and riders save up to $23 per day on 6-12 days of skiing and riding at any ASC resort.

Newsletter

Distributed via email every week throughout the winter season, the Attitash Newsletter is filled with the latest info on special deals, event updates, lodging packages, and locals secrets. There are special “newsletter only” contests too.

Hot Deals

Another of Attitash’s e-mail distributions, the Hot Deals e-mail is an updated rundown of the hottest deals in skiing and riding.

Lodging Packages

Stay slopeside, have your skiing, and riding included. The lodging section of Attitash.com features short notice deals and season-long specials that offer the best in slopeside convenience.

More information is available on their website, www.attitash.com. You can easily link to Attitash from the right side of the homepage of www.skiernews.