Ski in Sugarloaf

Skiing in Sugarloaf

Sugarloaf, USA (430m to 1290m)

Award-winning on-mountain village beneath Maine's second highest peak, regarded by many as the top New England resort and by all as in the 'top 3'. Strong emphasis on service quality has resulted in top slot in US ski magazine reader surveys. The ski school at Sugarloaf have come up with a clever idea for transporting kids - the Moose Caboose - a snowmobile sled which takes 12 children and 3 instructors.

Sugarloaf

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Sugarloaf Ski Facts

Sugarloaf Ski Facts

		Expert Skiers
		Intermediate Skiers
		Beginners
		Snowboarding
		Snow
		Apres-ski
	59	Black Pistes (35km)
	40	Red Pistes (24km)
	34	Blue Pistes (29km)
105km		Cross Country Pistes
15		Ski Lifts
860m		Max Vertical
1290m		Highest Lift
430m		Lowest Piste
430m		Resort Altitude

Sugarloaf

The American ski resort of Sugarloaf has direct access to 129 individual pistes, served by 15 ski lifts.

The skiing is at relatively low altitude, so snow cover can be variable.

Snowmaking :- Sugarloaf is able to augment natural snow, on 80km of ski runs, with 1000 Snow Cannons.

Ski Lift Capacity :- The 15 Ski Lifts of Sugarloaf are able to uplift 21,805 skiers / snowboarders per hour.

Skiing in Sugarloaf

Sugarloaf/USA has great skiing for all standards and is particularly proud of the size of its vertical drop - bigger than many well known Western US ski areas, as well as having the only lift served terrain above the treeline in Eastern North America. The new Timberline Quad takes you to the summit of Maine's second highest mountain where you can look over into New Hampshire and Quebec or across to Mt. Katahdin, Maine's highest mountain. The backside is a bowl where deep powder collects all season long. The Front Face features some of the steepest terrain in the East. Snowmaking on the Front Face Snowfields assures Snowfield skiing and riding in December. Skiers and riders seeking challenging terrain can experience the Snowfields; while others have four three mile long cruising runs that follow the west ridgeline from the summit all the way down to the base.

Perfect Turn Clinics are on offer to skiers and 'boarders several times a day and you just turn up for as many as you like. Level One is for those who have never skied or snowboarded. Levels Two and Three are geared towards novice skiers and riders. Levels Four and Five take intermediates to the next level. Levels Six to Ten are for advanced intermediates and experts with concentrations on varied snow surfaces, terrain features, competitive skills and tactics.

First timers are likely to start off on The Birches and The Landing. This is the learning area of Sugarloaf/USA and is serviced by two double lifts; Sawduster and Skidder and one triple lift, Snubber. The terrain is gently sloped for those skiers and riders who are just starting out. One big advantage is the lift loading areas are downhill from the base lodge, so beginners can become comfortable on their skis or boards during their initial run down the hill before getting on the lift. Slightly steeper slopes are available at The Double Runner Area including lower Winter's Way, Boardwalk and Lower Narrow Gauge, all trails that stretch over half a mile and are characterized by gently sloped terrain - wonderful for polishing up those developing skills. Two double chairlifts, Double Runner East and West, service this area.

The Whiffletree and West Mountain areas areas have nice wide cruising trails that allow developing skiers and riders to practice their skills. Buckboard and Cruiser offer gentle, slow-winding true fall line trails, while Springboard and Pole Line offer more challenging terrain. The other runs in the Whifftletree area offer something in between.

For steeper descents The King Pine Bowl is a natural snow bowl serviced by the King Pine Quad. From the top of the bowl, skiers and riders have a choice of black diamond most difficult and blue square more difficult terrain. Haulback is a steep fall line trail that features bumps on one side and groomed conditions on the other side. Ripsaw a favourite among locals, is one of the Wild Things, a trail kept in its natural state. With no snowmaking and no grooming, Ripsaw is the local's favourite.

Choker, Widowmaker and Flume all have steep fall line pitches and serve as downhill training runs for the U.S. Ski Team. However loyal Sugarloafer's believe Central Mountain is the East's most legendary terrain. It offers some of the steepest terrain in the East along with a long continuous fall line. Go east off the Spillway chairlift and drop into several different chutes and trails including Upper Winter's Way, Gondola Line, Bubblecuffer, Lower White Nitro and Lower Powder Keg for steep trails, and Max Headroom and Cant Hook for glade terrain. Take one run down Bubblecuffer and you can see why Sugarloafers are so loyal. Go west off the Spillway chairlift and find the famous trails of Sugarloaf/USA. Narrow Gauge, the trail of champions, is the only trail in the East that FIS has homologated for all venues: Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom. Skidder is a world class mogul run.

Advanced skiers will also want to try out Boundary to Boundary skiing. It's not part of the mountain, rather a license to explore. Boundary to Boundary encompasses the resort's 570 hectares (1400 acres) of terrain. The resort warns that it requires additional skill and caution and those trying it should always ski or ride with two or more people.

Snowboarding in Sugarloaf

The Sugarloaf/USA Pipedreams Superpipe measures 400 feet in length (aprox 100 metres). During the mid-season the halfpipe's walls are 16 feet (five metres) high offering riders the opportunity to catch big air with pitches of up to 19 degrees. The superpipe is built to match or excede international standards for the Olympics and FIS sanctioned events. The pipe is named in honour of local pro rider Seth Wescott.

Sugarloaf also offers a halfpipe, also 400 feet long, with ten feet (3.2m) high walls that are ideal for confidence building.

Sugarloaf/USA has been the host of numerous snowboarding and halfpipe competitions beginning with the 1995 US Snowboard Champions and the 1996 inaugural US Snowboard Grand Prix.

Sugarloaf Aprés Ski

For Après skiing the choice is between staying by the slopes in the growing village, or heading to one of the nearby towns and village to check out the local scene. The Widowmaker lounge is a top après spot slopeside with live bands, radio promotions, concerts and give-aways. Other slopeside spots include the Shipyard Brewhaus with a big selection of the best of Maine's micro-brewery business.

The Sugarloaf Brewery Company offers another wide selection of microbrews. Local Carrabassett Ales, Misery bitters and Dead River Potters are all on tap for a relaxing après ski 'mug o' frothy.'

Sugarloaf Snow Reports by e-mail

For a Free 7-Day Snow Forecast for Sugarloaf, including a Snow Report with current skiing conditions, just sign-up to our Ski Chat Forum and set Sugarloaf as a favourite ski resort in your Profile.

Sugarloaf in brief

Sugarloaf Ski Resort is:
Good for Expert Skiers.
Ok for Intermediate Skiers.
Ok for Beginners.
Very good for Snowboarding.

Sugarloaf Snow Forecast

Snow Forecast for Sugarloaf

Map of Sugarloaf

Full Page Map of Sugarloaf