New Lifts, Terrain, Products Make Learning Easy At Sunday River

Learning to ski or snowboard has never been easier at Maine’s Sunday River Resort. For the 2019-20 season, the ski area installed three new covered conveyor lifts on the learning area, built terrain base learning elements, and recently launched a new Green Pass to encourage newcomers to keep hitting the slopes after their first lesson.

With the new and beginner skier in mind, the resort replaced the existing surface lift on the Sundance trail in South Ridge with three new covered conveyors, which will allow for easier access to the learning terrain, and the ability to implement more progressive steps to the learning process.

The first is an 80-foot conveyor from the SnowSports School to the Sundance trail. The second is a 250-foot conveyor located on skier’s left of the trail. From there, skiers and snowboarders can either descend down Sundance, or continue on to the third surface lift. The third lift is 280-feet long, also located on skier’s left, and will go to the top of the Sundance learning area.

With the new layout on the Sundance trail, Sunday River has partnered with SNOW Operating to incorporate elements made of snow to assist and simplify the learning process. The elements include:

• Flats: an area to get familiar with equipment and experience the basic ranges of motion needed for skiing or snowboarding.
• Mini-Pipe: an area to pump the terrain, steer, and slide forward and backwards.
• Rollers: an area to gain confidence in sliding downhill with built-in speed control.
• Banked Turns: an area with subtle banking to gently help to redirect skis or board and create the turning sensation.
• Perfect Slope: an area where newcomers will make their first unassisted turns on mild terrain.

Also new for 2020, the resort is offering a Green Pass. New skiers and riders ages 13 and up who participate in an Adult Learn to Ski or Snowboard Lesson will have the option to purchase a steeply discounted pass. For just $99, these guests will get three lift tickets to be used anytime during the 2019-20 season, plus up to 40 percent off lift tickets for additional days. Other perks include 50 percent off rental equipment, $29 adult group lessons, 10 percent off retail purchases at Sunday River Sports, and 10 percent off resort lodging.

The resort will host three First Timer’s Apres-Ski Socials this winter as well. On January 25, February 29, and March 14, those who participate in an Adult Learn to Ski or Snowboard class will be invited to celebrate their first day on snow and connect with other newcomers over free food and snacks in Sunday River’s Discovery Center.

“As people who are passionate about skiing and snowboarding, it’s our job to welcome newcomers into the fold,” says Sunday River’s SnowSports School Director, Matt Erickson. “The experience provided by our team of coaches, combined with these new programs, takes many of the barriers to entry out of the equation.”