NEWBURY, New Hampshire ??” 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 $14,500,000.

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 2005-2006. At both Sunapee and Spruce Lodges fresh made-to-order salads and deli sandwiches will be available. The Spruce Lodge food court will receive a facelift and structural changes will be made allowing it 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 pair 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 is 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 www.burton.com.

For more information about Mount Sunapee visit mountsunapee.com.