WARREN, Vermont — It’s time to get the gear out; winter is here. Sugarbush Resort announced today that it plans to spin the lifts at Lincoln Peak for skiers and riders this Saturday and Sunday for a special “Sneak Preview” weekend. The official opening of the 2007-08 winter season is still slated for Thanksgiving, but in the words of one resort official, “It’s just too nice up there not to have it open this weekend.”

While the quality of the snow played a part in the Resort’s decision to open early, the return of a ski legend was also a factor. Stein Eriksen, who ran Sugarbush’s ski and ride school in the mid 1960s and won an Olympic gold medal, will be returning to the Resort this weekend. The New England Ski Museum will present the icon with their Spirit of Skiing award Saturday night during the Museum’s 30th birthday celebration in the Gate House Lodge. As of press time, only seven tickets remained for the special event. Tickets can be purchased by calling the New England Ski Museum at 800-639-4181.

Contingent upon a standard state inspection of Resort lifts scheduled for this Friday, Sugarbush plans to run the Super Bravo and Heaven’s Gate chair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday with skiing and riding on Upper Jester, Downspout and Organgrinder. Resort officials expect to be downloading on the Super Bravo chair, but if conditions permit, crews will attempt to lay down enough snow for top-to-bottom skiing.

“Our snowmaking crews have put down a great base from the top (of Lincoln Peak) to the bottom of Heaven’s Gate,” said Sugarbush’s Director of Communications JJ Toland. “Nighttime temperatures should be back in the teens come Thursday night and we will make every effort to have top-to-bottom skiing and riding come Saturday. We just ask that folks check the website for the latest info before coming up to the hill Saturday morning.”

Lift tickets will be $40 for all adults, $36 for SugarCard holders and $30 for juniors. Because the Stein Eriksen event will be taking place in the Gate House, the lodge’s food court will not be open. Food and drink will be served in the Castlerock Pub and Timbers restaurant. After this Sunday, the lifts will not spin again until the official start of the winter season: Thursday, November 22nd. Visit www.sugarbush.com for the latest information on the start of winter operations.