NEWRY, Maine — Sunday River opened for skiing and riding today ahead of their projected Halloween opening as the first resort in the Northeast U.S. to offer lift serviced skiing and riding for the 2008-09 winter season.

Consistently cold temperatures and a high level of snowmaking efficiency allowed the resort to open the T2 trail on upper Locke Mountain to skiers and riders this afternoon.

“Thanks to the hard work of Sunday River’s snowmaking team and $1.5 million in new snowmaking investment this season, including the addition of 70 new Boyne Low-E fan guns, we were able to make enough snow to open even sooner than expected,” said Brent Larson, Sunday River Mountain Manager. “With more cold weather expected on Saturday, we’re hoping to offer top-to-bottom skiing and riding by Sunday.”

The resort is still planning to offer skiing and riding for the second consecutive year on Halloween, offering free lift tickets to anyone who arrives in costume.

Lift access will open at 10:00 a.m. Friday morning and the resort will remain open on Saturday and Sunday, before temporarily closing for the following midweek period.

Open terrain will be for advanced skiers and riders only, with lift access on the Locke Mountain Triple. Additional terrain is expected to open by Sunday. Updates and conditions reports will be posted online at www.sundayriver.com.

Lift tickets on Halloween will be $25 for all ages, with skiers and riders in costume receiving their lift tickets for free. Lift ticket rates for the weekend have not yet been announced.