Wide Range of Events Slated at Sunday River

By AlpineZone News |
Feb 19 2008 - 01:19 PM

NEWRY, Maine — With Presidents’ Vacation Week in full swing, Sunday River guests have been enjoying 164 inches of snow on all 131 trails and an array of activities including festival nights, fireworks, tubing, games, crafts and movie nights. The list goes on and so does the fun as we continue rolling through the season with a full schedule of concerts, events and competitions.

New England Telemark Festival ??“ Feb 23

Sunday River and New England Telemark (NET), a group of telemark skiing instructors dedicated to teaching and sharing their love of the sport, will host the 6th Annual Maine Telemark Festival on Saturday, Feb. 23. The festival includes equipment demos, clinics, a mogul competition, costume contest, and other activities designed to bring devoted telemark skiers together and welcome newcomers. www.netelemark.com

Three Bud Light Concert Series Shows at White Cap Lodge

Big Head Todd and The Monsters ??“ Feb 23

This Denver-based band has been together since their Colorado college days in the mid-1980s, recording eight studio albums, two live albums and touring with rock legends including Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.

Little Feat ??“ March 15

Rocking out since 1969, this band’s music has always been an eclectic mix of blues, R&B, country, New Orleans funk and rock and roll. They have collaborated with such prominent musicians as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Beck, Brian Wilson and Bonnie Raitt.

Edwin McCain ??“ March 29

Garnering the attention of millions with songs like “I’ll Be,” and the Diane Warren-penned top 40 hit “I Could Not Ask For More,” McCain blends equal parts folk, soul and rock.

USCSA National Championships ??“ March 3-8

The United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association is the sports federation for college team ski racing and snowboarding celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Teams field five racers with the top three performances being used for the team score. The National Championships will span five days and consist of college teams from around the nation competing in Alpine, Nordic, freestyle and snowboard events ranging from sprints, giant slalom, skiercross and boardercross, halfpipe and slopestyle on Sunday River’s signature race courses and terrain parks.

No Bib Jib Series Finale – March 23

The fourth and final installment in the No Bib Jib series will get underway at the South Ridge Jib Park at 10:30 a.m. Teams of skiers and snowboarders have been competing all season in a variety of costumes including business suits, old-school snow gear, painter’s outfits and flannels to name a few, and racking up points all the while. The overall winning team will get a full line of products courtesy of Oakley including hoodies, goggles and hats along with an invitation to Heat Harvest III. Prizes are also given out for Best Trick and Best Digger. The NBJ at Sunday River is a recent winner of Terrain Park Contest as voted by resorts nationwide in Ski Area Management magazine.

23rd Annual Maine Handicapped Skiing Ski-A-Thon ??“ March 29

The flagship fundraising event for MHS raises 65 percent of their annual operating budget. Participation includes breakfast, lunch, an apr??s ski dinner, goodie bag and free skiing courtesy of Sunday River. www.skimhs.org

18th Annual Eat the Heat Chili Cookoff ??“ March 30

Sample chili made by the best cooks from the area as they vie for the prize of Best Chili Cook and bragging rights. All chili must be prepared on site and from scratch. The batches are offered up for guests and celebrity judges to taste; guests can vote for their favorite to receive the People’s Choice award.

18th Annual Firefighters’ Race ??“ March 30

Watch teams of five firefighters in full gear race down a giant slalom course on the Tempest Trail while toting 50 feet of fire hose. Teams come from all over Maine to raise money for Maine Handicapped Skiing in this competition which is a fan favorite.

21st Annual Parrot Head/Bust N Burn Festival ??“ April 4-6

The festival everyone looks forward to, and recently ranked in Skiing Magazine’s Top 5 Mountain Fests, will be bumping again this year with Jimmy Buffet cover bands, contests, prizes, parties, pond skimming and more. With almost 20 individual events scheduled throughout the weekend, guests can expect nonstop activity both on and off the mountain. The fundraising weekend, which benefits the Make-a-Wish Foundation, kicks off Friday night with the Parrot Head Prime-up Party at White Cap Lodge at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday action will begin with the Bust ‘n’ Burn mogul competition at 9:30 a.m. New England’s top amateur and pro bump skier competition will consist of over 200 competitors racing down Tempest with spectators looking on from the White Cap base area. The day will also feature live entertainment from 12:00 ??“ 4:00 p.m., BBQ, and a Margarita contest at 2:00 p.m. Saturday night heats up with the Parrot Head Concert and Party at the White Cap Lodge featuring Jimmy Buffet Cover bands.

Sunday the party continues with the top finalists in the Bust ‘n’ Burn competition battling it out for cash and other prizes starting at 10:00 a.m., pond-skimming at 11:00 a.m., a key lime pie eating contest at 1:00 p.m. and the Bust ‘n’ Burn awards ceremony at the conclusion of the competition.

More information on the above events can be found at www.sundayriver.com.

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