BoardSideDown
Member
So stoked if this actually turns out to be sweet!
http://www.pressherald.com/news/its-all-downhill-fun-from-here_2010-12-09.html
PORTLAND - The hill at Payson Park has long been known as a top
sliding destination. Now, its reputation as a ski and snowboard terrain
park is about to get a big boost.
click image to enlarge
Three snow guns operate at full
capacity in Portland’s Payson Park on Wednesday. The free municipal
terrain park was created in 2007 and is believed to be one of just three
in the country. The new Wednesday in the Park program is scheduled to
start Jan. 5, weather permitting.
Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
click image to enlarge
Portland Mayor Nicholas Mavodones
speaks from the podium. With him are Tim Rearden of Quirk Chevrolet,
left, Greg Sweetser of Ski Maine and Councilor Cheryl Leeman.
Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store
On Wednesday, the city's recreation department and the Ski
Maine Association announced a new series of winter sports events that
they hope will expose more youths to the park and to skiing and
snowboarding. They also showed off new upgrades to the winter
playground, including snow guns that sprayed a layer of powder across
the grassy hill Wednesday.
"The creation of this snow terrain park doesn't just mean that kids
have a place to ski or snowboard, it also means that young people that
may never have had a chance to try these great sports can," said Mayor
Nicholas Mavodones.
The program, called Wednesdays in the Park, will feature giveaways
and ski and snowboard professionals from Maine ski areas who will help
kids learn the sports. Starting in January, it will be held from 1 to
3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, coinciding with early release days for Portland
schools.
"I look forward to the next Seth Wescott cutting his or her teeth
here at Payson Park," Mavodones said, referring to Maine's Olympic gold
medal snowboarder.
The city and its partners also introduced improvements to the terrain park, which is next to Ocean Avenue.
Ski resorts donated rails and boxes for ski and snowboard tricks, and
the city used fill from constriction projects to shape and build up the
elevation of the ski and snowboard area. The terrain park is separated
from the sliding area by a small snow fence.
The city's new snow-making equipment was donated by someone who read a
newspaper article last winter about the snow park. The cost of
operating the machines is being covered by the Ski Maine Association,
Quirk Chevrolet and Sweetser's Apple Barrel and Orchard.
The free municipal terrain park was created in 2007 and is believed to be one of just three in the country.
"Kids were making their own ramps out of (wooden) pallets. We didn't
think it looked that safe," said Jeff Tarling, parks and forestry
operations manager for Portland.
Tarling brought in ski companies to help design a terrain park with
real bumps, jumps and other features. "It's a nice feature for the city
to have," he said.
Tarling said the ski areas and Ski Maine have been enthusiastic supporters, and aren't afraid of losing business.
"We're a winter playground. The ski areas are really like Disneyland," he said.
Greg Sweetser, executive director of Ski Maine, said it's a great
hill for kids to learn, experiment and get some midwinter physical
activity. The lack of lifts to carry them up the hill won't bother kids,
he said.
"Even when you've got (lifts), you'll see kids walking up to the top of the terrain park and 'sessioning,'" he said.
Officials plan to start Wednesday in the Park on Jan. 5, as long as
the weather cooperates. The snow guns will be able to supplement and
freshen up the natural snow, officials said, but it will take a real
snowstorm or two to create a solid snow base.
Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at:
jrichardson@pressherald.com
http://www.pressherald.com/news/its-all-downhill-fun-from-here_2010-12-09.html
PORTLAND - The hill at Payson Park has long been known as a top
sliding destination. Now, its reputation as a ski and snowboard terrain
park is about to get a big boost.
Three snow guns operate at full
capacity in Portland’s Payson Park on Wednesday. The free municipal
terrain park was created in 2007 and is believed to be one of just three
in the country. The new Wednesday in the Park program is scheduled to
start Jan. 5, weather permitting.
Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
Portland Mayor Nicholas Mavodones
speaks from the podium. With him are Tim Rearden of Quirk Chevrolet,
left, Greg Sweetser of Ski Maine and Councilor Cheryl Leeman.
Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store
On Wednesday, the city's recreation department and the Ski
Maine Association announced a new series of winter sports events that
they hope will expose more youths to the park and to skiing and
snowboarding. They also showed off new upgrades to the winter
playground, including snow guns that sprayed a layer of powder across
the grassy hill Wednesday.
"The creation of this snow terrain park doesn't just mean that kids
have a place to ski or snowboard, it also means that young people that
may never have had a chance to try these great sports can," said Mayor
Nicholas Mavodones.
The program, called Wednesdays in the Park, will feature giveaways
and ski and snowboard professionals from Maine ski areas who will help
kids learn the sports. Starting in January, it will be held from 1 to
3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, coinciding with early release days for Portland
schools.
"I look forward to the next Seth Wescott cutting his or her teeth
here at Payson Park," Mavodones said, referring to Maine's Olympic gold
medal snowboarder.
The city and its partners also introduced improvements to the terrain park, which is next to Ocean Avenue.
Ski resorts donated rails and boxes for ski and snowboard tricks, and
the city used fill from constriction projects to shape and build up the
elevation of the ski and snowboard area. The terrain park is separated
from the sliding area by a small snow fence.
The city's new snow-making equipment was donated by someone who read a
newspaper article last winter about the snow park. The cost of
operating the machines is being covered by the Ski Maine Association,
Quirk Chevrolet and Sweetser's Apple Barrel and Orchard.
The free municipal terrain park was created in 2007 and is believed to be one of just three in the country.
"Kids were making their own ramps out of (wooden) pallets. We didn't
think it looked that safe," said Jeff Tarling, parks and forestry
operations manager for Portland.
Tarling brought in ski companies to help design a terrain park with
real bumps, jumps and other features. "It's a nice feature for the city
to have," he said.
Tarling said the ski areas and Ski Maine have been enthusiastic supporters, and aren't afraid of losing business.
"We're a winter playground. The ski areas are really like Disneyland," he said.
Greg Sweetser, executive director of Ski Maine, said it's a great
hill for kids to learn, experiment and get some midwinter physical
activity. The lack of lifts to carry them up the hill won't bother kids,
he said.
"Even when you've got (lifts), you'll see kids walking up to the top of the terrain park and 'sessioning,'" he said.
Officials plan to start Wednesday in the Park on Jan. 5, as long as
the weather cooperates. The snow guns will be able to supplement and
freshen up the natural snow, officials said, but it will take a real
snowstorm or two to create a solid snow base.
Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at:
jrichardson@pressherald.com
