Black Mountain of Maine
Encyclopedia
Black Mountain of Maine is a ski resort
in Rumford, Maine which is most famous for its Nordic skiing
facilities, and has hosted several national cross-country skiing
championships on its 17 km of trails.
The downhill skiing area was expanded in 2005, and has 20 trails serviced by two chairlift
s, a T-bar, and a rope tow. It also has a terrain park
with a half-pipe
, and a separate snow tubing area. In the summer, there is a swimming pool for children and teens of the Rumford-Mexico area, a day camp, and bike and hiking trails.
In 1950, the cross-country portion of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
was held at this early Rumford ski area, after the planned site of Lake Placid, New York
did not have enough snow. The competitors were housed with town residents as there were not enough hotel beds available. The following year, the site also held the tryouts for the 1952 Olympic United States Ski Team
, and two skiers from Rumford (Chummy Broomhall
and Bob Pidacks
) made the team.
The ski jumping and downhill slopes had moved to a new area after World War II, but these proved insufficient. In 1962, the Chisholm Ski Club opened all-new facilities at Black Mountain.
The cross-country trails were designed by Rumford native and two-time Olympian Chummy Broomhall
, who also designed the cross country trails for the 1960 Winter Olympics
in Squaw Valley, California
and the 1980 Winter Olympics
at Lake Placid, New York
. They have since held the 1976 NCAA Cross Country Championships, the 1991 US National Biathlon Championships, the 1993 U.S. Masters Cross Country Championships, the 1996 U.S. Junior Olympics, and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association
Cross Country National Championships in 1993, 1999, 2003, and 2004.
The downhill area was much more modest, with a single T-bar lift servicing a few trails with a vertical drop of 470 feet (143.3 m), and did not expand much for many years. In 2003, the ski area was purchased by the Maine Winter Sports Center, and shortly afterwards significant improvements were made. A new double chair was installed in 2003, and a triple chair to the summit was opened in early 2005, increasing the number of trails to 20 and the vertical drop to 1150 feet (350.5 m). The day the triple chair to Black's summit opened was a memorable day for many Rumford locals. Legendary Black Mountain skiers such as Pat Lever and Ethan Carter said the day was "probably the most exciting day of my life.” A new 13000 sq ft (1,207.7 m²) lodge was also built.
In mid-2004 the resort banned tobacco use at the mountain.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in Rumford, Maine which is most famous for its Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
facilities, and has hosted several national cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
championships on its 17 km of trails.
The downhill skiing area was expanded in 2005, and has 20 trails serviced by two chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
s, a T-bar, and a rope tow. It also has a terrain park
Terrain park
A terrain park is an outdoor area that contains terrain that allows skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks. Terrain parks have their roots in skateparks and many of the features are common to both. One of the first in-bounds terrain parks was the "Snowboard Park" built in 1990 at the Vail...
with a half-pipe
Half-pipe
A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity extreme sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, freestyle BMX, and inline skating. The structure is wood, concrete, metal, earth, or snow. It resembles a cross section of a swimming pool, essentially two concave ramps , topped by copings and...
, and a separate snow tubing area. In the summer, there is a swimming pool for children and teens of the Rumford-Mexico area, a day camp, and bike and hiking trails.
History
In 1924, the Chisholm Ski Club was organized in Rumford, and soon after built a ski jump in town followed by cross country trails and eventually a small ski slope. This early site held statewide cross-country competitions.In 1950, the cross-country portion of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
was held at this early Rumford ski area, after the planned site of Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
did not have enough snow. The competitors were housed with town residents as there were not enough hotel beds available. The following year, the site also held the tryouts for the 1952 Olympic United States Ski Team
United States Ski Team
The United States Ski Team, operated under the auspices of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association , develops and supports men's and women's athletes in the sports of alpine skiing, adaptive alpine, freestyle skiing, cross country, adaptive cross country, ski jumping, and nordic combined....
, and two skiers from Rumford (Chummy Broomhall
Chummy Broomhall
Wendall "Chummy" Broomhall was an American cross country skier who competed in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics. He finished 65th in the 18 km event at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, and finished 57th in the same event at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo...
and Bob Pidacks
Robert W. Pidacks
Robert Walter Pidacks was an American cross country skier who competed in the 1950s. He finished 72nd in the 18 km event at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo.He died in Saint Petersburg, Florida....
) made the team.
The ski jumping and downhill slopes had moved to a new area after World War II, but these proved insufficient. In 1962, the Chisholm Ski Club opened all-new facilities at Black Mountain.
The cross-country trails were designed by Rumford native and two-time Olympian Chummy Broomhall
Chummy Broomhall
Wendall "Chummy" Broomhall was an American cross country skier who competed in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics. He finished 65th in the 18 km event at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, and finished 57th in the same event at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo...
, who also designed the cross country trails for the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
in Squaw Valley, California
Squaw Valley, California
Squaw Valley, California may refer to:*Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California, census-designated place located in Fresno County, California*Squaw Valley, Placer County, California, community in Placer County, California and host of the 1960 Winter Olympics...
and the 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
at Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
. They have since held the 1976 NCAA Cross Country Championships, the 1991 US National Biathlon Championships, the 1993 U.S. Masters Cross Country Championships, the 1996 U.S. Junior Olympics, and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association
United States Ski and Snowboard Association
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding. Founded in 1905, the century-old organization provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders from over 400 member clubs who share an Olympic...
Cross Country National Championships in 1993, 1999, 2003, and 2004.
The downhill area was much more modest, with a single T-bar lift servicing a few trails with a vertical drop of 470 feet (143.3 m), and did not expand much for many years. In 2003, the ski area was purchased by the Maine Winter Sports Center, and shortly afterwards significant improvements were made. A new double chair was installed in 2003, and a triple chair to the summit was opened in early 2005, increasing the number of trails to 20 and the vertical drop to 1150 feet (350.5 m). The day the triple chair to Black's summit opened was a memorable day for many Rumford locals. Legendary Black Mountain skiers such as Pat Lever and Ethan Carter said the day was "probably the most exciting day of my life.” A new 13000 sq ft (1,207.7 m²) lodge was also built.
In mid-2004 the resort banned tobacco use at the mountain.