Carrabassett Valley Academy

A well-known ski academy in western Maine has launched the second phase of a fundraising campaign to raise money for a new academic wing and other facilities. Carrabassett Valley Academy is trying to raise $5.75 million toward its $7 million goal. The money will be used to build a new academic wing, dining facilities, administrative offices and an offseason jumping facility. School officials say they hope to break ground next spring. Some of America's top skiers and snowboarders through the years have attended the academy, including Bode Miller, Seth Westcott and Kirsten Clark.

A well-known ski academy in western Maine has launched the second phase of a fundraising campaign to raise money for a new academic wing and other facilities. Carrabassett Valley Academy is trying to raise $5.75 million toward its $7 million goal. The money will be used to build a new academic wing, dining facilities, administrative offices and an offseason jumping facility. School officials say they hope to break ground next spring. Some of America's top skiers and snowboarders through the years have attended the academy, including Bode Miller, Seth Westcott and Kirsten Clark.

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine -- When she landed her aerial leap last week in a World Cup freestyle skiing event in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, there were tears of joy from and for Emily Cook, who grew up in Belmont, Mass., and graduated from Carrabassett Valley Academy. It wasn't that the leap propelled her to a podium finish -- she placed eighth -- or even that the jump was particularly outstanding. But after 2 1/2 years away from competition because of an accident, and months of uncertainty whether she ever would compete again, Cook, 25, was back on skis and in the air. "It was a pretty emotional...

Following her Olympic gold medal last year in Vancouver and a five-event win streak to start this season, Hannah Kearney , a Norwich Vt., native, was selected as flag-bearer for the US team during opening ceremonies last night at the World Freestyle Ski Championships in Park City, Utah. Deer Valley Resort was also the venue in 2003, the last time the worlds were held in the US. Eight years ago, the games consisted of 127 athletes from 23 nations; this year, there are 313 athletes from 36 nations.

Following her Olympic gold medal last year in Vancouver and a five-event win streak to start this season, Hannah Kearney , a Norwich Vt., native, was selected as flag-bearer for the US team during opening ceremonies last night at the World Freestyle Ski Championships in Park City, Utah. Deer Valley Resort was also the venue in 2003, the last time the worlds were held in the US. Eight years ago, the games consisted of 127 athletes from 23 nations; this year, there are 313 athletes from 36 nations.

The new year is traditionally the time we reflect on the state of . . . well, everything, with an eye to bettering what can be bettered or at least fantasizing about all those "if onlys" in our lives. One year, Jake Burton Carpenter found himself with a prototype snowboard he developed that really worked, but with so few takers, he had to tend bar at Stratton to support himself and his tireless search for a new direction in skiing. He was thousands of dollars in debt, and the idea of surfing down the side of a hill was not catching on -- or so it...

Before the new millennium, Saddleback was Maine’s rising star, poised to become the “Vail of the East.’’ Its grandiose expansion plans challenged top-dog Sugarloaf for future bragging rights. Environmental and Appalachian Trail advocacy groups had other ideas, though. They sued to preserve the peak’s views and quietude and to shield future hikers from signs of development and commercialization. For roughly 20 years, Saddleback languished. Into the early 21st century, it remained firmly entrenched in the 1980s.

WENGEN, Switzerland - Bode Miller won a downhill race yesterday on the Lauberhorn to match the American record of 27 World Cup wins. Miller, who won the same event last year, finished in 2 minutes 30.40 seconds. "It was extremely fun. It didn't feel that good in terms of the quality of the skiing, but I was very aggressive," Miller said. "I kept really pushing forward the whole time. There was no braking. " Didier Cuche of Switzerland was second, .65 seconds back, and Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada was third.

BORMIO, Italy -- What is as famous in this land as penne, grappa, and wicked fast sports cars with maniacs driving them? Labor strikes, of course. Yesterday, with thousands of ski racing fans ready to cut loose with cowbells in the downtown stadium before the start of the men's giant slalom at the Alpine World Championships, a wildcat strike by RAI -- the state-run television agency -- shut down the race. According to the event's organizing committee, supporters from all over the world had made their way to the stadium.

With memories of the Winter Olympic Games fast receding and March weather suggesting some early sailing, it seems the snow sports season is fast schussing toward a close. But not so fast. Aside from the terrific recreational skiing right now, complements of recent snowfall and plenty of snowmaking nights in February, March is a big month for big events in New England. While the West got the NCAA championships -- being held through this weekend at Steamboat, Colo. -- two national championships will be decided in Vermont and Maine.

Before the new millennium, Saddleback was Maine’s rising star, poised to become the “Vail of the East.’’ Its grandiose expansion plans challenged top-dog Sugarloaf for future bragging rights. Environmental and Appalachian Trail advocacy groups had other ideas, though. They sued to preserve the peak’s views and quietude and to shield future hikers from signs of development and commercialization. For roughly 20 years, Saddleback languished. Into the early 21st century, it remained firmly entrenched in the 1980s.

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine -- When she landed her aerial leap last week in a World Cup freestyle skiing event in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, there were tears of joy from and for Emily Cook, who grew up in Belmont, Mass., and graduated from Carrabassett Valley Academy. It wasn't that the leap propelled her to a podium finish -- she placed eighth -- or even that the jump was particularly outstanding. But after 2 1/2 years away from competition because of an accident, and months of uncertainty whether she ever would compete again, Cook, 25, was back on skis and in the...

The new year is traditionally the time we reflect on the state of . . . well, everything, with an eye to bettering what can be bettered or at least fantasizing about all those "if onlys" in our lives. One year, Jake Burton Carpenter found himself with a prototype snowboard he developed that really worked, but with so few takers, he had to tend bar at Stratton to support himself and his tireless search for a new direction in skiing. He was thousands of dollars in debt, and the idea of surfing down the side of a hill was not catching on -- or so it seemed.

Bigger skis turned into a gold medal this week for Simon Dumont , who repeated as men's ski superpipe champ Tuesday at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo. The 18-year-old from Bethel, Maine, bested one of the sport's stars, Tanner Hall , who left the games without a gold. After having trouble landing his tricks, Dumont opted to go up 10 centimeters and ski on 178s in the halfpipe. The bigger skis, he said, gave him more speed. Dan Marion of Windham, Maine, placed fifth.

STRATTON, Vt. -- In the giddy hours after he won his Olympic gold medal for snowboard cross last winter, Seth Wescott of Farmington, Maine, made a prediction that, a decade ago, would have sounded ludicrous. "What seems to be happening," Wescott said to the assembled press in Turin, Italy, "is that boarding has taken over skiing as the heart of the Olympic Games. " Even allowing for a touch of victorious exuberance, at the start of the 2006- 07 winter sport season Wescott's words appear to be on the mark.