Long before spectators thrilled to the aerial summersaults of snowboarders doing a triple cork on the half pipe, ski jumping was a highly prized event at winter carnivals in Maine. The gentleman pictured above, losing his hat as he flies through the air, is from the 1930 Winter Carnival in Rumford, Maine, home of Maine’s Black Mountain.

Skiing history is a very colorful part of our Maine heritage, and Portland’s Scott Andrews will be regaling audiences with his presentation on Ski History at a Fireside Chat at the South Berwick Library on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

Special perks for attendance at the program include: all attendees at the South Berwick program will be offered a 20- percent discount at their next purchase at Philbrick’s Sports shop, Philbricks will also be giving away a door prize of a pair of goggles to one lucky winner and Powderhouse Hill will be giving away four passes to their local mini-mountain. Powderhouse Hill is a community ski area owned by the Town of South Berwick, and operated by the all-volunteer Powderhouse Ski Club. It consists of one rope tow, three trails and a large sledding only area: two intermediate and one beginner.

I happened to recently see Scott Andrew’s program at the Wells Library, quite by accident, when I went into the library in the middle of the day to pay my overdue fines.

Scott’s program is a fascinating plunge into our region’s past, punctuated with colorful anecdotes, memorable photographs and revives life into some of the ghosts of skiing’s past. Andrews is the curator and research director of the Ski Museum of Maine, and a walking encyclopedia of ski history. His narrated digital presentation illustrates the highs and lows of Maine’s skiing history including 100 vintage photos from the Museum’s archives and images from participating ski clubs. His chat covers all facets of skiing from the arrival of Scandinavian immigrants in 1870 to the present. The program will last about an hour followed by questions and discussion. Attendees are encouraged to share personal experiences.

The discussion in Wells was spirited and lively with some interesting adventures shared with the group by some of Maine’s old ski heroes, chiming in with their own personal remembrances of things past.

The story that I found most fascinating was that of “The Big A”, a long lost ski hill at the end of the Agamenticus Road in York. The Big A opened in December 1964 and ran for 9 seasons before it met its untimely demise. How how I wish it was still open today. Eventually purchased by the town of York, the mountain’s old ski trails now serve hikers and bikers, picnickers and bird watchers. The old Ski Lodge is now home to the Conservation Center and a Learning Center that is open to the public open from May to October.

Much much to my surprise, Ski Jumping is still alive and well in New Hampshire. New Hampshire in the only state where ski jumping remains a sanctioned High School sport. There are seven schools that actively compete each winter. The town of Plymouth recently raised 60,000 to rebuild their crumbling 1980 Ski Jump with a new one that just finished construction this past December. There are 18 members of the Plymouth Ski Team that are anxiously awaiting enough snow to begin taking flight on their new run.

For more information on the Jan. 20 program at the newly renovated South Berwick Library, call the library at 384- 3308. The Library is located at 27 Young Street. Gourmet fresh baked Chocolate chip Cookies from the local Bake Shop, Buddha’s Burning Buns, will add a bit sweetness for the attending ski folk.

— Greg Morell is a ski, snowboard and cross country enthusiast. He can be reached at [email protected].