Maine Man
Competitions take snow star Simon Dumont across the world — but he always returns home.
FLYING HIGH Simon Dumont gets air at a competition in Squaw Valley, CA
© TONY HARRINGTON
Before he started competing in the Winter X Games as a 14-year-old (and winning a flurry of medals starting at age 17), this high-flying, free-skiing phenom was tearing up the slopes of Sunday River resort near his home in Bethel, ME. At the ripe old age of 24, he travels the globe to star in popular winter sports films and compete. He’ll again be a favorite in the Big Air and SuperPipe events at this month’s Winter X Games 15 in Aspen, CO. Here, Dumont shares his tips for having fun in Sunday River and the nearby city of Portland.
What are your favorite spots to ski on Sunday River?
“I always ski from the Barker Lodge because Rocking Chair terrain park and the half pipe are right above it. It’s an intermediate park where people can learn and progress; there are good jumps and good rails. And I love the Agony run, right under the chairlift ; it has nice, soft moguls late in the season. Barker is also where I host my annual competition, the Dumont Cup.”
What kind of competition is it?
“It’s a slope-style skiing contest that I put on in March, an open event for both pros and amateurs who compete for a $10,000 purse. It’s one of the best free-skiing events in the East, and last year — the second annual event — we had 150 really talented competitors.”
Where should mortals like the rest of us ski?
“A lot of people — myself included — love Jordan Bowl, which is the outermost part of the resort. It feels very remote and it’s gorgeous back there. The terrain features a wide range of difficul ties and great tree skiing.”
What’s the aprés scene like?
“The best thing about Sunday River is that pretty much everything — lodging, restaurants, bars — is at the base of the mountain. It’s walkable, or you can park and use the free shuttle service. When you get off the hill for the day, hit the Barker Pub in the Barker Mountain Lodge or, my favorite, the Foggy Goggle in the South Ridge Lodge. The Goggle has really good bar food and beer with fun live music; it’s a great place to watch sports, too. If you’re staying near Bethel, Sunday River Brewing Company is a good spot for a mellower scene. They brew good beer and you’ll meet lots of locals.”
Visitors get to Sunday River by way of Portland. What do you like to do in the city?
“Portland is awesome. If you have a vision of how a New England city should be, downtown Portland’s Old Port is probably it. I head right for Fore Street, where there are cobblestone paths with beautiful old buildings and lots of good restaurants. On Commercial Street, you can walk along the water and check out the marinas, which look out toward Casco Bay. Later at night, the Old Port comes alive with a younger, party vibe, which is also fun.”
What keeps you coming back to Maine?
“Of course I love winter and still love going home to shred at Sunday River, but — for anybody who hasn’t already heard — Maine is a place for all seasons.”
SUNDAY RIVER RESORT (BARKER PUB AND FOGGY GOGGLE)
Newry, ME (72 miles from Portland airport); 207-824-3000; sundayriver.com
SUNDAY RIVER BREWING COMPANY
29 Sunday River Rd, Bethel; 207-824-4253; sundayriverbrewpub.com
PORTLAND’S DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
207-772-6828; portlandmaine.com
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