Editor’s note: The event listed below occurred on October 12, 2011, and was not scheduled for October 19 as indicated in the story. First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine sincerely apologizes for the error.

Portland, ME –Mainers and fans of Maine skiing can kick off their ski season this Wednesday evening through a nostalgic view of milestones and artifacts from Maine skiing history.

Ski Maine is hosting an event on Wednesday at the Eastland Hotel Ballroom in downtown Portland in support of the Ski Museum of Maine.  The “ski season launch party” will feature several aspects of Maine ski history, including Portland’s role in Maine winters and Skiing.  There will be long forgotten photos, original motion picture footage, artifacts, and a world class ski collection on display.

The reception will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and include three featured short films depicting the first lift-served skiing in Maine at Jockey Cap in Fryeburg from the 1930’s,  Portland Winter Festivals from the 1930’s and 40’s, and Tree to Ski, which documents the manufacturing process of turning trees into skis at the Paris Ski Co. in the 1930’s. A slide show preview will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. along with book signings of First Tracks, stories from Maine’s skiing heritage by Glenn Parkinson, The Story of Sugarloaf by John Christie, Sunday River History by Dave Irons and The Winter Sport of Skeeing the first book on skiing in North America written in 1905 by Portland cabinet maker turned ski maker, Theo Johnsen, reprinted with afterword by Glenn Parkinson. The book signings and slide show will be followed by door prize drawings at 8:30.

An extensive collection of Johnsen’s model skis will be on display, along with original copper plates used to print the book. The Ski museum will also display photos and artifacts highlighting the early years of skiing in Maine from an extensive archive of the 80 individuals who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Maine Historical Society’s glass photo plate collection continues to be rediscovered, reviewed and catalogued. A recent find is a set of wonderful ski and winter photos from the 1920’s and 30’s shot in the City of Portland. A sample of these photos will be on display at Wednesday evening’s event, along with a slide show highlighting the important role that Portland played in the growth of Maine skiing.  The Ski Maine Association display will also highlight the current status of Maine’s downhill and cross country ski areas, and historic photos from Maine ski areas will be on display.

Admission will cost $20 at the door, with Supporter and Sponsor levels (including two admission tickets) offered for $50 and $100, respectively. Proceeds from the event benefit the efforts of Ski Maine Association and Ski Museum of Maine to obtain, record, and protect information and artifacts from Maine’s skiing history.