Monday's surpise snowstorm and seasonably cold temperatures have at last launched our winter here in Portland, a point underscored by two very different events, one yesterday and one tomorrow.

Yesterday the Portland Ski Club hosted its first competition of the season, a 3K freestyle event at Riverside golf course. Portland Ski Club sponsors a team comprising boys and girls from the city's three middle schools -- King, Lincoln and Moore -- coached by Anna Louise Englund, a former Bates College cross-country speedster.

Anna Louise is a real nordic Pied Piper who emphasizes broad-based involvement over results. Put it this way: Anna Louise measures her success by the number of kids who turn out, not by the times they turn in.

Boys line up for Portland Ski Club's 3K middle school race, held yesterday at Riverside golf course
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Competitors start in waves one minute apart
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Crossing the finish line yesterday at Portland Ski Club's 3K races
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While hanging out at the races yesterday, I met Mike Yeo, the roving coach for Maine Winter Sports Center. Mike's the southern Maine rep for the Caribou-based organization that's spreading nordic fever all over Aroostook County.

Mike told me that he's got 600 kids in various school programs spread across his vast territory, which runs from Eliot to Greenville. Throw in his own personal racing schedule, which included last weekend's White Mountain 30K, and Mike drives 3,000 miles a month for nordic skiing.

Tomorrow WinterKids, the Portland-based organization devoted to getting children active in the snow-season months, hosts "Welcome to Winter" at Payson Park. The free event, to be held between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., targets southern Maine's growing immigrant communities. Many of these people had never seen snow until they arrived in Maine.

As in the past, Governor John Baldacci will join the group, along with wife Karen, a former school nutritionist. They will arrive about 1 p.m. and a short speech is slated about 1:30 p.m. Governor Baldacci has declared this January to be Winterkids Month In Maine, recognizing the non-profit organization's 10th anniversary in helping Pine Tree State youngsters.

Introducing Portland's growing immigrant population to winter activities is the objective of "Welcome to Winter," now in its third year
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This will be the third time that Governor John Baldacci has joined the fun at "Welcome to Winter"
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The big idea behind "Welcome To Winter" is to expand immigrants' comfort zones by teaching about appropriate outdoor clothing and proper nutrition. And getting the kids involved in fun, healthy outdoor winter activites, such as snowshoeing and skiing.

Participating sponsors include Hannaford Supermarkets and L.L. Bean. WinterKids is also helped out mightily by TD Banknorth, Weight Watchers of Maine and Healthy Maine Partnerships.

WinterKids executive director Carla Marcus will be on the Kids First Radio Show tomorrow morning, promoting "Welcome to Winter" and her cause in general. The show, heard on WJAB 1440 AM and 95.5 FM Saturdays between 8-10 a.m., advances the idea that kids' sports are intended for kids -- first and foremost.

Regis Tremblay, host of the Kids First Radio Show, and Carla Marcus, executive director of WinterKids, will be heard tomorrow on WJAB 1440 AM and 95.5 FM
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The show is hosted by Regis Tremblay, the founder of The Center for Kids First. Yours truly, the Ski Bum, will also be a guest on the show, pointing out some of the myriad opportunities for kids to get involved in nordic skiing. We'll also be giving away a family pack of four cross-country day passes to Carter's XC ski centers. That's plural, because David and Anne Carter run two nice ones, in Oxford and Bethel.

Ski 40 km in Oxford and 55 in Bethel. Plus their Oxford location has a really excellent cross-country ski shop, too, where I've bought plenty of gear over the years.

The Ski Bum will also let listeners know that Maine Handicapped Skiing's Junior Volunteer Program gets started this Sunday. Twelve high school kids will be participating this year in a six-week training program. In total, MHS counts about 300 volunteer instructors -- including the Ski Bum -- who work with about 250 physically handicapped children and adults.

The non-profit organization is currently in its 25th year.

With Monday's snowfall confined mainly to a small strip of Maine's coastal plain, perhaps the best cross-country skiing in the state yesterday was at Portland's municipally owned Riverside golf course, where three to five miles of trails are beautifully groomed by the city and the Portland Ski Club.

Grooming at Riverside golf course is accomplished with a snowmobile plus a packing/tracking drag
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Three to five miles of nordic trails are groomed at Riverside

Grooming -- rolling, packing and tracking -- was finished by late afternoon and yesterday evening a number of people were skiing by headlamp, including a group of six from the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club.

Three members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club posed for the Ski Bum's camera last night at Riverside: Jim, Cici and Lisa

The combined race team drawn from Portland, Deering and Casco Bay high schools has a competition scheduled this afternoon (Wednesday) and the Portland Ski Club-sponsored middle school team (King, Lincoln and Moore) co-hosts (with Falmouth) a meet on Thursday.

After soooooo much waiting and wishing, it's nice to see quality skiing at Riverside again! Let's hope the weather stays cold. And let's also hope another storm comes along soon to spread the wealth.

One of the biggest races of the New England masters circuit took place yesterday, with about 145 participating in the third annual White Mountain Classic 30K. The race was hosted on the trails of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation.

Approximately 145 cross-country competitors, mostly masters from all over New England, participated in yesterday's White Mountain Classic 30K
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After one loop on the Wentworth Fields, racers crossed the Ellis River on this covered bridge, then headed north on the famed Ellis River Trail

Most of the race took place on the Ellis River Trail, which had plenty of snow and was very well groomed.

Volunteer race workers await the first finisher at yesterday's White Mountain Classic 30K

Justin Beckwith, of the Middlebury (VT) Ski Club, was first across the finish line with a time of about 1:30

Justin Beckwith, of the Middlebury (VT) Ski Club, finished first. Top Maine finisher was Ben Koons, of Sidney, skiing for the Dartmouth Outing Club. Top Portland finisher was Connor Cushman, representing the Portland Ski Club.

Competitors ranged in age from 17 to mid-80s. The race is sanctioned by the New England Nordic Skiers Association. A key NENSA feature is grouping results in five-year increments of age.

Sally Swenson, of the Mt. Washington Valley Nordic Club, was the 100th finisher -- good enough for second place in the women's age 60-64 class

The next big race in this series is next Saturday, the 26th annual Craftsbury Marathon, which is a point-to-point competition and includes a number of gourmet feed stations for the 25K Tourer Class. Registration for Craftsbury is capped at 1,000.

After watching the race I gave my new skis and boots a test run, scooting about halfway up the Ellis River Trail, then retracing my route back to Jackson Village.

There was a "just-right" feel to Shawnee Peak yesterday, following the four or so inches of snow from Monday's storm. The sun was brilliant, fresh snow glistened, and happy vibes were felt across the slopes and throughout the base lodge.

And mindful of today's blast of arctic air plus the critical need for much more white stuff, the snowmakers were out on the mountain in force.

I forgot to bring my camera, but Shawnee's ever-helpful Josh Harrington shot a few pix for the Ski Bum to share throughout blogdom.

Good vibes were felt everywhere at Shawnee Peak yesterday thanks to Monday's snowfall
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Corduroy grooming on the Main Slope plus additional snowmaking
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Snowmaking going full blast yesterday on the Main Slope
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Now let's shift gears to downhill snow bicycle racing. Yup. It happens right here on Saturday for the sixth straight year. Ernie's Cycle Shop in Westbrook (call 207-854-4090) is this year's bike shop sponsor. The big deal this year: It's at night.

The battle for the coveted Yellow Parka -- we're being metaphorical here -- gets going at 5 p.m. Jan. 20. Marketing maven Melissa Rock expects more than 100 entrants who will race in a Snowboardcross elimination format; that means four cyclists compete in each heat, with the top two advancing to the next round. The format guarantees thrills, spills and laughter.

If you want to enter, note that registration runs 2-4 p.m. and costs $25. Practice runs begin at 4 p.m.

Here are three pix from last year's event:

Downhill snow bicycle racing returns to Shawnee Peak this Saturday
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Mountain bikes are made for mountains, right?
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The battle for the coveted Yellow Parka gets underway at 5 p.m. Saturday Jan. 20 at Shawnee Peak
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In case you've been putting off that winter ski vacation, this recent storm removes all excuses to procrastinate. To be sure, only a few icy inches fell in greater Portland, but ski country got enough to be useful.

It's hardly a blizzard, but my pal, Bill "On the Hill" Swain up at Sugarloaf/USA, sent an email saying that his mountain got eight to 12 inches -- as of early Monday evening -- plus he attached a couple of photos.

A welcome chore in ski country: sweeping the snow off the car at Sugarloaf/USA yesterday
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No blizzard, but no complaints either: Eight to 12 inches of new snow had fallen at Sugarloaf/USA as of early evening on Monday
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Just in time for the Loaf's traditional late January white sale on ski-n-stay packages, known as White White World Week.

It's all about having big fun on a budget, and it's been going on at the Loaf for decades. Join in on some zany events including disco parties, the Roaring 20s night, Island Night, Hill-Billy hoedown, turbo tubing, dummy jumps, snow sculptures and more. Ski-n-stay packages, including lodging, daily lift tickets, health club/spa & daily adult Perfect Turn ski school clinics, run as low as $69 per person per night in on-mountain condos. And it's available Jan 21-25.

Two skiers from New Jersey admire the view from Sugarloaf's Upper Narrow Gauge Trail two seasons ago
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Jonesing for nordic? You betcha I am.

And I remember that Sugarloaf is the only mountain in Maine -- and one of only a handful anywhere in New England -- with a large, first class trailside nordic center under the same management.

The Sugarloaf Outdoor Center offers nordic skiing on 100km of superbly groomed trails, a warm, comfortable lodge with magnificent views, skating rink, snowshoeing and more. Midweek nordic ski-n-stay packages start at $49 per person at the Sugarloaf Inn.

So who cares if it's raining on the mountain, as long as Elvis Presley's there? That ineluctable logic drew me to ski at Shawnee Peak yesterday, primarily to see MichaEL VISelli, a prominent Boston-area Elvis impersonator.

Monday would have been Elvis' 72nd birthday.

Elvis Presley, aka MichaEL VISelli, walked around the base area at Shawnee Peak yesterday, saying hello to skiers and riders and gladly posing for pix
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MichaEL VISelli strikes a pose with six-year-old Kiana Kelley of Buxton, who was learning to ski yesterday at Shawnee Peak
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MichaEL VISelli performs a medley of hits by The King yesterday at Blizzard's Pub at Shawnee Peak
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The hoped-for horde of Elvis look-alikes failed to appear, but MichaEL VISelli gave a good impression, walking around the base area and greeting skiers and riders. Later he performed a medley of Elvis hits in Blizzard's Pub.

By midafternoon the rain stopped and the sun poked through. Skiing was definitely spring-like. All over the mountain, snow guns were poised to go whenever temps drop.

Riding Shawnee Peak's summit triple chair near the top yesterday, with un-frozen Moose Pond in the background
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Unloading the summit triple yesterday at Shawnee Peak
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Shawnee Peak seeks a new summit of silliness this Saturday as it observes the birthday of Elvis Presley (which is actually on Monday, for those geeks who insist on precision in journalistic blogdom) by inviting a professional impersonator to the mountain and offering free skiing/snowboarding to anybody who shows up dressed like Elvis.

A professional Elvis impersonator from Boston will visit Shawnee Peak this Saturday to celebrate the 71st anniversary of the birth of The King
Photo courtesy Shawnee Peak

The guy's name is MichaEL VISelli, and here's some info, courtesy of marketing maven Melissa Rock. Please excuse Melissa's overkill on the exclamation marks, but please understand that she really gets worked up about stuff like this.

One of Boston’s top Elvis Impersonators, will be at Shawnee Peak’s Blizzard’s Pub for a fabulous apres-ski party!

The fun starts in the morning – Elvis Fans are invited to dress up as The King and come on out to ski! Elvis will definitely be ON THE MOUNTAIN!

At 3 p.m., all Elvis Fans will report to the front of the base lodge for an "All-Elvis" photo! All skiers in Elvis garb AND included in the photo will get a voucher for a free lift ticket to use anytime during the 2006-07 ski season!

At 4 p.m., the show really starts! MichaEL VISelli gets the crowd in Blizzard’s Pub pumped up on Elvis adrenaline! He’ll judge an Elvis Look-Alike contest and perform his widely-known Elvis Impersonator act, complete with a medley of the King’s classic songs. The best part? The show and apres-ski party are FREE!

"Whenever I put a jumpsuit on, I make sure it's like I am stepping on stage for the first time and always give it a 110% while making sure not to overdo it," says MichaEL VISelli. " I have seen guys overkill the audience, you have to know your limits and remember you're an Elvis impersonator, not Elvis."

Isn't it refreshing to know that a ski mountain's Elvis impersonator is so solidly grounded in reality???

In other matters, yesterday was the first night of Racing With the Moon, and didn't they have a beautifully brilliant full orb shining in the heavens?

Yesterday was the first night of Racing With the Moon, Shawnee Peak's after-hours corporate competition. The view from the Rte. 302 causeway last night shortly after sunset
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And speaking of beauty, let's note that the T-Buckettes, representing T-Buck Construction Company, are back. Last year they were the first all-female team ever entered in Racing With the Moon. I heard they were pretty fast.

I know they were pretty. Just check out these World Cup smiles!

The T-Buckettes, the first all-female team ever entered in Racing With the Moon at Shawnee Peak, are returning for the '06-'07 season
Photo courtesy Shawnee Peak

What do you get when you try to ski Riverside Golf Course on only two inches of snow? Grass, gravel and grit. And "grabby" snow -- extreme clumping problems -- compounded the problem when I skied there yesterday.

Definitely the sort of day for your "rock skis."

The nicest part of my outing was meeting James and Yana Little, a Portland couple who moved here six months ago from Portland, Oregon.

James Little skis across Riverside Golf Course in Portland yesterday
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Yana Little pushes through two inches of snow

Being new to the eastern Portland, they asked about cross-country skiing in the area. I suggested four good choices: Harris Farm in Dayton, Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook, Pineland Farms in Durham and Sunday River Cross Country Center in Newry.

I should have suggested that they join the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club, but due to a mental lapse, didn't. Hmmmm; maybe the whole idea of skiing in Portland (Maine) yesterday qualifies as a mental lapse.

The nicest part of my visit to Riverside yesterday was meeting fellow ski enthusiasts Yana and James Little

The worst part of my day was the extreme clumping problems with the snow

When there's enough snow, Riverside is a pleasant and convenient place for cross-country skiers, thanks to the Portland Ski Club, which assists in grooming it.