News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2010

Ski Mountains Come to Monument Square
2nd Annual Downtown Showdown comes to Portland at the end of the month

What: In two weeks, the 2nd Annual Downtown Showdown sponsored by Sunday River and Sugarloaf with support from the City of Portland is coming to Monument Square. The resorts will build the two-story take off and 30-foot long staircase with the new feature of a cannon rail for skier and snowboarders to slide down. The Downtown Showdown is an invitation-only competition including twelve skiers and twelve snowboarders from industry teams, shops and academies, who will be competing for cash and prizes. For more information about the event, visit www.thedowntownshowdown.com.

The Downtown Showdown is a precursor for the 2nd Annual Portland WinteRush, Maine’s coolest outdoor festival. Portland WinteRush offers a number of fun activities for people of all ages to enjoy outdoors in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park. WinteRush begins with the PolarBear 5K sponsored by Tri-Maine followed by the 1st Annual Portland Snow Plow Parade along Park Avenue. At 11:00 AM, the park events will open to the public. Families can try their hands at snow fort building, snow painting, and snowball fights with Portland Recreation and Healthy Portland staff. In keeping with Portland tradition, the city will build its own sledding hill, the Hannaford Sledder Shredder, down State Street Extension. The first toboggan run in Portland was built in 1919 and was a city-held tradition for four decades. WinteRush’s Sledder Shredder reinvents this tradition for 2010. People are reminded to bring their own sled.

The City of Portland Public School Parent/Teacher Organizations will be offering hot and cold food and beverage treats at the event locations. All proceeds from the sales will go to benefit Portland schools. For those looking for a fun souvenir, Portland Co-curricular Boosters will be selling WinteRush t-shirts, hats and other items at the park.

For more information about WinteRush and an event schedule, go to www.portlandwinterush.com.

When: Saturday, January 30, 2010
5:00 PM
Where: Monument Square
Congress Street, Portland
###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2010

Want to Make More Than A Snowman? Learn to Snow Carve!

Portland Recreation offering snow carving classes in preparation for the Maine Snow Sculpting Competition a Portland WinteRush event

What: Starting later this month, Portland Recreation will be offering snow carving classes in advance of the Maine Snow Sculpting Competition, a Portland WinteRush event. The classes are open to individuals and families sixteen years of age and older. Those attending the class series are welcome to carve for the competition and enjoy hands-on consultation with experienced snow sculptors also carving for the event. WinteRush attendees will have the opportunity to vote for the best sculptures and select the winners for the 1st Annual Maine Snow Sculpting Competition.

Class schedule:
Introduction to Snow Carving - January 20
Slide presentation of snow sculptures, show-n-tell of tools, and time for questions. All are welcome to learn more about this unique medium.
Snow Sculpture Design - January 27
The second class will focus on transferring the students ideas into something they can carve in snow. The class will focus on how to sketch or model a sculpture. Students are asked to bring modeling clay (or Sculpey/potter's clay/Play Doh/Model Magic/homemade kid's clay). Paper and pencils will be provided.

Hands On Snow - February 3
Packed snow and tools will be provided to explore carving to create shape and shadow. Dress for the outdoors, and wear water resistant gloves or mittens.
For more information about the classes, contact Karen Seymour at Portland Recreation, 207/756-8275 or kseymour@portlandmaine.gov.

For more information about WinteRush and an event schedule, go to www.portlandwinterush.com.

When: Wednesday, January 20, 27 and February 3, 2010
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Cummings Community Center
134 Congress Street, Portland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2010

Portland WinteRush Just One Month Away

Maine’s coolest outdoor festival will offer fun activities and events for all ages in Deering Oaks Park

What: Next month, Mayor Nicholas Mavodones will officially open the second annual Portland WinteRush. Portland WinteRush offers a number of fun activities for people of all ages to enjoy outdoors in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park. WinteRush begins with the PolarBear 5K sponsored by Tri-Maine followed by the 1st Annual Portland Snow Plow Parade along Park Avenue.

“The impetus for WinteRush came from a simple question- What can we do to get people outdoors, having fun in our community during the coldest month of the year?” stated Mayor Mavodones. “The answer was pretty simple, make it fun and people will come. Portland WinteRush is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and remind people that there are a lot of fun activities to enjoy in Portland in the winter.”

At 11:00 AM, the park events will open to the public. Families can try their hands at snow fort building, snow painting, and snowball fights with Portland Recreation and Healthy Portland staff. In keeping with Portland tradition, the city will build its own sledding hill, the Hannaford Sledder Shredder, down State Street Extension. The first toboggan run in Portland was built in 1919 and was a city-held tradition for four decades. WinteRush’s Sledder Shredder reinvents this tradition for 2010. People are reminded to bring their own sled.

Other activities included snowshoeing through the book Snow Day! (illustrated by local artist Scott Nash) with WinterKids, cross-country skiing on groomed trails throughout the park (skis will be available), and for those more interested in spectator sports, attendees can vote for the best snowman for the 1st Annual Neighborhood Organization Snowman Contest or check out teams as they create art out of snow for the Maine Snow Sculpting Contest. Portland Recreation will be sponsoring free snow sculpting classes January 20th for those interested in learning more about the sport. For more information, contact Portland Recreation at 207/756-8275.

The festival will end with the 2nd Annual Pat Cushman Memorial XC Sprint Race. A sprint race is a short one kilometer cross-country ski race during which skiers compete in heats against skiers of the same class. The event is open to the public with a $5 entrance fee for competitors.

The City of Portland Public School Parent/Teacher Organizations will be offering great food and beverage treats at park. All proceeds from the sales will go to benefit the school system. For those looking for a fun souvenir, Portland Co-curricular Boosters will be selling WinteRush t-shirts, hats and other items at many of the event locations.

For more information about WinteRush and an event schedule, go to www.portlandwinterush.com.

When: Saturday, February 13, 2010
10:30 AM Ribbon Cutting
Where: Deering Oaks Park
Park Avenue, Portland

Contact: Nicole Clegg, Director of Communications, City of Portland, office: 207-756-8173, cell: 207-272-4477


	SCHEDULE MAP ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEWS PHOTOS HOME News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 21, 2010 Ski Mountains Come to Monument Square 2nd Annual Downtown Showdown comes to Portland at the end of the month What: In two weeks, the 2nd Annual Downtown Showdown sponsored by Sunday River and Sugarloaf with support from the City of Portland is coming to Monument Square. The resorts will build the two-story take off and 30-foot long staircase with the new feature of a cannon rail for skier and snowboarders to slide down. The Downtown Showdown is an invitation-only competition including twelve skiers and twelve snowboarders from industry teams, shops and academies, who will be competing for cash and prizes. For more information about the event, visit www.thedowntownshowdown.com. The Downtown Showdown is a precursor for the 2nd Annual Portland WinteRush, Maine’s coolest outdoor festival. Portland WinteRush offers a number of fun activities for people of all ages to enjoy outdoors in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park. WinteRush begins with the PolarBear 5K sponsored by Tri-Maine followed by the 1st Annual Portland Snow Plow Parade along Park Avenue. At 11:00 AM, the park events will open to the public. Families can try their hands at snow fort building, snow painting, and snowball fights with Portland Recreation and Healthy Portland staff. In keeping with Portland tradition, the city will build its own sledding hill, the Hannaford Sledder Shredder, down State Street Extension. The first toboggan run in Portland was built in 1919 and was a city-held tradition for four decades. WinteRush’s Sledder Shredder reinvents this tradition for 2010. People are reminded to bring their own sled. Other activities included snowshoeing through the book Snow Day! (illustrated by local artist Scott Nash) with WinterKids, cross-country skiing on groomed trails throughout the park (skis will be available), and for those more interested in spectator sports, attendees can vote for the best snowman for the 1st Annual Neighborhood Organization Snowman Contest or check out teams as they create art out of snow for the Maine Snow Sculpting Contest. The City of Portland Public School Parent/Teacher Organizations will be offering hot and cold food and beverage treats at the event locations. All proceeds from the sales will go to benefit Portland schools. For those looking for a fun souvenir, Portland Co-curricular Boosters will be selling WinteRush t-shirts, hats and other items at the park. For more information about WinteRush and an event schedule, go to www.portlandwinterush.com. When: Saturday, January 30, 2010 5:00 PM Where: Monument Square Congress Street, Portland ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2010 Want to Make More Than A Snowman? Learn to Snow Carve! Portland Recreation offering snow carving classes in preparation for the Maine Snow Sculpting Competition a Portland WinteRush event What: Starting later this month, Portland Recreation will be offering snow carving classes in advance of the Maine Snow Sculpting Competition, a Portland WinteRush event. The classes are open to individuals and families sixteen years of age and older. Those attending the class series are welcome to carve for the competition and enjoy hands-on consultation with experienced snow sculptors also carving for the event. WinteRush attendees will have the opportunity to vote for the best sculptures and select the winners for the 1st Annual Maine Snow Sculpting Competition. Class schedule: Introduction to Snow Carving - January 20 Slide presentation of snow sculptures, show-n-tell of tools, and time for questions. All are welcome to learn more about this unique medium. Snow Sculpture Design - January 27 The second class will focus on transferring the students ideas into something they can carve in snow. The class will focus on how to sketch or model a sculpture. Students are asked to bring modeling clay (or Sculpey/potter's clay/Play Doh/Model Magic/homemade kid's clay). Paper and pencils will be provided. Hands On Snow - February 3 Packed snow and tools will be provided to explore carving to create shape and shadow. Dress for the outdoors, and wear water resistant gloves or mittens. For more information about the classes, contact Karen Seymour at Portland Recreation, 207/756-8275 or kseymour@portlandmaine.gov. For more information about WinteRush and an event schedule, go to www.portlandwinterush.com. When: Wednesday, January 20, 27 and February 3, 2010 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Where: Cummings Community Center 134 Congress Street, Portland FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2010 Portland WinteRush Just One Month Away Maine’s coolest outdoor festival will offer fun activities and events for all ages in Deering Oaks Park What: Next month, Mayor Nicholas Mavodones will officially open the second annual Portland WinteRush. Portland WinteRush offers a number of fun activities for people of all ages to enjoy outdoors in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park. WinteRush begins with the PolarBear 5K sponsored by Tri-Maine followed by the 1st Annual Portland Snow Plow Parade along Park Avenue. “The impetus for WinteRush came from a simple question- What can we do to get people outdoors, having fun in our community during the coldest month of the year?” stated Mayor Mavodones. “The answer was pretty simple, make it fun and people will come. Portland WinteRush is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and remind people that there are a lot of fun activities to enjoy in Portland in the winter.” At 11:00 AM, the park events will open to the public. Families can try their hands at snow fort building, snow painting, and snowball fights with Portland Recreation and Healthy Portland staff. In keeping with Portland tradition, the city will build its own sledding hill, the Hannaford Sledder Shredder, down State Street Extension. The first toboggan run in Portland was built in 1919 and was a city-held tradition for four decades. WinteRush’s Sledder Shredder reinvents this tradition for 2010. People are reminded to bring their own sled. Other activities included snowshoeing through the book Snow Day! (illustrated by local artist Scott Nash) with WinterKids, cross-country skiing on groomed trails throughout the park (skis will be available), and for those more interested in spectator sports, attendees can vote for the best snowman for the 1st Annual Neighborhood Organization Snowman Contest or check out teams as they create art out of snow for the Maine Snow Sculpting Contest. Portland Recreation will be sponsoring free snow sculpting classes January 20th for those interested in learning more about the sport. For more information, contact Portland Recreation at 207/756-8275. The festival will end with the 2nd Annual Pat Cushman Memorial XC Sprint Race. A sprint race is a short one kilometer cross-country ski race during which skiers compete in heats against skiers of the same class. The event is open to the public with a $5 entrance fee for competitors. The City of Portland Public School Parent/Teacher Organizations will be offering great food and beverage treats at park. All proceeds from the sales will go to benefit the school system. For those looking for a fun souvenir, Portland Co-curricular Boosters will be selling WinteRush t-shirts, hats and other items at many of the event locations. For more information about WinteRush and an event schedule, go to www.portlandwinterush.com. When: Saturday, February 13, 2010 10:30 AM Ribbon Cutting Where: Deering Oaks Park Park Avenue, Portland Contact: Nicole Clegg, Director of Communications, City of Portland, office: 207-756-8173, cell: 207-272-4477
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