In producing the new Sunday River anniversary book, Sunday River: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the author Dave Irons. While I knew of Dave through various media outlets, I never had the chance to really get to know him. Dave is by far one of the sweetest men I know and a wealth of both humor and stories. His knowledge of the ski industry, particularly Sunday River, is for lack of a better word - impressive. Plus, the man makes a mean Manhattan. If you find yourself with a copy of the Sunday River book in your hands, you will not be disappointed. Dave has done an amazing job covering the five decades of our history and the pictures that supplement his words are pieces of art themselves. Until then, you can learn a little bit more about Dave here:
An Interview with Dave Irons
1) How long have you been skiing at Sunday River?
50 years as of Dec. 19.
2) What was the hardest part about compiling the new Sunday River book, "Sunday River, Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future?"
The hardest part was tracking down some of the people who played key roles. Burt Mill is in Montana, Chip and Wendy Seamans at Kirkwood in Tahoe, and Bill Jensen in Vancouver to name just a few. The good news is that everyone was 100 percent cooperative.
3) I am sure a flood of memories came rushing back with each person you talked to. Who was your favorite interview and why?
There were several that were especially memorable. Avery Angevine who told me how they built the base lodge, the parking lot and road in had wonderful memories of the building of the ski area. It was also a lot of fun to sit with Johnny Rolfe's widow, Ruby and her son Red to learn how the trails were cut and the first T-bar installed along with the operation of the area in the early days.
4) You were here for Sunday River's very first opening day which you write about in the book - do you remember what skis you were on at the time? What skis are you on today?
They were a pair of Paris White Mountains. Laminated wood with a plastic base, screwed on steel edges and a light blue top. They died a year or two later when I plowed into a mogul of heavy wet snow on the last pitch of Lower Cascades. I was relieved to learn that the sharp crack I heard was one of the skis, not a leg. It must have been an entertaining crash for the folks waiting in the T-bar line. Today I ski on various models of Volkl race skis ranging in length from 165 to 178 cm, considerably shorter than the 205's I broke that day.
5) As you know, Sunday River has grown from one peak to eight - what is your favorite Sunday River mountain and why?
I still prefer the trails in Barker. Lower Cascades can be skied a half a dozen times with its varied terrain allowing a different line every time. On cold mornings I like to warm up in the sun on Dream Maker off North Peak.
6) You met your wife Pat here at Sunday River, tell us a little about that?
It was at the annual ski club roast beef dinner Easter weekend in 1979. I spotted her and used my best line, "How come I don't know you?" I was taken aback when she replied, "You do." Technically she was right. She had been in the first aid room when one her sons was brought in and we had been at some of the same parties but I had never gotten to know her and didn't recognize her that night. The party continued at the home of one of the members and I followed her to her chalet in Viking Village and she allowed me to drive her to the next party. It wasn't easy but I convinced her that she should let me take her to dinner a couple of weeks later and we have been together ever since.
7) In your opinion, what has been Sunday River's single best improvement over the past 50 years?
The skiing product. Les Otten realized that only a superior skiing product would make all the other things possible and by making sure that the snowmaking and grooming went along with the lifts he created the skier loyalty that remains today. I like going out on the mountain in the morning knowing that I'll find the best possible snow conditions.
8) What do you hope to see in the next 50 years?
I don't know how many of those 50 I'll get to observe but I plan on skiing for another 20 at least. On the mountain I hope to see the commitment to a great skiing product continue. That will bring the skiers to pay for continuing improvements in everything from lodging to food service and other amenities. I would also like to see the expansion of summer business, especially another golf course which could greatly enhance the attraction for golfers.
9) Is there anything that you wish you could have added to the book that you didn't?
Going through some of the pictures I realized that I could have done a better job on some of the special events such as the Santa weekend. As a ski writer I often skip over some of these things choosing to write about other aspects of the sport, but some are a lot of fun and add more to the sport than we realize. I'm sure when the book is in the hands of Sunday River skiers I'm going to hear a lot of "How about this?" I look forward to it.
10) On your bio, it reads that you contributed stories to Playboy - what was your story about and did you get to meet Hef?
That was kind of a fluke. I got word and the name of the editor who was handling it that they were looking for a story on what was new at ski resorts around the country and I called and got the assignment. It was the year Big Sky installed the Lone Peak Tram and I got a neat quote from Dan Egan that it was great because they installed a lift just because they wanted to ski it. He also told me about the A to Z chutes which would be within reach off the summit. I had to submit all kinds of documentation and I sent about 1,000 words along with some pics. What ran was one column, one third of a page with no pics. But my byline was at the bottom and the check was for $750. How's that for 300 words?! By the following year that editor was gone and I never got a repeat, but my name has been in Playboy. Phil Johnson was in charge of credentials for ESWA (Eastern Ski Writers Association) that year so I sent him a copy. I'm reasonably certain that's the only time a ski writer got into one of the world's largest circulation magazines. It was fun though I never left Maine for that one. Never got to meet Hef, or worse, any of the playmates.
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