Through Adversity, Forward Progress

Over 75 years, Sugarloaf has proven its resilience time and again. This mountain and this community have faced challenges before and have always come back stronger.

The past month tested us in ways we didn't anticipate. Equipment failures—first with our transformer, then with the SuperQuad—disrupted operations during some of our busiest weeks of the season. We know how frustrating this has been for all of you, and we want to start by saying thank you for your loyalty, patience, and unwavering passion for this mountain we all call home.

We also want to recognize the incredible people who make Sugarloaf what it is. From our lift maintenance team working around the clock to get the SuperQuad back online, to our mountain operations crew ensuring uphill capacity was still achieved to the best of our ability, to our front-line staff and guest services team handling voiced frustrations with grace and professionalism—it's been tough, but we couldn't do it without them, and you. That's what makes Sugarloaf so special: the passion, grit, and dedication we all share so that we can enjoy this mountain for another 75 years—and beyond.

Our challenges began earlier in January with an unexpected transformer failure that knocked out power across the mountain, forcing us to close early that day. Our team immediately sprang into action, ordering a replacement transformer (sourced from Pennsylvania) and working with Central Maine Power to restore operations. In the interim, we ran lifts on backup generators to maintain uphill capacity while the replacement was secured and installed. The new transformer was successfully energized, and full power was restored on Friday, January 16.

The swift response from our electrical and mountain operations teams, along with our partnership with CMP, allowed us to minimize downtime during a critical period.

We're thrilled to announce that the SuperQuad is back in operation as of Wednesday, February 4. Our team, along with specialized contractors, has worked diligently to address the gearbox issues and ensure reliable operation moving forward.

Just two summers ago, the gearbox was sent for a complete overhaul as part of our preventative maintenance program based on standard protocols. This type of lift is common throughout the Boyne network and has proven reliable across our resorts. Since then, we've been working closely with the contractor to understand what happened and why, to ensure reliable service for years to come. We appreciate your patience as we completed this critical repair work.

While the lift challenges dominated January, something remarkable has been happening since opening day: our snowmaking and mountain operations teams have been crushing it. Our terrain count has consistently been 5-10 trails ahead of where we were at this same time last year. The hustle, focus, and adaptability of our mountain operations team gave us expanded terrain in a timeframe we haven't seen before. Thanks to significant investments from Boyne Resorts, Sugarloaf is now one of the most efficient resorts on the East Coast for making snow—and this season, it's showing.

Brendan Ryan, Principal of Alpine Solutions and former VP of Snow Surface Design & Management at Boyne Resorts, highlighted Sugarloaf's capability: "We now can run every gun off the summit at the same time (if it's not too cold). And we're able to do so with the most efficient HKD's on the market. Sugarloaf's elevation and cold water make it able to run the most efficient configuration of HKD's on the market."

This efficiency is the result of a multi-million-year investment strategy that includes:

• Over 700+ HKD tower guns deployed across five years
• 400+ KLIK hydrants for strategic coverage
• 13 fully automated SMI fan guns for targeted snowmaking
• A new 20-inch water main line replacing the old 14-inch line along West Mountain Trail, increasing our maximum GPM from 4,775 to +5,200—nearly a 10% capacity increase
• Six fully automated portable SMI Super Polecat Fan guns that can strategically cover high-traffic areas including SuperQuad Spur, Boardwalk, Sidewinder, and the base of Whiffletree, Bucksaw, and Skyline
• Complete HKD Impulses and KLIK hydrants on all summit trails, allowing simultaneous snowmaking from every gun off the summit

Seth Warman, our Snow Surfaces Director, shared his excitement: "With the new improvements on West Mountain, going from 14-inch pipe to 20-inch pipe, we've been able to run more efficiently and have higher pressures in the areas that usually have low pressure."

The result? Despite the lift challenges, we've been able to open and maintain an impressive amount of terrain for this point in the season. Our snowmaking infrastructure upgrades have proven their worth when we needed them most.

It's worth stepping back to appreciate the magnitude of what we accomplished with West Mountain. The single largest terrain investment in the East by Boyne Resorts happened right here at Sugarloaf.

Now in its second full season of operation, the impact of this terrain expansion can't be overstated. It's the largest terrain expansion to happen in the Northeast since the late 1970s. From increasing parking capacity to spreading out general skier volume across an additional 12 trails, West Mountain helps catapult Sugarloaf into the next decade of growth as we look ahead to the future.

The West Mountain development includes:

• The Bucksaw Express chairlift: A Doppelmayr high-speed detachable quad increasing our uphill capacity by 2,400 skiers per hour
• Twelve new alpine trails covering approximately 120 acres (nine currently open)
• Nearly 10% increase in Sugarloaf's total skiable acreage
• A new family-friendly zone providing beginner and intermediate terrain with dedicated lift access

"West Mountain creates a new family-friendly zone, something Sugarloaf has needed for quite some time," said Karl Strand, Sugarloaf's General Manager. "The accessibility of the lift and terrain provides a progression platform unlike anything we've ever had at the resort. Our instructors and families now have a separate zone creating confidence and an 'easier' zone, if you will, for beginner and intermediate level skiers."

This expansion represents building and growing generational Sugarloafers—part of the fabric that makes Sugarloaf what it is. The location of Bucksaw Express was also intentional. Sugarloaf is not only the largest ski area in the East but also the second-tallest mountain in Maine, making it vulnerable to the elements. "We recognize and have addressed the need to mitigate windy days, and the location of this lift does just that," said Strand.

Boyne Resorts' commitment to Sugarloaf extends beyond winter. The opening of the Sugarloaf Bike Park in July represents a four-year million-plus investment in summer operations. Led by past Olympian and national champion Adam Craig, the park features 18 trails designed for riders of all abilities, including Syncline—a beginner-friendly green trail offering a full top-to-bottom learning route.

"After four years in the making, we officially opened the Sugarloaf Bike Park, an exciting new addition to our summer amenities," said Strand. "It's been incredible to see the energy it has brought to the mountain this summer."

We're also celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Sugarloaf Golf Club, ranked among the top public courses in the country—a testament to four decades of successful year-round operations and commitment to this community.

The challenges of the past month don't define this season—our response to them does. With the SuperQuad returning to service, record snowmaking efficiency, the transformative West Mountain expansion, and a team that refuses to quit, we're positioned for an incredible rest of the season.

This is Sugarloaf's 75th anniversary year, and while we've faced some bumps along the way, the passion, resilience, and dedication of this community—from our team members to our season passholders to our day guests—remind us why this mountain has thrived for three-quarters of a century.

Thank you for being part of the Sugarloaf family. We'll see you on the mountain.