NEWRY, Maine — Early this morning Sunday River started on day two of its pre-season snowmaking test, firing off 40 Boyne Low-Energy Fan Guns across the slopes located near the South Ridge Base Lodge. Yesterday, the resort used another 40 tower guns for a test that took place on the highest elevation points of Locke Mountain.

This morning’s effort completes the resort’s pre-season top to bottom quality-control test.

“When you’ve been the first resort to open year after year, you’re automatically held to higher standards,” VP of Mountain Operations Brent Larson says. “Each year we have everything in order by September 15, which may seem early to most, but that’s because most resort’s don’t operate at our level of snowmaking or have the ability to make snow on days like this.”

The past three years, Sunday River has been the first resort on the East Coast to open, thanks to a series of quality-control tests similar to the ones conducted this weekend.

Prior to this weekend, Sunday River checked for water pressure efficiencies across three mountain peaks. All hoses and hydrants have also been observed to ensure effectiveness so that once colder temperatures set in for the duration of winter Sunday River can begin to make snow on Locke Mountain, the resort’s first peak to open the past three years, and push to open for the 2010/2011 season.

Sunday River opened last winter on October 14, 2010 — its earliest opening in over a decade. Thanks to last year’s early-season snowmaking efforts, the resort also celebrated the longest season in the east and its longest season ever, staying open six months and six days.

This weekend’s snowmaking test falls during resort’s annual Fall Festival Weekend and serves as a reminder to guests that winter is approaching. This timely display also serves to remind skiers and riders of the resort’s pre-season pass sale deadline taking place Monday, October 11, 2010.

Sunday River’s opening day for the 2010/2011 season is weather dependant and slated at this time for mid-November.

Larson adds, “Of course, if we can start the winter off any earlier we will. We’re just waiting on Mother Nature for a helping hand.”

For more information on Sunday River’s snowmaking, including high-resolution images and b-roll footage, visit the media page at www.sundayriver.com or call Darcy Morse at (207) 332-1107.