Shawnee Peak Has People 'Flipping' For Its Newest Attraction

By Austin Sorette

Ever wanted to look cool in front of a lot of people? Shawnee Peak will give you that opportunity with their newest attraction, the Big Air Bag.

According to the Shawnee Peak website, the Big Air Bag is “a humongous, giant pillow that serves as a fall-cushion, similar in nature to the devices used in the world of professional stunts.”

But you don't have to be a professional to have fun with Shawnee Peak’s latest attraction: Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels are being invited to partake in to this new feature.

Take Rachel Wilkinson, the Director of Marketing and Sales at Shawnee Peak and one of the air bags first testers.

“When you hit the kicker, it's unlike any experience you'll ever have,” said Wilkinson. “It's such a great time, there is no other way to explain it.”

It might be the first year for Shawnee Peak’s Big Air Bag, but it is already pulling a wave of new customers up to their Bridgton, Maine home.

In fact, it’s become so popular that the ski resort now sells season passes for the jump, along with their typical day rates.

While people have taken the trek to Shawnee Peak just to use the bag, the appeal of the jump has created a ripple effect of curiosity across the park, including to people who previously might have just focused on alpine skiing.

“We hear 'oohhs' and 'aahhs' from people inside the lodge who are watching other riders soaring off the jump,” said Wilkinson. “It's one thing to explain the concept of it, but it's a completely different thing to see it in action.”

Wilkinson says many of the regular customers have taken a huge interest in the bag as both a viewer and a participant.

“We're always looking at ways to make improvements on the mountain, to keep it fresh in order to attract new customers,” Wilkinson continued. “We saw it one day and thought that it would be a really good idea that would interest a large range of people.”

Because the Big Air Bag amounts to an additional cost on top regular day pass rates ($12 for two jumps, $15 for unlimited), the mountain can monitor the progress of the use of the Big Air Bag, which has helped make Shawnee Peak one of the hottest (not literally, of course) mountains in New England.

Shawnee Peak is a business partner with the Green Alliance, a local green business union that specializes in promoting local businesses who are environmentally conscious, and also offers a wide variety of discounted green products and services to their card-carrying members.

All card carrying members of the Green Alliance receive great deals at Shawnee Peak, including 20% of their lift ticket.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to spice up your ski season!

Find the Big Air Bag's operating hours and cost rates at www.shawneepeak.com

To learn more about the Green Alliance, visit www.greenalliance.biz