If you’re up early reading this, it probably means you didn’t stay up to welcome in the New Year. It also means you have time to enjoy one of the slower holiday weekend days of the ski season.

There are two reasons. We have those who did celebrate into the wee hours and seldom make it to the mountain before lunch, and a second group that will leave early to watch football. As you read this, I should be booting up for some early runs after a quiet and early evening.

It’s also time for those New Year’s resolutions, at least for those who make them. I can think of a number that apply to skiers, and some I heartily recommend. Naturally, resolutions that help us enjoy the sport are most appropriate. Certainly, being in shape helps us ski better and get more runs for that expensive lift ticket. The bad news is if you waited until now, you’re just going to have to either ski yourself into shape, which means you won’t hit mid season form until the spring. You could start a program which will help, but it will still take time and dedication. The good news is if you start now and keep it up, it will help your skiing before the season is over. You’ll also really be in shape at the start of the next season — if you follow the regimen through the summer.

An easier way to help your skiing is to get your skis in shape. You don’t have to go the gym. Take them to your ski shop and get them tuned up. Make a resolution to get those boards tuned and to keep them that way the remainder of the season. You’ll get more out of those skis if they’re in shape, even if you aren’t.

Another good one is to take a lesson or get some coaching. No matter what level of skier we are, most of us could use a tune-up. I know most skiers don’t want to go through the typical group lesson, but there alternatives. The Perfect Turn programs at Sunday River and Sugarloaf are geared to take the hassle, lineups and ski-offs out of the coaching. A few years ago I skied with the Tuesday Tuneup group at Saddleback and got some good coaching in a day of skiing. There are plenty of programs at different areas so check them out. My resolution is to make contact with Tom “Coach” Reynolds for a ski day. This always helps my skiing, and now that coach has moved to New Hampshire to be nearer to his children, it will give me an excuse to ski Sunapee again after several years.

My other resolutions involve more skiing. One is to make sure I ski at least one day mid week each week and also visit more of Maine’s smaller areas. I stated this before the end of the year, and my mid-week day this past week was at Mt. Abram. I wanted to make a few runs and check out the new temporary base lodge. After the terrible fire caused by lightning, it was necessary to replace the base lodge, and the choice was a tent like structure over a steel frame. It was a good idea.

The spacious interior is open and allows for an easy division of uses. Immediately through the side door are the same picnic tables that graced the old lodge. These stretch down the side toward the slopes about two thirds of the building. Beyond is the restaurant area and Loose Boots Lounge. On the left of the entrance is the Sports Haus ski shop occupying about 20 percent of the floor space. Between it and the restaurant area is the cafeteria. The restrooms are in a separate building attached to the back. Ticket sales, rentals and skis school are in a separate building as is the ski patrol. One feature of the new building, which is heated by wood pellets, is the heated concrete floor. While my feet were certainly not cold, that floor did feel good in stockings. I can imagine how it will be appreciated later in the winter when a skier comes in with truly cold feet and removes the boots.

The radiant heat is part of the future plans for the floor, which will become an outside deck when a new base lodge is constructed behind it. If all goes as planned, it will be a heated deck. As to the plans, general manager Kevin Rosenberg said they have entered an agreement with the SE Group — a professional resort design company that has worked on such noted villages as Whistler and Tremblant. Mt. Abram won’t be in that category, but it makes a lot of sense to have everything carefully planned out to get the most out of the space, both in and around the lodge. The temporary building won’t go away, but it might become a new lodge at West Side or a garage or be divided into two buildings. Whatever plans are developed, it looks as if the folks at Mt Abram are going to make the most of a disaster that forced a rebuilding. The area will be the better for it in the future.

The big event next week takes place at Black Mountain in Rumford where the Chisholm Ski Club will host the National Cross Country Championships. Having hosted everything from the NCAA to World Championships, the club has all the skills needed to put on first class competition, and it’s a good place for spectators.

Now let’s hope for some real winter weather for the event and getting on with our resolutions. Things like skiing a few more runs each day and finally, an absolute minimum of 35 days of skiing this season. That’s my goal! How about yours? Happy New Year and see you on the slopes.