Titcomb Mountain General Manager Seth Noonkester ’15 keeps the historic West Farmington ski area in peak operating condition for the community and the University.
Story and photos by Marc Glass / December 2019
Skiing and riding at Titcomb Mountain are nearly rites of passage at UMF. Whether you’re a graduate who hasn’t been back to campus in years or a prospective UMF student, no trip to Farmington in the winter is complete without a stop at this gem of a hill and the birthplace of skiing in western Maine. While you’re there, be sure to introduce yourself to Titcomb’s general manager, 2015 UMF graduate Seth Noonkester.
Seth Noonkester ’15 photographed in Titcomb Mountain’s historic lodge, looks forward to his third season as the ski area’s general manager.
At the time of the interview earlier this month, Noonkester was nearly through the lengthy punch list to launch the 2019–20 season. Among his done-and-dusted tasks were making sure the groomers, lifts, lights, commissary, ski patrol, and approximately 800 volunteers were ready for skiers and riders to make first tracks.
A graduate of UMF’s Outdoor Recreation Business Administration bachelor’s degree program, Noonkester said he was eager to get the t-bars turning for his third season as GM of Titcomb and the Farmington Ski Club’s 81st season of operation. And among those he looks forward to seeing this season are UMF students — all of whom are eligible to receive a free season pass to Titcomb, courtesy of Sugarloaf and Sunday River.
The Lift No. 2 t-bars at Titcomb were strung and ready to shuttle skiers and riders to the top of the Main and Bunny slopes by December 9. These oldies but goodies may be slower than chairlifts, but they are rarely, if ever, on wind-hold.
“Titcomb is a terrific place for UMF students to downhill ski, snowboard, or cross-country ski, whether they’re beginners or are experts,” said Noonkester. “We’re only a five-minute drive from campus, and we have a great range of terrain, from gentle beginner trails to an awesome terrain park to black-diamond terrain to more than 16 kilometers of Nordic trails.”
Titcomb’s proximity to campus and its many recreational opportunities — alpine and Nordic skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer — help elevate UMF in the higher education landscape. Aside from the free season pass available to all UMF students, the University’s Alpine Operations Certificate Program offers free lessons for the uninitiated at Titcomb, UMF’s Mainely Outdoors Program offers students free equipment, and there’s a free shuttle that runs from campus to Titcomb and back.
Signage on the start house atop the Main, Otter Slide, and Headwall slopes signals that Titcomb is Beaver territory. UMF’s snow-sports teams train, compete, and triumph there.
Noonkester said any UMF student who wants a free season pass to Titcomb can complete an application at the main desk of UMF’s Fitness and Recreation Center. Scott Hoisington ’79, UMF’s Coordinator of Alpine Operations, will even deliver those applications to Titcomb.
“The Farmington Ski Club and I are deeply grateful to Scott and his students in the Alpine Operations Certificate Program for their volunteer help in all aspects of running Titcomb,” said Noonkester. “He always brings a large crew of UMF students to our volunteer workdays to lend a hand with our pre-season projects. And the Snow Cats learn-to-ski program that his Alpine-Ops students run at Titcomb serves about 100 area children each season. That’s a lot of kids who may not otherwise have been able to ski and snowboard.”
As evinced by the trophy cabinet in the base lodge, Titcomb has a long tradition of grooming youth for racing success. One advantage of the relatively short trails and lift lines is that athletes spend more time on-snow, lapping runs and honing racing skills.
Memorabilia on display in the lodge speaks to Titcomb’s status as the birthplace of skiing in the region.
Noonkester, who accessed the Titcomb trails throughout his undergraduate experience at UMF, said the offer of a free season pass to each UMF student is one of the best deals going in the ski industry.
“I would love to see even more UMF students take advantage of this amazing opportunity,” he said. “Without the generosity of the leadership at Sugarloaf and Sunday River, the offer of free passes to UMF students wouldn’t be possible.”
Looking down the Main, Headwall, and Otter Slide from atop Titcomb, which is a five-minute drive from UMF. Students without cars can now catch a shuttle that runs to and from campus.