By Bob Williams

Dec. 20 (World Wide News) – Snow and frigid temperatures may be a rareity here in the Northeast, but the 2006-07 ski season, nonetheless, is about ready to schuss off. Here, then, is a selection of noteworthy items of interest to the recreational skier and snowboarder.

Hunter and Mountain Creek Form Alliance. Hunter Mountain and northern New Jersey ski area Mountain Creek have joined forces to offer skiers and riders the Metro MountainCard. The card, priced at $99, was available earlier this month during a special promotion.

The cards are essentially two-in-one. The Metro MountainCard acts as a Big Lift card at Hunter, and a Triple Play card at Mountain Creek. The cardholder is entitled to three lift tickets at Mountain Creek, a free unlimited lift ticket at Hunter Mountain, and Big Lift Card season-long savings.

The sale marks Hunter Mountain and Mountain Creek’s first partnership.

“We’re glad to be offering the opportunity for skiers and riders to take advantage of two mountains close to the New York metropolitan area,” says Rob Megnin, Hunter’s marketing director. “It’s a great deal for area residents.”

Calling All Artists! In cooperation with the National Ski Areas Association National Safety Awareness Week, Jan. 13-19, Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont is seeking entries for a Kids’ Safety Poster contest. First prize will be a Sobe Snowboard, and other prizes will be awarded in selected categories.

According to Bonnie MacPherson of Okemo, the poster contest is open to all elementary school students, and the theme of the poster must relate to one of the seven points in “Your Responsibility Code” or any of the three “Smart Style”elements. Official entry forms are available at Okemo, or at www.nsaa.org.

Children may use pencil, crayon, paint or any other two-dimensional medium. Name, age, address and phone number of the artist must appear on the official entry form or on the back of each entry. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 5.

Winning entries will be posted at www.okemo.com, and the top winning poster will be entered in a national contest.

New Home for Maine’s Ski Museum. After many years of planning, the Ski Museum of Maine has a new home in the newly-restored Church Street Commons in Farmington. The new facility will allow the Ski Museum of Maine to display and store its collections of ski history from Maine.

The first exhibit of the museum will focus on ski equipment, gear and apparel made in Maine. In the 1930s and 1940s Maine had a major role in manufacturing skis and boots. The exhibit will showcase these products and marketing materials from that era.

For more information, call Megan Roberts, the museum’s consulting curator, at 207-491-5481.

Ski & Snowboard Camps for Teens. Struggling with what to give the teenager on your Christmas list this year? Waterville Valley ski area in New Hampshire presents two winter fun ideas sure to please any teen snowboarder or skier in the family – a day camp for snowboarders ages 9 and up, and a one-day girls all-star snow camp.

The boys’ camp is open to youngsters who already have some riding experience and who are now ready to learn how to ride a park. Camps will be offered every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., beginning Dec. 30, at Waterville Valley’s new Burton Progression Park. Each camp session is two hours. Cost, with Burton snowboard rental and a lower mountain lift ticket, is $99 for teens and $94 for juniors (9 to 12).

The Roxy-sponsored all-star snow camps are opportunities for girls who want to be peers while learning freestyle skiing and snowboarding tricks from mountain instructors and world-class Roxy athletes.

Waterville Valley Roxy Camps are for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, and take place on a variety of mountain terrain and in the terrain park. Cost is $89, and includes a lift ticket, all-day coaching, Roxy goodie bags, lunch and a raffle of the latest goods and gear from Roxy.

For more information, call Waterville Valley Snowsports at 603-236-8311, ext. 3136, or visit the ski area at www.waterville.com.