SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX | NOVEMBER 12, 2010
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THE BOSTON PHOENIX | SKI + SNOWBOARD GUIDE | NOVEMBER 12, 2010 5
WHITE OUT FROM BUNNY SLOPES TO BLACK DIAMONDS : A GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND’S SKI RESORTS
A M A N DA B O U C H E R
_ BY G E O F F R EY KU L A
B
Like many New Englanders of a certain age, I grew up skiing the mountains of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, until Jake Burton ushered in a new era of winter-sports fun. Already deeply entrenched in the skateboarding lifestyle, I readily hung up my skis for a snowboard, only to learn that this newfangled contraption wasn’t welcome at some of the ski resorts I knew so well. Banned from the places that saw snowboarders as a reckless and rowdy bunch — and the sport as a passing trend — my friends and I struck out for the local mountains that would have us. Thankfully, those days are ancient history, and now a mountain without a halfpipe and an assortment of rails is as rare as an asymmetrical snowboard or a pair of non-parabolic skis. Whether you’re just starting out and seeking the safety of a bunny slope or an expert looking for that next adrenaline rush, New England offers something for everyone. Enjoy this guide to some of the best riding the region has to offer.
B WHERE TO GO SNOWBOARDING/ DOWNHILL SKIING
GREEN CIRCLE/BEGINNER BLUE HILLS SKI AREA The closest thing to having a winter wonderland in your own backyard, the William F. Rogers Ski Slopes on Great Blue Hill are a city slicker’s best friend. If Mother Nature’s lagging, 90 percent of the 60 acres of terrain are covered by man-made snow, and more than half of the 12 trails are lit for night riding. There are separate areas for beginners, mid-tier skiers/boarders, and parks and pipes riders, as well as private and group lessons — everything you need to change your outlook on winter!
Canton, MA | ski-bluehills.com | 781.828.5070 NASHOBA VALLEY Nashoba Valley claims 17 trails (the number used to be higher), even though anyone standing and looking at the 240-foot hillside — roughly one-third the height of the Prudential Tower — would have trouble figuring out where some of Continued on p 6
6 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBOARD GUIDE | THE BOSTON PHOENIX
Continued from p 5
them end and others begin. Still, it’s a learner’s paradise, with clearly demarcated areas for each skill level, serviced by their own lifts. That, the location, private and group lessons, and half-day as well as nighttime tickets make this one of the most convenient places around to learn how to ski or ride.
Westford, MA | skinashoba.com | 978.692.3033 WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN As a kid, my afterschool ski program brought us to Wachusett Mountain once a week for night skiing winter after winter. It’s a decent place for beginners and intermediate skiers/riders alike. Granted, it also has a few black-diamond trails and a vertical of 1000 feet, but truth be told, its proximity is its greatest asset. Which is precisely why my friends and I would leave the house at 5:30 am on Saturdays to get to New Hampshire’s White Mountains in time for first runs.
Princeton, MA | wachusett.com | 978.464.2300
BLUE SQUARE/INTERMEDIATE BRETTON WOODS MOUNTAIN RESORT The Granite State’s largest ski area, Bretton Woods features four terrain parks and 101 trails on 434 acres, including intermittent tree runs and the Rosebrook Canyon Glades, a large free-riding area with patches of heavier maintenance than might typically be expected of “backcountry” terrain, although it still provides plenty of opportunities to sit in the back seat as you plow through the powder. Snowmaking covers 92 percent of the mountain, so you can ride morning, noon, and night whether Old Man Winter is doing his job or not.
steepest mogul run in New England, Killington is a proving ground, as the annual rotation of contests the mountain hosts attests. One of them, the Winter Dew Tour, stops by on January 20–23.
Killington, VT | killington.com | 802.422.3333 SUGARLOAF With the first double-blackdiamond trails in New England, Sugarloaf had an early lead carving a niche out for itself with the core winter-sports set. It’s a fun, challenging mountain with 54 miles of trails, three terrain parks, a superpipe, and separate snowboard-cross and skiercross courses designed by two-time Olympic snowboard-cross gold medalist Seth Wescott. Maine’s second-highest peak sees an average of 200 inches of snow each year and celebrates its 60th anniversary on January 8.
Carrabassett Valley, ME | sugarloaf.com | 800.THE.LOAF SUNDAY RIVER Sunday River offers skiers and snowboarders eight interconnected peaks featuring a hearty selection of double black diamonds and open bowls among its 132 trails and terrain parks, so you never have to ride the same run twice. The mountain has done a good job of clustering trails together by skill level, so you shouldn’t run across (or over) beginners while stomping through White Heat’s moguls or tackling Locke Mountain runs. Additionally, a superpipe and four terrain parks provide ample opportunity for trick riders to jib, bonk, and air to their hearts’ content.
Newry, ME | sundayriver.com | 800.543.2754
WATERVILLE VALLEY RESORT Assuming you don’t mind the two-hour drive from Boston, Waterville is a readily accessible mountain that provides exceptional bang for your buck. I should know: I skied here so often in high school, I should have owned stock in the mountain. Its 52 trails span 259 acres — all of which are covered by snow guns — and include terrain parks, a superpipe, and tree skiing. Admittedly, the lift lines can get a bit horrendous on the weekends, despite seven chairlifts, but that’s what mid-week lift tickets are for. Also, the two double-black-diamond trails here are mogul runs, so you’re either going to be totally stoked or your knees will hate you by lunchtime.
TUCKERMAN RAVINE While double black diamonds are popping up at more and more New England resorts, it’s at Tuckerman Ravine you need to worry about an avalanche ruining your session. Notably, there’s no chairlift (or any other services, really); hardcore riders hike 2.4 miles to the base, and from there, you still have to hike to the top of the headwall to take your run down the 600-foot descent, which features pitches as steep as 55 degrees. Along the way, you’ll have to navigate ravines and cliff drops, and dodge the random rock outcropping. Not extreme enough for you? From the headwall, you can actually hike to the summit of Mt. Washington and start your run from there. Its location on the highest peak in the state means snow sticks around well into the spring, so you can spend your entire season prepping for this monumental challenge.
Waterville Valley, NH | waterville.com | 603.236.8311
North Conway, NH | timefortuckerman.com | 604.366.2727
Bretton Woods, NH | brettonwoods.com | 800.314.1752
BLACK DIAMOND/EXPERT JAY PEAK RESORT Less than seven miles from the Canadian border, Jay Peak offers more than 100 acres of off-piste terrain, the most in New England. An average annual snowfall of 379 inches makes a true backcountry riding experience possible, and it will only take one run bombing through the trees to understand why it’s far superior to carving S’s among the masses on any trail. Another defining feature: Jay Peak has Vermont’s only aerial tramway. Absolutely worth the drive, and easy to roll into a road trip to Montreal.
Jay, VT | jaypeakresort.com | 802.988.2611 KILLINGTON MOUNTAIN Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area, the largest winter-sports complex on the East Coast, boasts more than 87 miles of trails serviced by the region’s highest-capacity lift system, so you’ll spend more time on the slopes than in line for the gondola. With five ski and snowboard terrain parks — one of which is the largest snowboard park in the northeast — and double black diamonds including the
athletic field. Both the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton and the Middlesex Fells Reservation’s numerous suburban parks offer trails. Golf courses provide fairways with plenty of room to perfect your stride, as well as hills that will test your herringbone on the way up and your balance on the descent. And did I mention there’s no greens fee?
B CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
In the elite group of sports that burn the most calories per hour and work every major muscle group, cross-country skiing is right up there with swimming, rowing, and running. As a kid, I didn’t know any of this; I just thought it was a fun way to get around in the snow. A low-impact activity — assuming you don’t fall down much — it won’t stress your joints or lead to a painful end of a 26.2-mile day.
B WHERE TO GO CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE Pretty much anywhere there’s snow. If you’re dipping your toe into the XC-skiing pool, you needn’t shell out cash to break in a trail or follow along in someone else’s tracks. Wherever there’s snow is fair game: any city or state park, municipal golf course, town square, or
mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/blue.htm | 617.698.1802
IF YOU’RE DIPPING YOUR TOE INTO THE XC-SKIING POOL, WHEREVER THERE’S SNOW IS FAIR GAME
WESTON SKI TRACK With conveniences like night skiing, on- and off-site rentals, lessons, a snack bar, and groomed skate and classical trails, the Weston Ski Track is a great place to learn. Close to Boston and semi-accessible by public transportation (it’s about a 20-minute walk from Riverside), this is a unique resource for urban winter-sports enthusiasts. Snowmaking covers 1.2 miles of the nine miles of trails here, so as long as the mercury cooperates, you’ll have somewhere to go even if the snow isn’t falling.
Weston, MA | skiboston.com/skitrack/skitrack. php | 781.891.6575
INTERMEDIATE/EXPERT BRETTON WOODS NORDIC CENTER Nestled among the White Mountains along New Hampshire’s scenic Kancamagus Highway, the Bretton Woods Nordic Center offers 60 miles of trails, the vast majority of which are groomed and tracked. This includes approximately seven miles of dog-friendly routes, so you don’t have to leave Fido in the car or in your roommate’s care while you’re out enjoying the view. The adjacent, historic Mount Washington Hotel makes for an excellent après-ski stop or weekend getaway. If this place doesn’t wow you, a trip to the Rockies is in order.
Bretton Woods, NH | brettonwoods.com/ winter_sports/nordic/overview | 800.314.1752
TELEMARK SKIING Essentially cross-country skis on steroids, telemark skis combine the best of both worlds: a free heel enables touring across flatlands, while stiffer boots and the more robust design of a downhill ski lets skiers kneel into and through their turns on terrain most XC skiers would fear to tread. Additionally, telemark skiers can slip on “skins” to become Spider-Man on skis and thwart their mortal enemy, the Very Steep Slope! Once a marginalized fringe of the winter-sports set, telemark skiing has seen a resurgence as of late, and with it, a number of events to celebrate the sport, including: THE 36TH ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN TELEMARK FESTIVAL The world’s largest and longest-running gathering of telemark skiers, this weekend features demos, clinics, and contests, as well as the annual world-record-telemark-groupturn attempt.
March 12–13 | Mad River Glen | Fayston, VT | madriverglen.com | 802.496.3551 THE GUNSTOCK CLASSIC TELEMARK RACE Demos, lessons, and the races make this a day worth coming out for.
February 26 | Gunstock Mountain Resort | Gilford, NH | netelemark.com/gunstock.htm | 603.356.8177 THE REGGAE TELEMARK FESTIVAL Praise Jah! You heard dem right, mon . . . Reggae in da mountains! While you won’t be seeing Sizzla on the slopes, you’ll enjoy the camaraderie of fellow free-heelers throughout the day’s activities, which are capped with a mountainside concert.
March 19 | Bretton Woods Nordic Center | Bretton Woods, NH | netelemark.com/reggae_ fest.htm | 603.356.8177
2010 / 2011
New Wicked Long Ski Weekends at Waterville Valley turn your weekend into a mini vacation thanks to a wicked early 12:30p.m. Friday check in and extra late 3p.m. Sunday checkout. Ski and ride all you want in between. Add a Sunday Stayover? Add a Sunday night stay to any weekend Ski & Stay Deal for 50% off lodging. Monday is also 50% off adult lift ticket prices with the famous Wheel of Deals spinning (starts January 3, 2011). More Great Deals This Season! “SNOW”vember/December, Middle of the Week Escapes, Ring in 2011 & Kids Ski Free Weekends, MA School Break 3rd Night Free, NH School Break Kids Ski Free, and Spring It On.
“Every sport has its Mecca; the stadiums, race tracks or ball parks against which everything else is judged... Skiing has them too... There’s an agelessness to the place.
All Ski & Stay Deals include access to the White Mountain Athletic Club,
Mad River Glen is an institution...”
skating at the indoor Waterville Valley Ice Arena, use of the shuttle bus and extra late Sunday checkouts.
Powder Magazine
Book @ waterville.com or call 1–800–GO–VALLEY
Photo credit: Michael Riddell
Ski & Stay Deals are not offered during holiday periods unless noted and are subject to availability
www.madriverglen.com
THE BOSTON PHOENIX | SKI + SNOWBOARD GUIDE | NOVEMBER 12, 2010 9
WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER LOCAL HORROR DIRECTOR ADAM GREEN SHARES FROZEN NUGGETS OF SKI WISDOM _ BY A LE X A N D R A C AVA L LO
B
We caught up with Holliston-born filmmaker Adam Green (Hatchet, Hatchet 2) on the phone from his new home in LA (where he was dismayed to find they have neither Dunkin’ Donuts or Fluff) to talk about his 2009 skisurvival thriller, Frozen. The film tells the story of three college kids left for dead on a rickety New England chairlift . . . YOUR PAST MOVIES HAVE BEEN SLASHER FILMS. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE A MOVIE LIKE FROZEN? Growing up skiing in New England, Frozen was something that I had thought about pretty much every time I had ever gone skiing. I think every skier has kind of thought of this before, you know, whenever you’re on the lift and it stops, you kind of worry about it. So it was sort of taking all the worst possible scenarios and making a movie that’s truly terrifying, and not something that’s, like, killing and blood and guts and totally fantastical. RIGHT, I WAS THINKING I COULD TOTALLY RELATE. Right. And if you do a search, it’s happened a bunch of times. And actually, the week that Frozen was first in theaters in America there was a guy in Russia that the exact scenario happened to. They rescued him the next morning. He was lighting his money on fire and throwing it up into the air and somebody saw it. He had severe hypothermia. But yeah, somebody just didn’t do their job right and he got left.
More Shred, Less Dead HOW TO LEAVE THE SLOPES IN ONE PIECE
Don’t want to end up as ski-tartare for ravenous wolves, with a case of stage-three hypothermia, or forced to use your own tibia as a crutch to hobble down to base lodge? Here are a few (mostly) fail-safe SKI DON’TS to abide when you go out to shred some fresh powder. F DON’T forget that it’s called “après ski” for a reason. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a frosty brew or three after a long day on the slopes (and, in fact, most skiers would argue it’s compulsory), but it’s safe to say that strapping one on before strapping yourself to a pair of slippery boards and hurling yourself down a mountain is just plain irresponsible. While we’re on the subject, DON’T go ordering yourself any fruity cocktails at the skilodge bar. Après ski is for heady lagers and heady lagers alone. It is a mountain sport, after all. F DON’T be embarrassed to wear a helmet. True, there was a time that people thought that skiers
in helmets looked douchey. But now you’re a douche (and an idiot) if you don’t don some protective headgear. Helmets are right up there with gloves on the list of necessary ski apparel these days. And you’re really going to need it if you choose to ignore the previous DON’T. F DON’T ski in jeans. It says, “I’m from New Jersey.” It’s always said, “I’m from New Jersey.” It always will say, “I’m from New Jersey.” On a safety note, your ass is going to get really freaking wet and cold from all those wipe-outs. (If you’re wearing jeans on a ski mountain, we assume that it’s your first time . . . Jersey.)
F DON’T ski or board with headphones on. We know it’s tempting to pump some chill tunes through your iPod as you’re shredding up the mountain. It helps get you in the groove (and makes you feel like you’re starring in your own personal demo video, just saying) but it also renders you completely unaware of your surroundings. And you’re going to want to hear that huge dude coming up behind you (the one in the jeans) flailing his ski poles and screaming, “On your left, on your left!” F DON’T be that guy. The guy who taunts less-experienced riders from the lift, leaves the chairlift safety bar up to prove what a badass he is, and thinks it’s funny to spray fellow skiers with ice pellets as he cuts his turns way too close in some lame approximation of humor. It’s not funny. And if you don’t fall off the lift or eat it as you ride irresponsibly, you might just get punched in the face. DON’T think you won’t. _AC
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOUNTAIN AS A KID? Wachusett and Nashoba Valley were probably the two biggest, but I learned to ski at a place called Ward Hill, which is sort of just a big mound of snow. But Wachusett was where I really grew up skiing, and in the movie they actually do say at one point, “We should have gone to Wachusett.” HAVE YOU EVER SNOWBOARDED? No, I haven’t. In fact, I stopped skiing after high school, because of the idea for Frozen, basically. And I was never really good enough, either. I was always really terrified the whole time I was doing it. I’d always be thinking, “Why I am strapping myself to wooden boards and sliding down a mountain?” Like, I have no athletic ability whatsoever — I should not be doing this! THERE ARE A LOT OF MASSACHUSETTS REFERENCES IN THE FILM. THE CHARACTERS KEPT SAYING “WICKED,” AND THERE WAS THAT DIRTY JOKE ABOUT THE GIRL FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE. [WHAT DID THE GIRL FROM NH SAY TO HER DAD WHEN SHE LOST HER VIRGINITY? “GET OFF ME, YOU’RE CRUSHING MY MARLBOROS.”] WAS YOUR AIM FOR PEOPLE FROM NEW ENGLAND, ESPECIALLY, TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH THE MOVIE? Yeah, and I do that with all of my movies. I always have Newbury Comics in there because that was the store where I grew up buying all of my comics and movies and music. And any way I can get a reference to home in, I like doing it. And it’s always fun to hear from people in that area that they caught it. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVIE, THE CHARACTERS SCAM THEIR WAY ONTO THE LIFT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU USED TO DO AS A BROKE KID WHO WANTED TO SKI? I only personally did it once when I was severely, severely broke, but it was more other people I was with, it was their scam that they did all the time. OF COURSE, BLAME IT ON SOMEBODY ELSE. Well, I felt too guilty! I actually told my parents when I came home, and I got in Continued on p 10
10 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBOARD GUIDE | THE BOSTON PHOENIX
FROZEN These kids aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Continued from p 9
so much trouble. And that’s also horrormovie logic, that if you do something wrong, you get punished. Even down to the fact that Parker is a smoker and that’s what leads to her glove getting lost and a lot of what she goes through. I READ THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY THREW UP AND FAINTED WHEN THE MOVIE SCREENED AT SUNDANCE. IS THAT TRUE? Yeah, that’s true. Even opening weekend, there was a guy in Boston, who went to the AMC downtown, and he fainted in the bathroom and cracked his head open and sent me the pictures of it and everything. I felt bad on one hand, but on the other hand, it’s kind of cool that you can affect people like that. And I think because the movie is realistic it gets you on another level than if you’re watching just blood and guts and killing like in something like Hatchet. I IMAGINE THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SCENE WHERE DAN WAS BEING TORN APART BY WOLVES? It was funny, the first time we ever played the movie was in Austin, Texas, at this thing called Butt-Numb-AThon. And when Frozen started everybody thought it was a comedy, because they had no idea what was going to happen, they had never even heard of it. And once they got stuck, the panic going through that audience . . . people were just getting so uncomfortable. And then in Sundance, the first screening we had two faintings, and the second we had a few people throw up. I think we only had one screening out of the five where nothing happened. I’VE NEVER HEARD OF OR SEEN A WOLF AROUND THE SLOPES IN ALL THE YEARS I’VE BEEN SKIING . . . There was a gray wolf, I think it was in Vermont, we found it on espn.com, the wolf had attacked a kid on a snowboard. And he didn’t hurt him or anything, the kid just kept swinging his snowboard and eventually it left. And it’s
not very common, but if you do a search, there are wolf attacks out there. So this is obviously a worst-case scenario where not only is there a guy bleeding out on a mountain that’s going to be closed for five days, but it’s also the dead of winter, and food is scarce, and so everything the wolves do in the movie is how wolves would really act. HAVE YOU EVER FALLEN OFF OF A LIFT? No, I’ve never fallen off of a lift, and even when we were scouting, a lot of the lifts don’t ever get that high. Another true story is when we were scouting, there was myself, my director of photography, and a person from the mountain going up this old, rickety chairlift that they don’t use anymore, or they only use it on weekends, or something, at Snow Basin. And right when we hit this one spot I looked down and saw this huge drop, and instead of saying, “This is where we’re going to shoot the movie” or “This is where they get stuck,” I said “This is where they’re going to die.” And then the chair stopped. And everyone was laughing like, oh this is so crazy, it’s weird, but toward the end of shooting, my stunt coordinator came up to me and said, “Oh you know, you’re really sicker than I thought.” And they proceed to tell me that like a year before, there was this guy that either worked at the mountain or was dating someone that worked at the mountain, he went there and climbed up the pole, and out onto a chair in the middle of the night, and killed himself. And it was right in the spot where we shot the movie, where the chair stopped and I said, “This is where they die.” DO YOU HAVE ANY SKI SAFETY TIPS TO SHARE? Yeah, don’t jump off the lift, don’t lie to anybody about getting your tickets, and um, if they’re telling you that they’re closing because of weather: go home. AND DON’T SMOKE? Yes, don’t smoke, don’t lie, and just follow the rules. ^
12 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBOARD GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
SNOW JOB IT’S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE _BY BRI AN M c FAD D E N
New England’s Preferred Ski Lodges
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Loon Weekend Ski & Stay CANNON Weekend Ski & Stay From $142.50 PP/DO*
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*PLEASE NOTE: Not Valid Holidays or Feb. Vacation Weeks. Does NOT include Tax or Gratuities. Subject to Change.
AT
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51 Hannaford Square Bennington, VT 05201 P: 802.440.9862 F: 802.440.9864
Large Townhomes in Mount Snow Vermont
The Hermitage, an elegant country inn at the base of Mount Snow, provides charming accommodations and countless amenities that are sure to complete any skiing or snowboarding excursion. For more information go to www.hermitageinn.com or call 877.464.3511 25 Handle Road, West Dover, VT 05356
Mention “Boston Ski Show” for lodging Discounts www.timbercreek-vt.com
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16 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBOARD GUIDE | THE BOSTON PHOENIX
PEELING THE POWER BANANA
THE EXPERTS GIVE US THEIR PICKS FOR THIS YEAR’S BEST GEAR _ BY M I C H A EL C . WA L S H
B
Winter sports aren’t cheap. Between travel expenses, lift tickets, and those ridiculously overpriced sandwiches in the lodge, even a day trip can run you a pretty penny. And if you’re an aficionado who’ll essentially be taking up residence on your favorite mountain for the foreseeable future, you may want to consider a financial planner.
NORDICA HOT ROD IGNITER TI SKIS WITH X-BALANCE BINDINGs | $699.99
DALBELLO KRYPTON CROSS | $579.99
BURTON CARTEL EST BINDINGS | $259.95
But the hit that can most severely wipe out your pockets? That would be gear. While it’s hard for most to justify spending a couple stacks on something that basically equates to a hobby, those of you who fall into the fanatic category need not be reminded of the importance of reliable equipment. Having a set-up that works for you can make the difference between an unbelievable and an unbelievably shitty day at the mountain — especially here in the Northeast, where we’re not graced with blankets of powder for six months of the year. Well, since we here at the Phoenix love nothing more than saving you time and money, we took to a couple of our favorite local proprietors of all-things-snow to help break down some trending technologies for the 2010–’11 season. Peter Lieberman from Centre Ski and Bike of Watertown (soon to be of Newton) offers up the newest of new in the world of skis, boots, and bindings. And Brian Fiske of Eastern Boarder’s Nashua shop gives us the rundown on what you should be looking for when buying a board — whether you frequent greens, blacks, or half pipes — and also discusses a new, potentially game-changing binding system from Burton. So let’s step aside and let the experts take over from here.
B PETER LIEBERMAN OWNER — CENTRE SKI AND BIKE, WATERTOWN (RELOCATING TO NEWTON) K2 SWEET LUV WOMEN’S SKIS WITH BINDINGS | $499.99 One of the new features that is appearing this season is what’s called rockering. Instead of the normal ordinary arched camber, the skis will have a little bit of an upturn. The effect of this is to heighten and increase the ease of turning because it gives
OUR EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON THE NEWEST OF NEW IN THE WORLD OF SKIS, BOOTS, BINDINGS, AND BOARDS
a different weight distribution on the ski. This is just appearing this year for the first time. That is probably the single most salient difference that applies to both ski and snowboard. A number of manufacturers have introduced it. K2 is one of the leading ones. You can find it in Rossignol as well. It doesn’t apply to every ski because it’s more relevant to helping skiers at a certain level — the better skiers are going to get less benefits. DALBELLO KRYPTON CROSS | $579.99 Dalbello is capitalizing on their earlier models of boots to bring down the line some of the benefits of some of the higher-line boots that had previously only been available at the top. It’s based on an older Dalbello design known as the Flexon, but it’s been improved and upgraded, so it provides a level of heel hold and flexibility longitudinally while still being increasingly stiff laterally, which is what the skier who skis shaped skis wants. As they lean laterally, they want the arch of the shape to engage with the mountain and make their ski turn as effortlessly as thinking about it. And it only has three buckles, so the middle buckle has an incredible capability of latching a skier’s heel into the heel pocket of the boot. NORDICA HOT ROD IGNITER TI SKIS WITH X-BALANCE BINDINGS | $699.99 A few years ago, Nordica brought out a binding system which is still in use. They don’t claim it makes you a better skier; they say it makes you a better balanced skier. And it’s a system where the heel of the binding is also latched onto the toe, and vice versa. So if the skier tends to get too far in the backseat — when that happens to me, I usually wind up wiping the snow off my face. But this system, which has that cross-lateral anchoring,
THE BOSTON PHOENIX | SKI + SNOWBOARD GUIDE | NOVEMBER 12, 2010 17
transfers that backseat weight to the front, and it saves you. The toe piece is also anchored onto the heel. You get a little too far forward? It provides some pressure on the tail to help it still track reliably.
B BRIAN FISKE ASST. MANAGER — EASTERN BOARDER, NASHUA, NH BURTON RATION | $299.99 This is a new board for Burton this year, and it’s one of the cheaper boards we have for men. It’s a good-looking board. They went for a plain graphic, plain top sheet, plain base, which is appealing to a lot of people. And basically, this board is designed to do a couple of things: be cost-effective, easy to ride, and really fun for the customer. Because the snowboard is a soft flexing board, it makes it easy to turn. So when you make a mistake, the board doesn’t want to dictate as much and put you on your knees or back. An easier-going board is softer-flexing, tip to tail and side to side. It allows for forgiveness. It keeps you on your feet, and it also inspires confidence. At the same time, snowboarding is also freestyle-driven; and with a lot of the smaller mountains we have around here, you get bored and you wind up at the park, hitting boxes, rails, and maybe some of the jumps. What functions well in the park, especially for boxes and rails, is the same type of soft, easily manipulated board to have the board lock on and then try to spin out, which also makes this board good for a mid-weighted park kid. It doesn’t have to be a board that functions on steep or icy technical conditions.
They’re using higher-end wood core, making it super light and springy. They’ve been trying to fine-tune the reverse camber into a nice, happy medium, so it rides catch-free, you have grip in the tip and the tail, and ollie power. So this board has Lib Tech’s C2 Power Banana, so it’s going to be a rocker between the feet; but as we start to get out to the tip and the tail, they start to roll it back to the snow a little bit, basically going back to a camber shape, back to an aggressive, high-end freestyle. They ride huge jumps, back country — this isn’t rails and parks anymore. This board also has Magna Traction, a slightly serrated edge, for a more effective edge in a shorter length. This gets some of the pressure from the tip and the tail contact points down to your feet where the weight is, distributing the pressure more evenly. BURTON CARTEL EST BINDINGS | $259.95 I’m not positive this is good for every rider out there, but my experience with these bindings has been good. You’ve got a binding that flexes with the board as you’re turning, and you’ve also got a nice pad underneath your foot, instead of having a hard base plate. You can put it on the screw, not tighten it down, get your feet in, and just dial your stance in completely. If you’re on the hill, you can loosen the two screws and slide your binding in while looking at your reference point. You can go half an inch back if it’s a powder day without taking your binding off. Typically, to change your stance, you have to take your screws off — even to spin your angle, which isn’t fun if it’s 20 degrees and windy. ^
CAPITA INDOOR SURVIVAL | $399 This is a cambered board, meaning it’s rising up in the middle if you look at it, with the contact CAPITA INDOOR points at the tip and the tail. This SURVIVAL | $399 would function well as an allmountain board for an advanced intermediate boarder. They need a little more than the baseline. LIB TECH TRAVIS If you want to start riding faster, RICE BTX | $538.95 you start beefing the board up. They make it stiffer tip to tail and torsionally. A person who is a little more confident gets a little more out of the board because of it. Because it’s a little stiffer, if you put a little more into the board, the board gives a little more back. You get more energy and a board that doesn’t want to fade out on ice. The tail loads up with more spring. So as we start to push the levels, they put some carbon-fiber stringers and some fiberglass on top. And a twin-tip shape, meaning the tip is the same as the tail. A board at this price level, for the most part, is the kind of board that’ll work for anybody. You can take an advanced rider, who realizes that they can’t push it to the ultimate limit, and really have a great season on a board that costs about $400. You can take somebody that’s not quite there yet, but is going to get there, and put them on a board like that and give them room to grow, and by the end of the season, they’d really adapt to it and have a great season. LIB TECH TRAVIS RICE BTX | $538.95 There aren’t too many pro models in snowboarding any more, but Travis is huge. There’s a few different things going on with this board. A full wood core with fiberglass on top, but with a tri-axle weave. Three layers of fiberglass. More torsional stiffness.
D R A O B W O SKI+SN LISTINGS 18 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBAORD GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
TS, FOR MORE SKI LISTINGS AND EVENSKI GO TO THEPHOENIX.COM/
DOWNHILL MASSACHUSETTS BERKSHIRE EAST South River Rd, Charlemont | 413.339.6617 | berkshireeast.com | A variety of family-friendly terrain located alongside the Deerfield River. Berkshire East has two fullservice lodges, a ski school, racing, and tubing. VERTICAL DROP 1180 feet TRAILS 45 total; 30 percent novice, 35 percent intermediate, 35 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two surface lifts, one double chair, two triple chairs, one quad HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4:30 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; night skiing Wed through Sat 4 to 10 pm RATES weekdays $35, seniors $25; weekends and holidays adults $55, juniors/seniors $35, students $45; half-day afternoon adults $40, juniors/seniors $25, students $30; night $25 all ages RENTALS skis full-day $30, half-day
$20, snowboards full-day $35, half-day $25 INSTRUCTION group lessons (ages eight and up) $30 an hour; private lessons $60 an hour, $30 per additional person BLANDFORD SKI AREA 41 Nye Brook Rd, Blandford | 413.848.2860 | skiblandford. org | Operated by the Springfield Ski Club, 76-year-old Blandford is the oldest continuously run clubowned ski area in North America. VERTICAL DROP 465 feet TRAILS 22 total; six novice, 11 intermediate, five expert SNOWBOARDING two terrain parks SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS three double chairs, one multi-lift, one magic carpet HOURS Fri through Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm, with night skiing in Jan and Feb RATES season passes $99 to $349; individual day rates $15 to $45, based on skier’s age, holiday/ non-holiday, and area coverage RENTALS ski or snowboard package $24 adults, $19 juniors; skis only $15; snowboard only $17; ski boots only $7; snowboard boots only $8; poles only $3 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35, juniors $27; private lessons $65, $30 per additional guest
CATAMOUNT SKI AREA Rte 23, South Egremont | 413.528.1262 | catamountski. com | Half the lifts are in Massachusetts; the others are over the border in New York. Child care available. VERTICAL DROP 1000 feet TRAILS 32 trails and park areas: 10 novice, 10 intermediate, and 12 expert, including half-pipe and park; 15 trails open for night skiing SNOWBOARDING snowboard park with 400-foot half-pipe, junior jib park, and boardercross with jumps SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS six lifts total: quad lift, triple lift, two double lifts, wonder carpet, handle tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 9 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $27, kids $10; weekends and holidays $59, kids $25 RENTALS used and new available, call for details INSTRUCTION private lessons $90 an hour; group lessons $35 for an hour and a half; Ski School $90 full day, $65 half day; STRIDE Adaptive skiing lessons available
JIMINY PEAK 37 Corey Rd, Hancock | 413.738.5500 | jiminypeak.com | Call 413.738.7325 or 888.454.6469, or check Web site, for snow conditions. Amenities include a children’s center and a tavern. Also offers non-skiing activities like tubing and the Winter Mountain Coaster. VERTICAL DROP 1150 feet TRAILS 45 total, about one-quarter novice, half intermediate, onequarter expert; longest trail is two miles SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks (two big, one small), one glade trail, mogul runs SNOWMAKING 96 percent LIFTS one six-passenger high-speed, two quads, three triples, one double, two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 10 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 10 pm RATES full day adults $59, teens $51, juniors/seniors $44; half day adults $55, teens $47, juniors/ seniors $40; twilight hours $39; holiday prices vary RENTALS ski or snowboard package $36 full day, $33 half day; helmets $10; wristguards free INSTRUCTION group lessons start at $44 for 90 minutes; beginner
MOST SKIING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
ski packages start at $74; private lessons start at $95, $70 per extra person NASHOBA VALLEY SKI AREA 79 Powers Rd, Westford | 978.692.3033 | skinashoba. com | Call 800.400.7669 for snow conditions. Ski school, tubing park, and ski and snowboard shop at base. Outlook Restaurant open for lunch and dinner Sun through Fri and for dinner on Sat. VERTICAL DROP 240 feet TRAILS 17 total; three novice, eight intermediate, six expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS three triples, one double, three rope tows, and two conveyors HOURS weekdays 9 am to 10 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 10 pm RATES weekdays $36, kids under 12 $34, kids under five $20; weekends and holidays adults $46, kids under 12 $44, kids under five $20; half-day and night skiing is discounted RENTALS ski or snowboard package $32; demos $42; skis for children ages five and under $23; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION private lessons $80 an hour, $40 per additional person; group lessons $40 an
hour; rental and lesson packages and race training also available SKI BRADFORD South Cross Rd, Haverhill | 866.644.7669 | skibradford.com | Just minutes from Boston and the North Shore, Ski Bradford has an uphill capacity of 9600 skiers per hour. Lessons for all ages and abilities, racing, complete rental shop, full-service snack bar, large base lodge, ample parking, and more than 80 hours of operation per week. VERTICAL DROP 248 feet TRAILS 15 total: three beginner, four intermediate, eight expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park with jumps, rails, boxes, and events and competitions throughout the season SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS three triple chair lifts, one Tbar, and three rope tows HOURS weekdays 8:30 am to 6 pm; weekends, school vacation, and holidays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; nights Mon through Sat 6 to 10 pm RATES weekdays and twilight hours $30; nights $26; weekends $43; discounts for half days and learners
Continued on p 20
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Purchase your 4-NH College Pass for 2010–11 at THREEDOMPASS.COM
20 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBAORD GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
Continued from p 18 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $30, $25 half day or night; juniors $22, $18 half day INSTRUCTION group lesson $25; private lesson $70 SKI BUTTERNUT Rte 23, Great Barrington | 413.528.2000 | skibutternut.com | Call 800.438.7669 or check web site for snow conditions. Base includes a children’s nursery, clubhouse with locker rooms and cafeteria, upper lodge, sun deck, and ski rental, repair, and clothing shop. Also hosts a professional ski school and fivelane tubing center. Now offering private lessons for learning to ski on Telemark skis. VERTICAL DROP 1000 feet TRAILS 22 trails total, eight novice, eight intermediate, six expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks for different abilities with jumps, rails, boxes, and pipes SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS 10 total, including three quads and four carpets HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:15 am to 4 pm; tubing center open Sat 10 am to 8 pm and Sun 10 am to 5 pm RATES weekdays $25, $20 juniors/ seniors, $15 children; weekends $55, $45 juniors/seniors, $20 children; student discounts available; tubing $18 for two hours, any age RENTALS ski or snowboard package $35, $30 juniors, $20 children; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION group lessons $40; private lessons $90 an hour, $50 per additional person; private Telemark lesson $90 an hour (by reservation only) WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN 499 Mountain Rd, Princeton | 978.464.2300 | wachusett. com | Wachusett, located about an hour from Boston, features NASTAR recreational racing (complete with bronze, silver, and gold medals) and is accessible by MBTA
commuter rail and free shuttle service. Call 800.SKI.1234 for ski conditions. VERTICAL DROP 1000 feet TRAILS 22 trails total; 30 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING snowboard-friendly resort with diverse terrain for all abilities SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two high-speed quads, two triple chairs, three carpets, one pony lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 10 pm, weekends 8 am to 10 pm RATES prime season weekdays $46, juniors/seniors $37, children $10; weekends $51, juniors/ seniors $37, children $10. Peak season $56, juniors/seniors $42, children $10 RENTALS full-day ski or snowboard package $32, $26 juniors/ seniors, $20 children, $10 helmets; half-day $27 adults, $21 juniors/seniors, $15 children; $8 helmets INSTRUCTION group lessons $35; private lessons $70 an hour; semiprivate $50 an hour
MAINE
BIG SQUAW MOUNTAIN Rte 15, Greenville | 207.695.1000 | bigsquawmountain. com | A scenic mountain resort in the Moosehead Lake Region with glades and trails designed by renowned trail designer Sel Hannah. VERTICAL DROP 1750 feet TRAILS 33 total: 33 percent novice, 33 percent intermediate, 34 percent expert SNOWBOARDING no terrain park, but snowboarders are welcome SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS one triple chair, one double chair, one T-bar, and one pony lift HOURS Fri through Sun 9 am to 4 pm and during vacation weeks RATES adults $25, seniors over 69 and children under four ski free
RENTALS ski or snowboard package $30 INSTRUCTION private lessons $30 an hour, group lessons $20 an hour BIGROCK 37 Graves Rd, Mars Hill | 207.425.6711 | bigrockmaine.com | Established in 1960, Bigrock Ski Area was purchased in 2000 by the Maine Winter Sports Center. Steps have been taken to make this family-friendly ski area ideal for learners. Its projected opening day is December 11. VERTICAL DROP 980 feet TRAILS 27 trails: 15 percent novice, 63 percent intermediate, 22 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 37 percent LIFTS one triple chair, one double chair, one poma lift, one carpet lift HOURS unavailable at press time; call for details RATES weekdays $25, juniors and seniors $20; weekends $30, $25 RENTALS ski and snowboard $20 INSTRUCTION group lessons $27, private lessons $20 BLACK MOUNTAIN OF MAINE 39 Glover Rd, Rumford | 207.364.8977 | skiblackmountain. org | A family-oriented ski area with snow tubing and ski racing (classical, slalom, and freestyle) throughout the season. VERTICAL DROP 1150 feet TRAILS 20 trails: five novice, six intermediate, and nine expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe and terrain park SNOWMAKING 90 percent LIFTS one T-bar, one handle tow, one double chair, one triple chair HOURS daily 9 am to 4 pm RATES adults $29, juniors/seniors $25, under five and over 75 free RENTALS full day $8, half day $6 INSTRUCTION runs several children’s ski programs throughout the season; prices vary CAMDEN SNOW BOWL Off Rte 1, Camden | 207.236.3438 | camdensnowbowl.com |
The ski area overlooks Penobscot Bay and includes areas to skate and tube slide, as well as a toboggan chute. VERTICAL DROP 850 feet TRAILS nine total: two novice, six intermediate, one expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 45 percent LIFTS two T-bars, one double chair, one surface lift HOURS Wed through Fri 10 am to 8 pm, Sat and Sun 9 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $22, $20 for students; weekends $33, $25 for students. Half-day and night rates also available. RENTALS ski and board packages $25 INSTRUCTION group lessons $24 for an hour and a half; private lessons $50 an hour MOUNT ABRAM 308 Howe Hill Rd, Greenwood | 207.875.5000 | mtabram.com | Boasts 650 acres of trails and glades and also features the longest tubing park in Maine (1325 feet!). VERTICAL DROP 1150 feet TRAILS 44 total: 10 novice, 22 intermediate, 12 expert SNOWBOARDING four freestyle terrain parks SNOWMAKING 75 percent LIFTS two double chairs, one T-bar, one handle tow HOURS Thurs through Sun 9 am to 4 pm RATES adults $49, seniors/juniors six through 12 $37. Thurs is two-for-one, and on “Caravan Fridays,” everyone seat-belted into a vehicle receives a lift ticket for the flat price of $75 RENTALS adult package $30, seniors/juniors $23 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35, private lessons $60 an hour MOUNT JEFFERSON Rte 6, Lee | 207.738.2377 | skimtjefferson.com | This small ski area in eastern Maine is family-friendly, affordable, and open for school vacations. Prices and hours are subject to change, so call ahead.
VERTICAL DROP 432 feet TRAILS 11 total: two novice, three intermediate, six expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe SNOWMAKING none LIFTS two T-bars, one rope tow HOURS Sat, Sun, school vacation days, and holidays 9 am to 4 pm RATES adults $17 full day, $12 half day; youth ages six through 12 $12 full day, $9 half; children five and under ski free when accompanied by a paying adult RENTALS skis $10, $8 for youth; snowboards $12 for all day, $8 for half day INSTRUCTION call for details SADDLEBACK SKI AND SUMMER LAKE PRESERVE Rte 4, Rangeley | 207.864.5671 | saddlebackmaine.com | The 12,000acre preserve includes Saddleback Mountain and Saddleback Lake. Glades and other “free” skiing opportunities challenge experts, but plenty of terrain is groomed and smooth for beginner and intermediate skiers. Backcountry cross-country trails available at no charge. Projected opening day is Dec 11. VERTICAL DROP 2000 feet TRAILS 66 trails and glades SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 85 percent LIFTS two quads, two double chairs, one T-bar HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $35; weekends $50, juniors seven through 18 and college students $39; seniors over 70 $5 and children under six free every day RENTALS adult ski or snowboard package $35, junior/senior ski or snowboard package $25 INSTRUCTION group lessons $39, private lessons $69 an hour SHAWNEE PEAK 119 Mountain Rd, Bridgton | 207.647.8444 | shawneepeak.com | Offers top-to-bottom night skiing on 19
trails, plus one of the largest pipe/ park combinations in New England. VERTICAL DROP 1300 feet TRAILS 44 total: 25 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 25 percent expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe, two terrain parks, and grommetgarden beginner’s park, all equipped with night lighting SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS one quad, two triple chairs, one double chair, and one surface lift HOURS Mon 9 am to 9 pm; Tues through Thurs 9:30 am to 8 pm; Fri 9 am to 10 pm; Sat 8:30 am to 10 pm; and Sun 8:30 am to 4:30 pm RATES weekdays $39, juniors/ seniors $32; weekends and holidays adults $56, juniors/ seniors $42 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $34 INSTRUCTION semi-private lessons $50 an hr, $60 for 90 minutes, $105 for three hours; private lessons $55 an hour, $75 for 90 minutes, $135 for three hours; first-timer packages and kids’ programs also available SUGARLOAF 5092 Sugarloaf Access Rd, Carrabassett Valley | sugarloaf.com | Sugarloaf is four hours away from both Montreal and Boston. Its summit is Maine’s second-highest peak, and its vertical drop is the most continuous in New England. Resort includes hotels, boutiques, restaurants, and a health club. VERTICAL DROP 2820 feet TRAILS 139 total: 25 percent novice, 32 percent intermediate, 28 percent advanced, 15 percent very advanced SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks, one superpipe, one half-pipe, one snow-boardcross course SNOWMAKING 95 percent LIFTS two superquads, two high capacity quads, one triple
Continued on p 22
22 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBAORD GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
Continued from p 20 chair, eight double chairs, two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 8:30 am to 3:50 pm; opens at 8 am on Sat and Sun RATES regular season $77, young adults $66, juniors/seniors $53; during “value season” (opening through mid-Dec and late March through close), $74, young adults $63, juniors/ seniors $51 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $39, $26 juniors/seniors INSTRUCTION one-day first-timer’s ski or snowboard lesson $80, group lessons $35 for 90 minutes. Private lessons $100 an hr between 10 am and 1 pm or $85 per hour, per person before 10 am or after 1 pm SUNDAY RIVER 15 South Ridge Rd, Newry | 207.824.3000 | sundayriver.com | Giant resort with 671 acres and eight interconnected mountains. Entertainment center features a lighted half-pipe, lighted ice-skating rink, teen center, restaurant, and nightclub. VERTICAL DROP 2340 feet TRAILS 132 total: 25 percent beginner, 35 percent intermediate, 40 percent novice SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks, a super-pipe, and a mini-pipe SNOWMAKING 92 percent LIFTS nine quad chairs (four highspeed detachables), four triple chairs, two double chairs, three surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm (subject to change) RATES adult $79; teen $67; junior/ senior $55 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $39 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35 for 90 minutes; private lessons $85 an hour
NEW HAMPSHIRE
ATTITASH MOUNTAIN RESORT Rte 302, Bartlett | 800.223.7669 | attitash.com | This season, Attitash Mountain Resort has added Wildcat Mountain to its family, giving Attitash guests two resorts for the price of one. Interchangeable tickets allow skiers and riders to enjoy both resorts in one day - a combined 124 trails and 535 skiable acres. Attitash’s Bear Peak features 30 acres of marked tree terrain in seven different glades. Call 877.677.7669 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP Attitash, 1750 feet; Bear Peak, 1450 feet TRAILS 77 total; 33 percent novice, 47 percent intermediate, 20 percent expert SNOWBOARDING the terrain park on Thad’s Choice has more than
1700 feet of ramps, table tops, huge air hits, and jibs SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS three quad lifts (two highspeed detachable), three triple lifts, three double lifts, and one surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES midweek adults $63, juniors (13 through 18) $48, seniors (over 65) and children (six through 12) $39; weekends adults $70, juniors $55, seniors and children $50; multi-day tickets also available RENTALS skis and snowboards $36 INSTRUCTION group lessons $30 for 90 minutes; private lessons $79 an hour or $270 a day BALSAMS WILDERNESS SKI AREA 1000 Cold Spring Rd, Colebrook | 800.255.0600 | thebalsams.com/skiing | This 15,000acre resort in the Great North Woods has NASTAR facilities, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and a skating rink. Lifts are complimentary for registered guests. VERTICAL DROP 1000 feet TRAILS 16 total, plus five gladed areas: 25 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 25 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS two triple chairs, one double chair, one rope tow HOURS weekdays 9:30 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 9 am to 4 pm RATES unavailable at press time; call for details RENTALS ski or snowboard package $35 INSTRUCTION group lessons $45 for 90 minutes; private lessons $75 an hour BLACK MOUNTAIN 373 Black Mountain Rd, Jackson | 800.698.4490 | blackmt.com | A family-friendly ski area located in the Mount Washington Valley with activities, racing, and special events throughout the season. Call 800.475.4669 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 1100 feet TRAILS 44 trails and glades: 34 percent novice, 32 percent intermediate, 34 percent expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe and two terrain parks SNOWMAKING 98 percent LIFTS one triple, one double, one platter-pull, one J-bar HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays, adults $35 and juniors/seniors $25 ($5 off after 12:30 pm); weekends, adults $45, juniors/seniors/students $30 (33 percent off after 12:30 pm); kids under six always ski free
RENTALS ski or snowboard $30 adults, $24 juniors INSTRUCTION group lesson package $79 for adults, $69 for juniors (includes lift ticket and rentals); private lessons $55 an hour; semi-private lessons $50 an hour BRETTON WOODS Rte 302, Bretton Woods | 800.314.1752 | brettonwoods.com | This historic resort boasts more than 100 sprawling trails on two mountain peaks. Season begins in midNovember. VERTICAL DROP 1500 feet TRAILS 101 total: 25 novice, 29 intermediate, 31 black diamond, 16 double diamond SNOWBOARDING four freestyle terrain parks SNOWMAKING 92 percent LIFTS five quads, two carpets, one double chair, one triple chair HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends 8 am to 4 pm; night skiing 4 to 9 pm on selected dates (subject to change) RATES weekdays adults/seniors $68, teens $62, juniors $47; weekends and holidays adults $68, teens $55, juniors $41, seniors $25 RENTALS adult package $39; seniors/juniors $30 INSTRUCTION group lessons $35 for 90 minutes; private lessons $85 an hour CANNON MOUNTAIN 9 Franconia Notch, Franconia | 603.823.7771 | info@cannonmt. com | cannonmt.com | Cannon Mountain was the site of the first passenger tramway in North America and is the home of the New England Ski Museum. Call 603.823.7771 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 2180 feet TRAILS 75 total: 15 novice, 40 intermediate, 20 expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park open to skiers and riders SNOWMAKING 97 percent LIFTS one tram, three quad chairs, three triple chairs, one wonder carpet, one rope tow HOURS Mon and Fri 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm; closed Tues through Thurs RATES adults $67, college students/ teens $53, juniors/seniors $43 RENTALS ski/snowboard rentals $40, $29 for juniors INSTRUCTION group lessons $39; private lessons $65 an hour CRANMORE MOUNTAIN 1 Skimobile Rd, North Conway | 800.SUN.NSKI | cranmore.com | This affordable resort tucked away in downtown North Conway offers more than 200 skiable acres, as well as seven dining options, kids’ programs, tubing, night skiing, and entertainment and special events all season long. Scheduled to open on Nov 26.
VERTICAL DROP 1200 feet TRAILS 43 total, with seven glades: 36 percent novice, 44 percent intermediate, 20 percent expert SNOWBOARDING freestyle terrain park with quarter-pipe SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS one quad, one triple chair, two double chairs, two carpets, one rope tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, Sat 8:30 am to 8 pm, and Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES adult $59, teen $49, kids/ seniors $39 RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $35, $32 youth INSTRUCTION group lessons $59 to $125, private lessons $75 to $225; prices vary by age and length CROTCHED MOUNTAIN 615 Francestown Rd, Bennington | 603.588.3668 | crotchedmountain.com | Crotched Mountain has the highest snow-production capacity per acre in New England and offers Midnight Madness skiing from 9 pm to 3 am on Fri and Sat nights VERTICAL DROP 875 feet TRAILS 17 total: 28 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 22 percent advanced SNOWBOARDING Crotched Mountain Park is equipped with its own quad chair, and Zero-G terrain park features its own triple chair SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two quads, one triple chair, one double chair, one magic carpet HOURS Mon 1 to 9 pm (9 am to 9 pm holidays), Tues through Sat 9 am to 9 pm; Sun 9 am to 5 pm. Midnight Madness begins Jan 1 RATES weekdays $45, juniors/ seniors $35; weekends $54, juniors/seniors $44. Midnight madness is $41 RENTALS $29 a day INSTRUCTION group lessons $29, private lessons $70 an hour DARTMOUTH SKIWAY 39 Grafton Tpke, Lyme Center | 603.795.2143 | dartmouth. edu/~skiway | This family-oriented ski area at Dartmouth is home to nearly 100 All-Americans and more than 30 national champions. VERTICAL DROP 968 feet TRAILS 31 total: seven novice, 15 intermediate, nine expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS one quad, one double chair, one J-bar HOURS daily 9 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $25, children ages six through 12/seniors ages 65 through 79 $20; weekends $40, teens 13 through 18 $30, children/seniors $25 RENTALS adult ski packages and all snowboards $30, kids ski package $20
INSTRUCTION private lessons $60 an hour, semi-private lessons $35 extra for each additional person GUNSTOCK 719 Cherry Valley Rd, Gilford | 603.293.4341 | gunstock.com | Located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Gunstock has scenic views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the third-longest lift in the state. The Panorama High Speed Quad takes skiers over a mile to 1400 vertical feet in only six minutes.Tubing park has five chutes and is serviced by a hand-tow lift. The tentative opening date is Dec 3. VERTICAL DROP 1400 feet TRAILS 55 total: 12 percent novice, 61 percent intermediate, 27 percent expert; night skiing includes 21 trails and five lifts SNOWBOARDING all trails, freestyle terrain park, and wall SNOWMAKING 90 percent LIFTS one high-speed quad, two quads, two triples, one double, one conveyor, one handle tow HOURS Mon 9 am to 4 pm; Tues through Thurs 9 am to 9 pm; Fri 9 am to 10 pm; Sat 8:30 am to 10 pm; Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $59, teens $46, children/seniors $34; weekends and holidays $69, teens $56, children/seniors $44; night and half-day skiing prices are discounted; Mon tickets are two-for-one RENTALS ski/snowboard packages $32, children/seniors $25; ski boots $15; snowboard boots $20; skis only $28; poles $5; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION group day programs $75 to $95; private lessons $65 an hour; semi-private, two-person lessons $120 an hour LOON MOUNTAIN 60 Loon Mountain Rd, Lincoln | 603.745.8111 | loonmtn.com | This resort located in the White Mountain National Forest is scheduled to open for the season on Nov 19. Loon’s Nordic and Adventure Center also hosts snowshoeing, iceskating, indoor climbing, workshops, and Nordic rental/trail/lesson packages. Call 603.745.8100 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 2100 feet TRAILS 55 total: 20 percent novice, 53 percent intermediate, 27 percent expert SNOWBOARDING six terrain parks, an 18-foot Superpipe, and a mini-pipe SNOWMAKING 97 percent LIFTS one gondola, three highspeed quads, one fixed-grip quad, one triple chair, three double chairs, two carpet lifts, and one handle tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8 am to 4 pm RATES adults $76, teens ages 13 through 18 $66, juniors ages six through 12 and seniors $56 RENTALS unavailable at press time; call for details INSTRUCTION unavailable at press time; call for details MOUNT SUNAPEE 1398 Rte. 103, Newbury | 603.763.3500 | mtsunapee.com | A family-owned and operated resort in southern New Hampshire. Season runs from late November to midApril. Call 603.763.4020 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 1510 feet TRAILS 65 total: 17 novice, 32 intermediate, 16 expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks SNOWMAKING 97 percent LIFTS three quads (one high-speed), two triple chairs, one double chair, three carpet lifts, and two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8 am to 4 pm; half-day rates start at noon RATES weekdays $66, young adults $50, juniors/seniors $40; weekends and holidays $70, young adults $58, juniors/seniors $44; half-day and South Peak only tickets available RENTALS ski or snowboard package $40, juniors $28; skis or snowboard adults $32, juniors $21; poles $8; snowboard boots$18; helmets adult $10, juniors $8; Telemark skis available
INSTRUCTION private lessons $95 an hour, children ages three or four $65; group lessons adults $45 an hour; children’s programs vary by age and ability RAGGED MOUNTAIN 620 Ragged Mountain Rd, Danbury | 603.768.3600 | raggedmountainresort.com | Call 603.768.3971 for snow conditions. Out-of-bounds skiing is available if natural snowfall permits. Season opens Nov 26. VERTICAL DROP 1250 feet TRAILS 45 total: 30 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks, including a “learn to slide” beginners park SNOWMAKING 84 percent LIFTS one high-speed summit sixpack express, two triples, one double, and one surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $54, teens $40, juniors/seniors 65+ $30, seniors 75+ $20; weekends and holidays adults $64, teens $50, juniors/ seniors 65+ $40, seniors 75+ $30; half-day tickets available RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $39, juniors $29; half-day ski or board $29; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION private lessons weekdays and Sun $59 an hour, Sat and holidays $64 an hour ($24 per additional person); group lessons start at $39 WATERVILLE VALLEY 1 Ski Area Rd, Waterville Valley | 1.800.468.2553 | waterville.com | Call 603.236.4144 for snow conditions. Waterville Valley is nestled in a natural snow pocket in the White Mountains and surrounded by other 4000 footers. It opens for the season on Nov 20. VERTICAL DROP 2020 feet TRAILS 52 total: 20 percent novice, 60 percent intermediate, 20 percent expert; intermediate and expert glades and mogul runs SNOWBOARDING terrain park and superpipe SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two high-speed quads, two triples, three doubles, and five surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES adults $69; teens $59; youth/ seniors $45; Sun kids under 12 ski free; Mon and Fri tickets two-for-one RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $42, juniors $35, children under six $29; helmets $13 INSTRUCTION group lessons $42; “Learn to Ski/Ride Program” $75 a day; private lessons peak $99 an hour, off-peak $85 an hour WILDCAT MOUNTAIN | Route 16, Pinkham Notch | 603.466.3326 | skiwildcat.com | Recently acquired by Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat is across from Mount Washington and features the longest ski trail in New Hampshire. Lift tickets provide access to Wildcat and Attitash. On-site childcare available. Season begins in mid November. Call 1.888.SKI.WILD for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 2112 feet TRAILS 50 total: 25 percent novice, 45 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park and half-pipe SNOWMAKING 90 percent coverage LIFTS one quad, three triples HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $63, teens $48, juniors/seniors $39; weekends and holidays $70, teens $55, juniors/seniors $50; miltary discounts and half-day passes available RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $35; high performance skis $42; helmets $10 INSTRUCTION private lessons $55 an hour, $30 per additional person; group lessons adults $30, full-day childrens programs $89, half-day $69; lesson and rental packages available
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RHODE ISLAND YAWGOO VALLEY SKI AREA AND WATER PARK 160 Yawgoo Valley Rd, Exeter | 401.294.3802 | yawgoo.com | Check Web site for daily updates on what trails are open. Separate snow-tubing available on the mountain. VERTICAL DROP 260 feet TRAILS 12 total, fairly evenly divided between skill levels, plus a separate novice area SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS two double chairs, one surface lift HOURS Mon through Wed noon to 8 pm; Thurs and Fri 10 am to 6 pm; weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 5 pm; all hours are subject to change RATES Mon through Wed $20; Thurs and Fri $30, children/ seniors $20; weekends and holidays $42, children/seniors $36; half-day tickets available; prices subject to change RENTALS ski and snowboard packages $27, $17 half-day or evening; boots, skis, or snowboard only $15, $12 half-day or evening; poles only $5, $3 half-day or evening INSTRUCTION group lessons $30; private lessons $70 an hour; semi-private lessons $90 an hour for two people, $120 an hour for three
VERMONT
ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN RESORT 449 Ski Tow Rd, Brownsville | 802.484.7000 | ascutney.com | Includes an indoor sports center, ice skating, and tubing. The mountain also has nine Double Diamond slopes and the highest percent snow coverage in the state. VERTICAL DROP 1800 feet TRAILS 57 total: 30 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park and half-pipe
SNOWMAKING 95 percent LIFTS one quad, three triple chairs, one double chair, and one magic-carpet surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekends $62, juniors and seniors $45; midweek $60 and $44 RENTALS ski or snowboard packages $35 INSTRUCTION two-hour group lessons $38, one-hour private lessons $85 BOLTON VALLEY 4302 Bolton Valley Access Rd, Bolton Valley | 877.9BO.LTON | boltonvalley.com | Full-service resort offering child care, dining, a sports center, and evening activities. VERTICAL DROP 1704 feet TRAILS 64 total: 27 percent novice, 47 percent intermediate, 26 percent expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks SNOWMAKING 60 percent LIFTS two quad lifts, three double chairs, and one surface lift HOURS Mon and Tues 9 am to 4 pm; Wed through Fri 9 am to 8 pm; Sat 8:30 am to 8 pm; Sun 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekends $59, juniors and seniors $49; midweek $49 and $39 RENTALS ski or snowboard package $40, junior packages $29 INSTRUCTION call for details BROMLEY MOUNTAIN 1-63 Bromley Lodge Rd, Peru | 802.824.5522 | bromley.com | A family friendly resort with varied terrain and lots of sunshine. VERTICAL DROP 1334 feet TRAILS 43 trails and glades: 12 novice, 16 intermediate, 11 expert, four glades SNOWBOARDING three freestyle terrain parks and half-pipe SNOWMAKING 84 percent LIFTS two quad chairs, four double chairs, two Mitey-Mites, and one T-bar
HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES midweek adults and teens $44, junior $39; weekend adults $65, teens $55, juniors $39 RENTALS skis and snowboards $44, $34 for juniors INSTRUCTION group lessons $35 for 90 minutes; private lessons $85 an hour BURKE MOUNTAIN 223 Sherburne Lodge Rd, East Burke | 802.626.7300 | skiburke. com | Offers dining, shopping, and entertainment. The mid-Burke lodge and the Willougby and Poma lifts are slated to open on Dec 12. All other services will open on Dec 19. VERTICAL DROP 2011 feet TRAILS 45 trails and glades on 250 skiable acres: 25 percent novice, 45 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks; all trails but one are snowboard friendly SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS one high-speed quad chair, one fixed-grip quad, one J-bar, and one POMA surface lift HOURS daily 9 am to 4 pm RATES adults $64, students $48, seniors/juniors $47; holiday periods $66, $50, and $49 RENTALS adult ski or snowboard package $35, juniors $28 INSTRUCTION private lessons $69 JAY PEAK 4850 VT Route 242, North Troy | 617.629.5383 | jaypeakresort.com | Jay Peak boasts an average 351 inches of snow annually. Three touring centers are nearby for cross-country skiers, as well as 100 acres of backcountry skiing. Guided tours are available. The projected opening date in Nov 26. VERTICAL DROP 2153 feet TRAILS 76 trails, glades, and chutes: 20 percent novice, 40 percent intermediate, 40 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks and a half-pipe SNOWMAKING 80 percent
LIFTS one 60-passenger tram, three quad chairs, one triple chair, one double chair, one T-bar, and one moving carpet for beginners HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES adults $69, juniors $49 RENTALS ski or snowboard packages $45, $35 for juniors INSTRUCTION private lessons $72 per hour; call about group lessons KILLINGTON 4763 Killington Rd, Killington | 802.422.6200 | killington.com | Killington, the largest ski resort in the East, consists of seven mountains, and lift tickets are also valid at Pico Mountain. It’s usually the first mountain open in the fall and the last one to close in the spring. Call 802.422.3261 for snow conditions. VERTICAL DROP 3050 feet TRAILS 140 total: 28 percent novice, 33 percent intermediate, 39 percent expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks and a 430-foot superpipe SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS nine quads (five are highspeed), two gondolas, five surface lifts, four triple chairs, and two double chairs HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm (subject to change) RATES adults $86 on peak days, $84 weekend, $79 midweek; young adults/seniors $73, $71, $67; juniors/super seniors (70+) $60, $59, $55 RENTALS skis or board $39, juniors/ seniors $26; $41, $27 during peak times INSTRUCTION private and group lessons available; cost varies on time of day and season MAD RIVER GLEN 62 Mad River Resort Rd, Waitsfield | 802.496.3551 | madriverglen. com | This ski area at General Stark Mountain offers varied terrain and the country’s last surviving single chairlift. VERTICAL DROP 2037 feet
TRAILS 47 total: 10 novice, 16 intermediate, 21 percent expert SNOWBOARDING no snowboarders allowed SNOWMAKING 15 percent, but the area gets plenty of natural snow LIFTS three double chairs, one single chair, and one handle tow HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES midweek $39; weekends adults $65, juniors and seniors $49 RENTALS ski packages $30, juniors $25 INSTRUCTION private lessons $65, semi-private lessons (four people) $160 for two hours MAGIC MOUNTAIN 495 Magic Mountain Access Rd, Londonderry | 802.824.5645 | magicmtn.com | This area is known for its steep and challenging terrain, but beginners will find easier slopes on the mountain’s east side. VERTICAL DROP 1700 feet TRAILS 40 total: 33 percent beginner, 30 percent intermediate, 37 percent expert SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS two double chairs, two surface lifts HOURS Fri and Mon 9 am to 4 pm, Sat and Sun 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekday lifts $39, $35 teens, $25 juniors/seniors; weekends and holidays $59, $51 teens, $39 juniors/seniors RENTALS ski or snowboard package $35, $25 for kids INSTRUCTION private lesson $85 an hour, group lessons $40 for two hours MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL 6886 Route 125, Hancock | 802.388.4356 | middlebury.edu/about/facilities/snow_bowl | The country’s first carbon-neutral ski area. VERTICAL DROP 1050 feet TRAILS 17 trails and four glade areas: five novice trails, six intermediate, six advanced
SNOWBOARDING terrain park SNOWMAKING 42 percent LIFTS one double chairs, two triple chair HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays adults $30, seniors and Middlebury students and alumni $26; weekends $44, $32 RENTALS adults $35, juniors $26, children under 10 $18 INSTRUCTION private lessons $55 an hour MOUNT SNOW 39 Mount Snow Rd, West Dover | 800.245.SNOW | mountsnow.com | Mount Snow includes four mountain areas: Main Mountain, North Face, Carinthia, and Sunbrook. VERTICAL DROP 1700 feet TRAILS 80 total, including tree terrain: 14 percent novice, 73 percent intermediate, 13 percent expert SNOWBOARDING 12 terrain parks, one superpipe, one mini-pipe SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS 20 total: three high-speed quad chairs, one fixed quad chair, seven triple chairs, four double chairs, one rope tow, and four magic carpets HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekends and holidays, adults $79, youth and seniors $62; weekdays $72 and $56 RENTALS adults $39, juniors $28 INSTRUCTION group lessons $48, private lessons $100 OKEMO 77 Okemo Ridge Rd, Ludlow | 802.228.4041 | okemo.com | Family ski area with day care and extensive children’s ski programs. Season begins in mid November. VERTICAL DROP 2200 feet TRAILS 119 total: 32 percent novice, 36 percent intermediate, 32 percent advanced SNOWBOARDING six terrain parks, one super-pipe, and one minihalf-pipe SNOWMAKING 96 percent
Continued on p 25
Ski Clubs of New Hampshire Eastern Inter-Club Ski League
Do you love to ski & board? Join one of our clubs to receive all of our benefits. • Recreational skiing and boarding for all abilities • Amateur racing for all abilities of skiers and boarders • Reasonably priced year-round lodging at ski club facilities • Memberships available for singles, couples and families • Discount lift tickets at many NH, ME and VT areas. • Low cost ski trip packages for a different resort every year • Member discounts on food, clothing and equipment • Year-round sports and social activities • Non-profit Organization Contact us to schedule a weekend to visit a club to ski and board with us. Membership events held in the Boston area. Fill out the membership inquiry form on our web site and our clubs will be in touch with you.
www.skiclubsofnewhampshire.org www.eicsl.org
SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX | SKI + SNOWBAORD GUIDE | NOVEMBER 12, 2010 25
Continued from p 23 LIFTS nine quad chairs (five highspeed detachables), three triple chairs, seven surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $74, teens and seniors $65, juniors and super seniors $50; weekends $81, $71, $55 RENTALS ski or board package $38, $28 for kids INSTRUCTION group lessons $55, private lessons $105 PICO 73 Alpine Dr, Killington | 802.422.6200 | picomountain.com | Pico offers the experience of a large mountain at a smaller ski area, with explorer and mountaineer programs. VERTICAL DROP 1967 feet TRAILS 50 total: 20 percent novice, 48 percent intermediate, 32 percent expert SNOWBOARDING half-pipe and alpine park SNOWMAKING 75 percent LIFTS two quads, two triple chairs, two double chairs, and one surface lift HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES midweek $49, teens and seniors $42, juniors and super seniors $35; weekends $59, $49, $39; peak period $62, $52, $39 RENTALS adults $32, teens and seniors $25, juniors and super seniors $21 INSTRUCTION hour-and-a-half group lesson $35, peak $40; one-hour private lesson $85, peak $90 QUECHEE SKI HILL 3268 Quechee Main St, Quechee | 802.295.9356 | quecheeclub.com | Small ski club set to open on Dec 17, weather permitting. VERTICAL DROP 650 feet TRAILS 12 trails: 40 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 10 percent expert SNOWBOARDING none, but snowboarders are welcome to use downhill trails and terrain park SNOWMAKING 100 percent LIFTS one chair, one T-bar, one handle tow, and one double chair HOURS daily 9 am to 4 pm RATES adults $40, children $34; Sun mornings $34, $28 RENTALS skis or snowboards $35, children $24 INSTRUCTION group lessons $67, private lessons $92 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Jeffersonville | 802.644.8851 | smuggs.com | Varied terrain — including the East’s only triple blackdiamond trail, The Black Hole — extending over the Morse, Madonna, and Sterling Mountains. VERTICAL DROP 2610 feet TRAILS 78 total: 19 percent novice, 50 percent intermediate, 31 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks (for skiers too) SNOWMAKING 62 percent LIFTS six double chairs, two surface lifts HOURS weekdays 8:30 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES adults $64, juniors and seniors $48; under five and super seniors free RENTALS adults $46, juniors $37 INSTRUCTION group lessons $45 for afternoons and $65 for mornings, private lessons $95 for peak times, $75 for off-peak times STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT 5781 Mountain Rd, Stowe | 800.253.4754 | info@stowe. com | stowe.com | The resort boasts 485 skiable acres and 39 total miles of skiing, as well as resort vacation packages and dog-sledding tours. VERTICAL DROP 2160 feet TRAILS 116 total: 16 percent novice, 59 percent intermediate, 25 percent expert SNOWBOARDING beginner park, mini-park, advanced-terrain park, and super-pipe SNOWMAKING 80 percent LIFTS 13 total: one 10-person highspeed gondola, one eight-passenger gondola, three highspeed quad chairs, two triple chairs, four double chairs, and two surface lifts HOURS daily 8 am to 4 pm RATES during prime season adults $84, seniors $73, juniors $63;
during peak season $89, $77, $66; early/late season $59, $58, $48 RENTALS adults $43, children $34 INSTRUCTION group lessons $46 for weekdays, $64 for weekends and holidays, private lessons $105 an hour weekdays, $145 weekends and holidays STRATTON SKI AND SUMMER RESORT Rte 30, Bondville | 800.787.2886 | info@ stratton.com | stratton.com | This family-friendly resort boasts nearly 600 acres of skiing and riding with a sports center, spa, and slopeside village. VERTICAL DROP 2003 feet TRAILS 92 total: 42 percent novice, 31 percent intermediate, 27 percent expert SNOWBOARDING four terrain parks and a half-pipe SNOWMAKING 90 percent LIFTS one gondola, four highspeed six-passenger lifts, three quad chairs, one triple chair, one double chair, two surface lifts, and four magic carpets HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm RATES midweek adults $72, teens and seniors $63, juniors and super seniors $56; weekends $82, $69, $59 RENTALS midweek $31; weekends $38 INSTRUCTION group lessons $45, private lessons $75 to $105 per hour, depending on day SUGARBUSH RESORT 64 Gate House Ln, Warren | 800.53.SUGAR | sugarbush.com | Skiing on six mountain peaks, all within Sugarbush North and South. VERTICAL DROP 2600 feet TRAILS 111 total: 20 percent novice, 45 percent intermediate, 35 percent expert SNOWBOARDING three terrain parks and a regulation half-pipe SNOWMAKING 70 percent LIFTS seven quad chairs, two triple chairs, four double chairs, and three surface lifts HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm RATES weekdays $79, young adults seven through 18 $60, seniors $53; Sat and holidays $84, $66, $59 RENTALS call for details INSTRUCTION rates vary by time of day, date, hours of lessons, and age
CROSSCOUNTRY MASSACHUSETTS
NORTHFIELD MOUNTAIN CROSSCOUNTRY SKI AREA Rte 63 , Northfield | 800.859.2960 | firstlightpower.com/ northfield/ccski.asp | Trails for both classical and freestyle Nordic skiing, ranging from beginner level to a challenging 800-foot vertical climb. HOURS Wed through Sun 9 am to 4:30 pm; weather permitting INSTRUCTION available in group or private setting; reservations required. Combo packages and season passes available TRAILS 25+ miles of groomed and tracked carriage trails RATES daily trail fees $12, $11 seniors, $6 juniors, free for those under seven and over 70; after 1:30 pm, $10, $9 seniors, $4 juniors RENTALS $14, $9 for juniors; after 1:30 pm, $12, $7 for juniors
MAINE
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK Rte 3, Bar Harbor | 207.288.3338 | nps.gov/acad | The park is on Mount Desert Island, right off the coast. Skiers can hear and sometimes see the ocean. Free camping in the park, and plenty of lodging nearby. HOURS visitors’ center open daily 8 am to 4:30 pm INSTRUCTION none TRAILS 45 miles of carriage paths, nearly 32 of them groomed
on a varying schedule, plus unplowed park roads RATES free RENTALS through Cadillac Mountain Sports; call 207.288.4532. CMS also rents ice skates and snowshoes BLACK MOUNTAIN OF MAINE 39 Glover Rd, Rumford | 207.364.8977 | skiblackmountain. org | The cross-country trail system at Black Mountain was designed by two-time Olympian Chummy Broomhall. Trails are groomed for both classic and skating techniques whenever possible. HOURS Mon through Sat 9 am to 5 pm, Sun 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION none TRAILS 17 km of groomed trails, from easy to difficult RATES adults $8, half day $6; juniors $6, $4; free for ages five and under and 75 and older RENTALS Nordic rentals available; call for details RANGELEY LAKES TRAILS CENTER 524 Saddleback Mountain Rd, Rangeley | 207.864.4309 | xcskirangeley.com | This trail system in western Maine offers beginner trails around Saddleback Lake and more challenging treks on lower Saddleback Mountain. Natural snowfall in the area averages over 200 inches. HOURS ski any time; lodge and rental shop open daily 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION no instruction TRAILS 55 km RATES weekdays $12, youth $8; weekends and holidays $17, youth $9; seniors and children under seven free; half-day passes available RENTALS skis $13, children $10; boots $9, children $7; poles $5, children $4; ski package $18, children $14 SUGARLOAF OUTDOOR CENTER | 207.237.2000 | sugarloaf.com | The Sugarloaf Outdoor Center offers crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing on 90 km of groomed trails and ice skating on an NHL sized rink. Pricing was unavailable at press time; call for details. HOURS Sun through Fri 9 am to 5 pm, Sat and holidays 9 am to 8 pm TRAILS 90 km of marked, maintained, and patrolled trails SUNDAY RIVER XC SKI CENTER 23 Skiway Rd, Newry | 207.824.3000 | sundayriver.com | Features a 40-kilometer network trails for beginner to experienced skiers that wind through the woods, past picnic sites and a covered bridge. Also offers night skiing and snowshoeing for groups of eight or more, by reservation. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, weekends 8 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION call for details TRAILS 40 km, all groomed with tracks, some have skating lanes RATES full day $16, teens $12, juniors/seniors $8; half day $12, $10, $6 RENTALS full day $20, juniors/ seniors $14
NEW HAMPSHIRE
BALSAMS WILDERNESS SKI AREA 1000 Cold Spring Rd, Colebrook | 800.255.0600 | thebalsams.com/skiing | Cross-country skiers traverse through the grounds of the resort’s 15,000-acre private estate, which offers both challenging, steep terrain and trails marked specifically for learners. Voted “one of the top cross-country ski resorts in North America” by Snow Country magazine. HOURS 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $28; private $48, $25 per additional person TRAILS 95+ km of trails: 35 percent novice, 48 percent intermediate, 17 percent expert. Telemark and backcountry skiing daily RATES $20 weekends and holidays; $15 weekdays RENTALS full day $25, half day $20 BEAR NOTCH SKI TOURING CENTER Rte 302, Bartlett | 603.374.2277 | bearnotchskitouring.com | The scenic trails at Bear Notch offer riverside views, flat meadows, and more challenging hills. Also offers guided nature tours. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm
INSTRUCTION group lessons $20, private lessons $35, $20 per additional person; family lessons $50 TRAILS 65+ km RATES weekdays $12, juniors/ seniors $8; weekends $15, juniors/seniors $10; over 70 and under seven free RENTALS skis or snowshoes $15 BRETTON WOODS Rte 302, Bretton Woods | 800.314.1752 | brettonwoods.com | The Bretton Woods Nordic Center is based on the sprawling grounds of the Mount Washington Hotel and the White Mountain National Forest. HOURS 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $18, juniors/seniors $15; private $30; semi-private $40 TRAILS 100 km ranging from novice to expert RATES adults $17, teens 13 through 17 $15, children under 13 and seniors $10; tickets two for $18 on Wed RENTALS ski packages adults $18, all other ages $12 CRANMORE MOUNTAIN LODGE 859 Kearsarge Rd, North Conway | 603.356.2044 | cranmoremountainlodge.com | A bed and breakfast member of the Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring Association. Guests of the lodge can enjoy free Nordic skiing at nearby Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch. HOURS unavailable at press time INSTRUCTION $15 per lesson TRAILS 40+ miles of groomed trails RATES free for guests RENTALS available at nearby locations EASTMAN CROSS COUNTRY CENTER Exit 13 off I-89, Grantham | 603.863.4500 | eastmannh.com | Winter activity center offering snowshoeing, sledding, and ice-skating. HOURS 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION semi-private lessons $15, private $30, group clinic $10 TRAILS 36+ km; divided almost evenly between novice, intermediate, and expert
RATES adults $12, juniors/students $8 RENTALS adults $18, juniors/students $13; snowshoes $15; iceskate rentals $14, $12 FRANCONIA VILLAGE CROSS COUNTRY CENTER Rte 116, Franconia | 603.823.5542 | franconiainn.com | Horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice skating, and tubing hill also available. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $40, private lessons $60 TRAILS 65+ km; terrain ranges in difficulty RATES trail fee $12 RENTALS adults $20, children $10; skis only $12; boots only $8; poles only $6 GREAT GLEN TRAILS AT MOUNT WASHINGTON | 603.466.2333 | mt-washington. com | Winter season begins in late Nov or early Dec, depending on snow conditions. Snowshoeing, climbing wall, and tubing also available. Prices subject to change. HOURS 8:30 am to 4:30 pm INSTRUCTION adult and senior lessons $45, juniors $30 TRAILS 40 km of trails, groomed with both double tracks and a skating lane RATES adults $18, juniors/seniors $12 RENTALS skis adults/seniors $20, juniors $14 GUNSTOCK 719 Cherry Valley Rd, Gilford | 603.293.4341 | gunstock.com | Backcountry cross-country ski tours and clinics offered throughout the season, as well as skijoring (cross-country skiing with your dog). The tentative opening date is Dec 3. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION private lessons $40 for 90 minutes TRAILS 50 km RATES adults/teens $17, children/ seniors $14 RENTALS adult/teens $17, children/ seniors $16; children five and under $10; call for snowshoe
and other equipment rental JACKSON SKI TOURING FOUNDATION 153 Main St, Jackson | 603.383.9355 | jacksonxc. org | The nonprofit foundation is chartered to maintain the ski trails around Jackson and the White Mountain National Forest. You must be a day or season member to use its trails. The base lodge offers a place for skiers to meet, obtain trail information, and get rentals and instruction. HOURS 8 am to 4:30 pm INSTRUCTION PSIA-certified ski school’s group lessons $16; private lessons $35 an hour, $25 per additional person TRAILS 154+ km of trails RATES $21 adults, $15 seniors, $10 juniors, children under 10 free; snowshoe tickets $10/day RENTALS adults $16, juniors/children $12; performance equipment $25; snowshoes $12 KING PINE 1251 Eaton Rd, Madison | 603.367.8896 | kingpine.com | The Nordic Center at King Pine features scenic trails on the grounds of Purity Spring Resort and through the pines of the New Hampshire Audubon Sanctuary. HOURS sunrise to sunset, weather permitting INSTRUCTION group lessons $28 TRAILS 28 km; 15 km are tracked and skate-groomed twice weekly RATES weekdays $6, juniors $4; weekends and holidays $9, juniors $6 RENTALS $14 per day, $9 per half day LOON MOUNTAIN 60 Loon Mountain Rd, Lincoln | 603.745.8111 | loonmtn.com | Loon’s Nordic and Adventure Center also hosts snowshoeing, ice-skating, indoor climbing, workshops, and Nordic rental/ trail/lesson packages. Pricing was unavailable at press time; call for details. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 8 am to 4 pm
Continued on p 26
Ski NH Anywhere, Anytime Lift Ticket Packages Save $10 - $16+ on weekend and holiday lift tickets. Tickets are fully-transferable, share with family & friends - packages start at 6 tickets
For complete details visit SkiNH.com or call 800-887-5464
26 NOVEMBER 12, 2010 | SKI + SNOWBAORD GUIDE | SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOSTON PHOENIX
Continued from p 25 TRAILS 20 km; all except steeps are groomed and tracked for skating and classic skiing NORDIC CENTER AT WATERVILLE VALLEY Rte 49, Waterville Valley | 603.236.8311 | waterville.com/nordic | In addition to skiing, the Base Camp Adventure Area offers snowshoeing, winter hiking, skating, and sleigh rides. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm; weekends 8 am to 4 pm (subject to change) INSTRUCTION private lessons $48 an hour; PSIA-certified group lessons offered, call for details TRAILS 70 km RATES full day $19, youth/senior $14; afternoon (12:30 to 4 pm) $17, youth/seniors $12 RENTALS adults $19, juniors/seniors $16; afternoon and ski or boots only rentals available NORDIC SKIER 47 North Main St, Wolfeboro | 603.569.3151 | wolfeboroxc.org | Varied terrain maintained by the Wolfeboro X-C Ski Association. HOURS Mon through Sat 9 am to 5:30 pm; Sun 9 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $20 an hour, $10 juniors; private lessons $35 an hour; semi-private $29 an hour TRAILS 45+ km RATES adults $10; juniors under 12 and seniors over 75 free RENTALS adults $15, juniors $10; performance equipment $20 WOODBOUND INN 247 Woodbound Rd, Rindge | 603.532.8341 | woodbound.com | The 200-acre resort on Lake Contoocook offers skating, tobogganing, and skiing. HOURS daily dawn to dusk INSTRUCTION no instruction offered TRAILS 18+ km, all groomed RATES free and open to the public RENTALS no rentals available
VERMONT
BLUEBERRY HILL SKI TOURING CENTER 1307 Goshen Ripton Rd, Goshen | 802.247.6735 | blueberryhillinn.com | The
hill is at the foot of Romance Mountain, within the 22,000 acres of the Mossalamoo Region of the Green Mountain National Forest. HOURS 9 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION group and private lessons available, call for details TRAILS 70+ km of groomed trails (classical and skating) RATES trail fees $20, $15 for teens 13 through 17 and seniors 60 and over; half-day $12, $10. Children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over ski free, and trail passes include free soup, served noon to 2 pm RENTALS adults $20, teens/children/ seniors $15. Snowshoes $15, teens/children/seniors $10 BOLTON NORDIC CENTER 4302 Bolton Access Rd, Bolton | 802.434.3444 | boltonvalley.com | This full-service resort offers child care, dining, a sports center, a spa, and evening activities. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION call for details TRAILS 100 km RATES trail pass $17 RENTALS Nordic packages $20, youth $10; backcountry equipment $25; snowshoes and skates available CATAMOUNT OUTDOOR FAMILY CENTER Rte 2, Williston | 802.879.6001 | catamountoutdoor.com | The Outdoor Family Center at Catamount features professionally designed, groomed cross-country trails, snowshoe trails, an outdoor skating facility, and a sledding hill. HOURS Fri through Mon 10 am to 5 pm; Tues through Thurs 10 am to 8 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $15; private lessons available by appointment, call for details TRAILS 32+ km RATES adults $18, seniors and teens 13 through 17 $7, kids seven through 12 $5 RENTALS adult skis $20, kids $10; snowshoes $15
CRAFTSBURY OUTDOOR CENTER 535 Lost Nation Rd, Craftsbury Common | 802.586.7767 | craftsbury.com | This center in northeastern Vermont is located on a high, rolling plateau and accumulates more natural snow than other areas. Also offers backcountry skiing through rugged terrain. HOURS 9 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION private lessons $30, $45 for two people; three to eight $60 TRAILS 135 km RATES adults $10 per day, children and seniors $5; children under six free RENTALS complete classic ski set $15, students/seniors $10; snowshoes $5 HILDENE 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester | 802.362.1788 | hildene.org | This was the home of Robert Todd Lincoln (son of Abraham Lincoln) and his family for 75 years. Call ahead for conditions. HOURS daily 9:30 am to 4 pm, mid Dec through mid March, weather permitting INSTRUCTION $15 group, $50 private, semi-private for two $30 TRAILS more than 14 km of trails available, with varying levels of difficulty RATES adults $12.50, youth $6.50 RENTALS rental package $15 KINGDOM TRAILS Rte 114, (Exit 23 off I-91), East Burke | 802.626.5862 | kingdomtrails. org | A multiple-use, scenic trail system located in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm; subject to change INSTRUCTION available with reservation TRAILS 60 km of groomed trails at two locations, catering mainly to beginning to moderate skiers with plenty of skating available RATES call for details RENTALS available at East Burke Sports in East Burke Village and Village Sports in Lyndonville
MOUNTAIN MEADOWS CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREA 2363 Rte 4, Killington | 802.775.7077 | xcskiing.net | Mountain Meadows is located in the heart of the Green Mountains. Its snow-making capacity allows it to have one of the longest ski seasons in New England. HOURS 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons $25, private lessons $50 TRAILS 30 km groomed for classical skiing and skating RATES adults $19, half day $16; seniors $16, $13; children six through 12 $8, $6; children under six free RENTALS adults $19, half day $16; children $9, $7 OKEMO VALLEY NORDIC CENTER 77 Okemo Ridge Rd, Ludlow | 802.228.1396 | okemo. com | The cross-country trails at Okemo feature the varied terrain of the Black River Valley. On-site amenities include a Nordic shop and a full-service restaurant and pub. HOURS weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, weekends and holidays 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION group lessons are $30; private lessons $60 an hour, $30 per additional person TRAILS 22 km for cross-country, 13 km for snowshoeing, and 8 km of skating lanes RATES adults $24, seniors/young adults ages 13 through 18 $20, juniors ages seven through 12 $18 RENTALS $20, equipment/trail pass combos available OLE’S CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER Airport Rd, Warren | 802.496.3430 | olesxc. com | Connected to Round Barn Cross Country Center. Full retail shop, snowshoe races, tours, night skiing, carnivals, moonlight tours, and sleds available for rent during winter season. Pricing unavailable at press time; call for details. HOURS 9 am to 5 pm; weather permitting TRAILS 12 total: 45 km of tracked and groomed trails of varying difficulty
Ski/Ride Day and Night
PATS PEAK Discounts for Groups of 15+
SKI
PROSPECT SKI MOUNTAIN Route 9, Woodford | 802.442 .2575 | prospectmountain.com | Season typically begins in mid-November, weather permitting. HOURS 9 am to 5 pm daily; conditions permitting INSTRUCTION call for details TRAILS 30+ km of groomed trails of varying difficulty; backcountry skiing also available RATES adults $20, children and seniors $16 RENTALS adults $18, children $16; snowshoes $12 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Jeffersonville | 802.644.8851 | smuggs.com | The trail system extends over Morse, Madonna, and Sterling Mountains. Telemarking and snowshoe tours and rentals available. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm; conditions permitting INSTRUCTION group lessons $45 for 90 minutes; private lessons $60 an hour, $30 per additional person TRAILS 30 km total cross-country; all groomed and tracked, and 24 km of dedicated snowshoe trails RATES adults $14, youths ages six through 17 $8 RENTALS ski packages $19; snowshoes $18; skates $5 STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT CROSS-COUNTRY TOURING CENTER 5781 Mountain Rd, Stowe | 802.253.3000 | stowe.com/activities/nordic | Varied cross-country terrain, plus snowshoe, dog sled, and mountain tours. Alpine ski tickets honored. HOURS 8:30 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION weekdays and nonpeak times: group $30, private $72; weekends and peak times: group $41, private $97 TRAILS 45 km of groomed trails, 30 km of backcountry trails; two novice, three intermediate, and five advanced RATES weekdays and non-peak times $18, half day $15; juniors/ seniors $10, $7; weekends and peak times: $24, half day $19; juniors and seniors $14, $9
RENTALS weekdays and non-peak times $25, juniors $16; weekends and peak times $34, $22 STRATTON CROSS-COUNTRY CENTER Route 30, Stratton | 800.787.2886 | stratton. com | Season opens late Dec, weather permitting, and runs through early April. The center also offers snowshoe tours. HOURS 9 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION none; guided tours available TRAILS 70 km total: 30 km groomed, 20 km woodlands in the Sunbowl wilderness area RATES adults $15, juniors $10 (subject to change) RENTALS adults $15, juniors $10 TOPNOTCH 4000 Mountain Rd, Stowe | 800.451.8686 | topnotchresort.com | Topnotch is a resort and spa with a trail system that links with Mount Mansfield’s and Trapp Family Lodge’s trails. Non-skiers can chill out at the spa, take a sleigh ride, or play indoor tennis. HOURS 8 am to 4 pm INSTRUCTION beginner group lessons $25 (includes trail pass); private guided tours available TRAILS 30 km RATES adults $14, children 12 and under $8, guests ski free RENTALS adults $20, kids $15 WOODSTOCK SKI TOURING AREA 14 The Green, Woodstock | 802.457.6674 | woodstockinn.com | Part of the Suicide Six downhill area, which includes a sports center with pool, indoor tennis courts, squash courts, and Swedish massage. Suicide Six and the Woodstock Ski Touring Center are both part of the Woodstock Inn and Resort. Guests ski free Sun through Fri. HOURS 8 am to 5 pm INSTRUCTION private lessons $50, semi-private $40 TRAILS 60 km total, groomed for both traditional and skate RATES adults $18, juniors $12 RENTALS $20 adults, $15 juniors; $15 Inn guests
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