Shrewsbury, Massachusetts — It’s not usually you can ski in New England in October. The local weather in New England is getting hotter, resulting in fewer alternatives to ski and experience in October. Nevertheless, final week, there was a stretch when chilly climate and snow allowed snowboarding within the higher elevations. In the meantime, down south, one ski space made snow, permitting them to be the first to supply lift-serviced snowboarding in North America for the 2024-25 season.
Final Saturday, Ski Ward in Massachusetts opened for snowboarding and driving on a small patch of snow serviced by their magic carpet. This was made potential by buying a Latitude 90 snowmaking system, which permits ski resorts to blow snow at varied temperatures, even above freezing. It allowed Ski Ward to be the primary in North America to open for lift-serviced snowboarding and driving final season, they usually had been capable of pull it off once more by working on October nineteenth and twentieth for his or her Fall Household Weekend.
After writing about Ski Ward and its snowmaking machine for over a 12 months, it appeared like an applicable time to move down south and verify this place out.
After a lower than two-hour drive right down to Massachusetts, I pulled into the Ski Ward parking zone. After driving via flat land for many of the drive in Massachusetts, Ski Ward popped up within the final quarter mile of my drive. It’s a decently sized hill with a 220-foot vertical drop. Whereas pulling in, I received my first glimpse of the snow-covered slope.
The oddity of the scenario set in whereas I used to be ready in line to seize my pre-purchased ticket. Numerous summer time actions, like mini golf, a bouncy home, and a petting zoo. After a brief stroll, I handed a spooky haunted maze and a summer time tubing setup. Then, I received my first glimpses of the Latitude 90 snowmaking system and the slope.
You attain the slope by strolling onto the magic carpet, which is shared with tubers. It’s stroll on, stroll off, so that you step into your bindings on the prime of the slope after which take them off on the backside. The snow was gentle, however not sufficient in order that it made it too sticky. Bumps didn’t formulate, and I even discovered some wire regardless of exhibiting up roughly an hour after they opened. Though tickets had been $5 for a session, the slope was by no means too crowded, with normally 1-2 individuals taking place at a time. Strains had been below two minutes for every journey up, with people on the slopes merging with those that had been tubing.
General, snowboarding on snow once more scratched the itch. Is that this well worth the go to? It’s most likely should you’re inside an affordable driving distance, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a small snow patch. Whereas it’s not snowboarding bottomless powder or silky clean corduroy, it helps create stoke for this coming, which I can get behind.
Ski Ward can be closed for snowboarding and driving till November 1st when they are going to start internet hosting ski and snowboarding classes for youths. A rail jam is deliberate for November 2nd. For those who’re searching for out of doors lift-serviced snowboarding and driving proper now, head to Wolf Creek.
Picture Credit: Ian Wooden, Ski Ward
