New Hampshire ski resort areas announce upgrades for season

All six of New Hampshire’s ski areas situated close to the resort town of North Conway have announced upgrades for the coming winter. Cranmore ski area, the closest to the town, is spending the most on upgrades, approximately $6 million, including a new quad chairlift to replace the old South Peak double chair, which will nbe moved to an expanded beginner’s area.

Waterville Valley has spent over $600,000 this summer on key snowmaking and grooming projects to bring guest’s on-mountain winter experience to an even higher level for 09–10.  Here’s a quick look:

1. Forty new low energy tower guns have been installed on White Caps and the Chute to ensure earlier and more expansive snowmaking in the early season.
2. A new Prinoth 350 snow cat has been added to the resort’s extensive fleet for nightly grooming and for park maintenance.
3. Snowboarders will find a new line up of rails and boxes in Exhibition Park created by Luke Mathison.   The resort will continue its popular signature features program including the Oakley Hubba and new Fuel-TV Skateledge.
4. Waterville’s investment in online technology continues with the addition of online rentals.  To get out on the slopes faster, ski and snowboard equipment can now be reserved at waterville.com if purchased 48 hours in advance.  Skiers and riders can also continue to buy lift tickets for $10 off if purchased 48 hours in advance at waterville.com.
5. A new Sport Thoma Retail Accessories Shop will open on the main floor of the base lodge, next to ”Everything Waterville”.  It will be stocked with handwarmers, goggles, gloves and hats.
6. The Waterville Valley Snowboard Rental Shop has been fixed up with updated snowboard set-up stations to get riders out on their Burton boards even faster.

Ski area operators and experts on the environment get together this week in New Hampshire to talk about making the region’s ski areas greener. The 3rd annual Green Slopes Workshop is Thursday at Ragged Mountain Resort in Danbury. It has two themes — keeping fuel and other hazardous liquids safely in tanks, and setting up so-called “green teams” at ski areas.

There were 2,289,426 alpine skier and snowboarder visits to New Hampshire resorts last winter, decline of 3 percent for the previous winter of 2007–08, which set the state’s all-time record for skier visits. The numbers were compiled by Ski NH, a statewide association representing 37 alpine and cross country resorts and more than 200 lodging properties in New Hampshire.