Snow Business: There is Always a Festive, World Cup Feel to Nashoba Valley

WESTFORD, MA — Pam Fletcher took in the early morning scene at Nashoba Valley on President's Day. The former Olympic and World Cup racer was a bit weary from a busy week and a Monday morning live TV shoot, but she was excited about the day nevertheless.

"It's always a good day to be out here," she said. She always energizes when talking about her sport and the mountain her family has run since we used to reach up to the sky to measure our skis.

And it was a day of days. The sun was out, the temperatures were supposed to get into the low 40s and there was plenty of snow — a perfect day for a veteran ski writer and two 7-year-olds to enjoy Nashoba.

Nashoba itself is one of the most unique places in the industry. Its sits in the western suburbs of Boston, just 25 miles from where the British were coming. It has a 240-foot vertical — something that seems like a speed bump compared to its neighbors to the north, but the hill sits in a pocket that serves as a natural refrigerator at night and leaves the snowmaking equipment less vulnerable to the wind.

And it has Fletcher, who has infused a permanent World Cup atmosphere to the ski area. All the Bruins, Red Sox and Patriots gear make it distinctly Boston but the smiles, the facilities and even the fried dough stand make it seem like Austria on race day.

And the 17 trails and collection of chairlifts, magic carpets and even rope tows add an old-school charm to getting up and down the hill.

It was the first time the 7-year-olds were on a mountain without a lesson and they were clamoring to do a summit run right after lunch. So they finished their chips, packed up from the picnic table and headed to the ski rack.

They clicked into their skis and took the Wardance chair to the top and hung a right.

There was Nashoba Slope, a wide, sunny cruising trail that lets the young ones work their turns with a feel that they are actually skiing from the top.

They left the ski area happy. Then went over to the tubing park.

Nashoba sports the largest tubing park in New England with 18 lanes are serviced by four lifts and maintained by Nashoba's grooming fleet.

The tubing park also features an on-site lodge where one can sit, relax, and enjoy all the delicious snack bar, including a full-service bar and TV.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

Chris Dehnel is a Patch editor and past-president of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association East Division. His Snow Business column runs regularly during the season.