Sports
Cardboard Box Races, Pond Skim, Even A Snowmobile Race Planned At New Hampshire Ski Areas
Ski areas across the state are organizing fun events in the coming days and weeks to conclude an excellent snowy winter.
CONWAY, NH — From cardboard box derbies to pond skimming, to fireworks, ski areas across the state are organizing fun events in the coming days and weeks to conclude what has been an excellent snowy winter.
And Gunstock plans a new twist on events this year with a snowmobiling race.
Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This Saturday, there is a Pond Skim and Hawaiian Fest at McIntyre all day with fireworks at 7 p.m. in Manchester.
Crotched Mountain on the Francestown/Bennington line is hosting its Cardboard Box Derby where kids can compete to the finish line in vehicles made with only cardboard, Duct tape, zip ties and paint. That will begin at 10 a.m.
Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Ragged Mountain in Danbury plans a Bump 'N Jump Fest Saturday.
Earlier this season, Veterans' Memorial Recreation Area in Franklin held its cardboard box derby during school vacation week on Feb. 28.
The small recreation area which is run by a local outing club was busy with lots of kids and their parents who worked on vehicles that the kids raced down the hill.
Gunstock in Gilford will host its Boxzilla competition on Saturday and on Sunday King Pine in Madison hosts its Cardboard Box Derby.
Bonnie MacPherson, spokesman for Gunstock said the county-owned ski area has experienced a phenomenal year, including two record-breaking revenue days this winter.
"And just when we were getting ready to put the season to bed, we were approached with an opportunity to host a new event. Gunstock already has a great track record when it comes to hosting a motorsports event in the summer (Laconia Motorcycle Week Hillclimb), so the idea of hosting a post-ski-season snowmobile event wasn’t a stretch for the county-owned New Hampshire resort," she said.
After the lifts have closed down on April 11-12 it will host Snowmobile Mountain Madness.
This is an X Games-style experience produced by X Racing, featuring four racing disciplines including SnowCross, HillCross, DitchBanger (vintage sleds), and Sunday Funday Kidz racing.
The Hillcross is set to take place the morning of Saturday, April 11 as riders charge up Gunstock’s slopes on a course packed with jumps, banks, and rollers. Saturday afternoon and Sunday will feature the remaining disciplines, with a different course for each.
SnowCross displays high-flying feats and racing on a track of challenging terrain, while the courses for vintage sled racing and the Sunday Funday Kidz race will offer more pared back tracks.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming folks from the snowmobiling community to the mountain,” said Robert Drake, President and General Manager at Gunstock. “This may be an inaugural event for us, but our intent is for Mountain Madness to become an annual fixture in Gunstock’s spring events calendar. Joe and his team have been involved in the X Games for more than 25 years and will put on an amazing show for our community during the “off-season” in the Lakes Region.”
Gates are scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m. with an admission fee of $25 for the day or $40 for a weekend pass. Ages 12 and under are free. Racing is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. Attendees are asked to refrain from bringing any outside food or beverages as the mountain's restaurant will be open and there will be a beer garden.
To learn more about Gunstock Mountain Resort, Snowmobile Mountain Madness or to register to participate, visit gunstock.com.
To view various events at ski areas throughout the state for the remaining weeks visit https://www.skinh.com/events
This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
