This Just In: New Hampshire Is Where New England Skis

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This just in: New Hampshire is where New England skis.

Whether it’s the gorgeous scenery or the close proximity of the mountains, many New Englanders choose New Hampshire’s landscape for their winter fun. And with ski season fast approaching, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to you from all of us at Ski New Hampshire.

In this year’s press kit, you’ll find information about our 34 alpine and cross country ski area members, their exciting capital improvements, promotions and deals for the upcoming season, and story ideas to kick off your brainstorming process. Should you need anything beyond these facts and figures, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly, or to our resort media contacts, included at the end of the press kit.

As you file stories this winter, we invite you to share them with us so that we can be sure our ski area members and their devoted fans don’t miss a thing. Additionally, we’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so that you can stay in the loop on all things skiing and riding in the Granite State.

Until the snow flies,

Karolyn Castaldo Communications & Marketing Manager, Ski NH [email protected] | 603.745.9396 x 205

Press Kit Contents:

Ski New Hampshire is the statewide association representing 34 alpine and cross-country resorts in New Hampshire. For information on ski areas, conditions, vacation planning and updated winter events at Ski New Hampshire resorts, visit SkiNH.com. For statewide travel information, go to VisitNH.gov.

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Ski New Hampshire Alpine Resort Fact Sheet

Abenaki Ski Area

Location: 390 Pine Hill Rd., Wolfeboro Phone: 603-569-2513 Web: www.wolfeboronh.us/abenaki-ski-area Vertical drop: 200 ft. Skiable terrain: 18 acres Snowmaking coverage: 50% Number of trails and glades: 7 (14% novice, 43% intermediate, 43% expert) Number of lifts: 2 Night skiing and snowboarding: 7 trails/2 lifts

About Abenaki Ski Area: With roots going back to 1936, Abenaki is the oldest community-run ski area in the country and one of the 10 oldest ski areas overall in the country.

Black Mountain

Location: 373 Black Mountain Road, Jackson Phone: 603-383-4490 Web: www.blackmt.com Vertical drop: 1,100 ft. Skiable terrain: 143 acres Snowmaking coverage: 98% Number of trails and glades: 45 (33% novice, 33% intermediate, 34% expert) Number of lifts: 5

About Black Mountain: Featuring sunny south-facing trails, view of Mount Washington, and 82 years of tradition.

Bretton Woods

Location: 99 Ski Area Rd., Bretton Woods Phone: 603-278-3320 Web: www.brettonwoods.com Vertical drop: 1,500 ft. Skiable terrain: 464 acres Snowmaking coverage: 92% Number of trails: 62 (23% novice, 27% intermediate, 50% expert) Number of lifts: 10 Night skiing and snowboarding: 5 trails/2 lifts

About Bretton Woods: NH's largest ski area, ranked #1 in the East for Snow again this year by SKI magazine! Since 2013, Bretton Woods has held the top 2 positions in Snow & Grooming, ensuring a great day on the slopes for all.

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Cannon Mountain

Location: Franconia Notch Parkway, Franconia Notch Phone: 603-823-8800 Snowphone: 603-823-7771 Web: www.cannonmt.com Vertical drop: 2,180 ft. Skiable terrain: 282 acres Snowmaking coverage: 97% Number of trails and glades: 95 (215% novice, 52% intermediate, 33% expert) Number of lifts: 11

About Cannon Mountain: Big-mountain skiing at a small-mountain price. Features diverse terrain across two mountains and the highest ski area summit in NH at 4080', including the popular Tuckerbrook Family Area for beginners and families.

Cranmore Mountain Resort

Location: 1 Skimobile Road, North Conway Phone: 800-SUN-N-SKI Web: www.cranmore.com Vertical drop: 1,200 ft. Skiable terrain: 170+ acres Snowmaking coverage: 98% Number of trails and glades: 56 (28% novice, 44% intermediate, 28% expert) Number of lifts: 9

About Cranmore Mountain Resort: Awarded “NH’s Best for Ski Lessons” by New Hampshire Magazine; ranked Top 5 in the East for family programs, off-hill activities, and après-ski by SKI magazine, including NH’s first mountain coaster and #1 tubing park.

Dartmouth Skiway

Location: 39 Grafton Turnpike, Lyme Center Phone: 603-795-2143 Web: www.skiway.dartmouth.edu Vertical drop: 968 ft. Skiable terrain: 104 acres Snowmaking coverage: 70% Number of trails and glades: 30 (23% novice, 50% intermediate, 275% expert) Number of lifts: 4

About Dartmouth Skiway: Big-time skiing with a rich history and a small, family-friendly attitude. Home of the Dartmouth College ski teams, with skiing on two mountains, providing fun for all abilities.

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Granite Gorge

Location: 341 Rte. 9, Keene Phone: 603-358-5000 Web: www.granitegorge.com Vertical drop: 525 ft. Skiable terrain: 150 acres Snowmaking coverage: 75% Number of trails and glades: 20 (35% novice, 30% intermediate, 35% expert) Number of lifts: 4 Night skiing and snowboarding: 10 trails/4 lifts

About Granite Gorge: Voted "Best of Monadnock," Granite Gorge offers a convenient location five miles from downtown Keene and a host of lodging, restaurant, entertainment, and shopping venues.

Gunstock Mountain Resort

Location: 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford Phone: 603-293-4341 Web: www.gunstock.com Vertical drop: 1,400 ft. Skiable terrain: 227 acres Snowmaking coverage: 90% Number of trails and glades: 55 (12% novice, 61% intermediate, 27% expert) Number of lifts: 8 Night skiing and snowboarding: 24 trails/6 lifts

About Gunstock Mountain Resort: Home of the first chairlift in New England, Gunstock is New Hampshire's closest major resort to Boston, and the only one that can offer sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee. With easy access from I-93 and I-95, Gunstock is perfect for quick day trips, or overnight excursions to slow down and enjoy the many fabulous dining and lodging options found around the Lakes Region.

King Pine at Purity Spring Resort

Location: 1251 Eaton Rd., Rte. 153, East Madison Ski area phone: 603-367-8896 Web: www.kingpine.com Vertical drop: 350 ft. Skiable terrain: 48 acres Snowmaking coverage: 100% Number of trails and glades: 17 (44% novice, 31% intermediate, 25% expert) Number of lifts: 6 Night skiing and snowboarding: 10 trails/2 lifts

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About King Pine at Purity Spring Resort: Impeccable grooming, slopeside lodging, and reliable snow make King Pine the ideal place to ski or ride. Additional adventure can be found at the Twisted Pine terrain park, or try night skiing and snowtubing, or check out the indoor pool and hot tub. An alpine ticket also includes cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating while the ticket is valid.

Loon Mountain Resort

Location: 60 Loon Mountain Rd., Lincoln Phone: 603-745-8111 Web: www.loonmtn.com Vertical drop: 2,100 ft. Skiable terrain: 370 acres Snowmaking coverage: 99% Number of trails and glades: 61 (20% novice, 60% intermediate, 20% expert) Number of lifts: 12

About Loon Mountain Resort: New England's most accessible big-mountain skiing and riding features 2,100-foot vertical drop and 61 trails across three peaks. Features exceptional terrain variety for the entire family.

McIntyre Ski Area

Location: 50 Chalet Way, Manchester Phone: 603-622-6159 Web: www.mcintyreskiarea.com Vertical drop: 200 ft. Skiable terrain: 37 acres Snowmaking coverage: 100% Number of trails and glades: 10 (75% novice, 20% intermediate, 5% expert) Number of lifts: 5 Night skiing and snowboarding: 9 trails/5 lifts

About McIntyre Ski Area: Thousands of skiers have learned the sport in the state’s largest city. The mountain’s best feature is the ski-school program. Children ages 3+, all the way up to adults, can learn to ski and ride at McIntyre. Private lessons and weekday/weekend programs available.

Mount Sunapee Resort

Location: 1398 Rte. 103, Newbury Phone: 603-763-3500 Web: www.mountsunapee.com Vertical drop: 1,510 ft. Skiable terrain: 233 acres Snowmaking coverage: 97% Number of trails and glades: 66 (29% novice, 48% intermediate, 23% expert) Number of lifts: 10

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About Mount Sunapee Resort: Get the best of both worlds at Mount Sunapee: big-mountain skiing and riding that’s close to home. Plus, Mount Sunapee has the most reliable snow and grooming in the East. Enjoy over 1,500 vertical feet, 66 trails, and 10 lifts, including two high-speed quads to the summit. All this, only 90 minutes from Boston.

Pats Peak Ski Area

Location: 686 Flanders Rd., Henniker Phone: 603-428-3245 Web: www.patspeak.com Vertical drop: 770 ft. Skiable terrain: 115 acres Snowmaking coverage: 100% Number of trails and glades: 28 (50% novice, 23% intermediate, 27% expert) Number of lifts: 11 Night skiing and snowboarding: 26 trails/11 lifts

About Pats Peak Ski Area: Offering a variety of terrain for all abilities, plus terrain parks, a snow tubing park, and 100% snowmaking coverage. Longest top-to-bottom beginner run in New Hampshire, open for day and night skiing. It’s one of the state’s most accessible learn-to-ski and snowboard mountains, with three separate beginner areas.

Ragged Mountain Resort

Location: 620 Ragged Mountain Rd., Danbury Phone: 603-768-3600 Web: www.raggedmountainresort.com Vertical drop: 1,250 ft. Skiable terrain: 244 acres Snowmaking coverage: 85% Number of trails: 56 (27% novice, 29% intermediate, 44% expert) Number of lifts: 7

About Ragged Mountain Resort: New Hampshire's only high-speed six-person chairlift is complemented by a new high-speed quad lift. Each accesses its own mountain peak for a total of 250 acres. From renowned glade skiing to perfectly pitched groomers, the slopes here are second to none in New England.

Waterville Valley Resort

Location: 1 Ski Area Rd, Waterville Valley Phone: 800-468-2553 800-GO-VALLEY Web: www.waterville.com Vertical drop: 2,020 ft. Skiable terrain: 265 acres Snowmaking coverage: 100% Number of trails and glades: 60 (14% novice, 64% intermediate, 22% expert) Number of lifts: 11

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About Waterville Valley Resort: Experience the thrill of a 4,000-foot mountain with the convenience of a pedestrian ski village. Start your day with fresh corduroy on Tippecanoe and finish your evening with fireworks in Town Square. The village is set within a 500-acre self-contained valley and features shopping, dining, and après-ski, all just footsteps away from the resort’s lodging options.

Whaleback Mountain

Location: 160 Whaleback Mountain Rd., Enfield Phone: 603-448-5500 Web: www.whaleback.com Vertical drop: 700 ft. Skiable terrain: 85 acres Number of trails: 30 (23% novice, 40% intermediate, 37% expert) Number of lifts: 3

About Whaleback Mountain: Skiing and riding for the whole family, day and night! Don’t let the view from the highway fool you—Whaleback boasts 30 trails, with a 700-foot vertical. From beginner runs to wonderful glades and steeps, there’s something for everyone in the family. And let’s not forget about the night skiing—Whaleback is the only night-skiing option in the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee area. Whaleback’s super-accessibility right off the highway guarantees you maximum trail time.

For more information on Ski New Hampshire’s 16 alpine ski area members, visit SkiNH.com or reach out to the contacts listed on the resort media information page at the end of the press kit. For high-resolution imagery, please visit our Media Gallery.

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Ski New Hampshire Cross-Country Ski Area Fact Sheet

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center

Location: Rte. 302, Bartlett Phone: 603-374-2277 Web: www.bearnotchskitouring.com Total Kilometers: 70 km Groomed: 60 km Tracked: 60 km Skate Groomed: 60 km

About Bear Notch Ski Touring Center: A full-service cross-country ski and snowshoe center. From the 200-year-old farmhouse base lodge, embark on an unforgettable winter adventure on more than 60 kilometers of meticulously groomed trails into the surrounding mountains. Homemade bread and soups daily, plus groomed terrain to lodging and restaurants.

Bretton Woods Nordic Center

Location: 210 Mount Washington Hotel Rd., Bretton Woods Phone: 603-278-3322 Web: www.brettonwoods.com Total Kilometers: 100 km Groomed: 100 km Tracked: 100 km Skate Groomed: 100 km

About Bretton Woods Nordic Center: One of the nation’s top Nordic resorts featuring wide, scenic trails for classic and skate skiing, plus snowshoeing and 11km of dog-friendly trails. Ideal learn-to-ski terrain, plus loops for the distance of your choice. Join Alpine-skiing family and friends with unique lift-served High Country trails and mountainside log cabin, plus Fabyan Fields’ groomed trails in a park-like setting adjacent to the alpine Base Lodge.

Dartmouth Cross-Country Ski Center

Location: 10 Hilton Field Rd., Hanover Phone: 603-643-6534 & 603-643-5836 Web: www.outdoors.dartmouth.edu/services/xc_ski_center.html Total Kilometers: 25 km Groomed: 25 km Tracked: 20 km Skate Groomed: 20 km

About Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center: The Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center maintains over twenty-five kilometers of groomed cross country ski trails on Oak Hill and Garipay Field in Hanover, New Hampshire, as well as the ice on Occom Pond for ice skating. The Cross Country Ski Center has two facilities. One is based out of the DOC House on Occom Pond, which provides equipment rentals for skiing, skating, and other winter activities, as well as

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group and private instruction. The other facility is at Oak Hill, located in the north-east corner of Hanover. To get there, go north on Route 10 past the Golf Course, turn right at the Co-op Market, then take a sharp left after the road turns to dirt — park in the first lot on the right.

Dexter’s Inn Trails by Norsk

Location: 258 Stagecoach Rd., Sunapee Phone: 800-232-5571 Web: www.dextersnh.com Total Kilometers: 30 km Groomed: 25 km Tracked: 20 km

About Dexter’s Inn Trails by Norsk: An affordable, family-friendly resort near Mount Sunapee, offering a network of groomed trails right out the back door. Equipment rentals, lessons, a cozy warming room with fireplace, lodging, and dining are available on site. Terrain for all abilities, but particularly welcoming for beginners, families, and groups.

Eastman Cross Country Center

Location: 10 Clubhouse Lane, Grantham Phone: 603-863-4500 Web: www.eastmannh.org/ski Total Kilometers: 36 km Groomed: 36 km Tracked: 30 km Skate Groomed: 30 km

About Eastman Cross Country Center: A one-stop winter-activity center for skiing, snowshoeing, skating, and sledding. Reasonable rates, lessons for beginners and experts, a retail shop, and a variety of special events make this the ideal place to spend the day with family and friends.

Franconia Village Cross Country Ski Center

Location: 1172 Easton Rd., Franconia Phone:603-823-5542 Web: www.franconiainn.com Total Kilometers: 65 km Groomed: 65 km Tracked: 65 km Skate Groomed: 5 km

About Franconia Village Cross Country Ski Center: Nestled in the heart of the White Mountains, offering unparalleled scenic vistas amid a variety of beginner-to-expert terrain. Featuring ski, snowshoe, and ice-skate rentals, horse-drawn sleigh rides, a lighted ice-skating rink, sledding and tubing hills, and an outdoor Jacuzzi.

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Granite Gorge Cross Country

Location: 341 Route 9, Roxbury Phone: 603-358-5000 Web: www.granitegorge.com Total Kilometers: 14 km Groomed: 14 km Tracked: 14 km Skate Groomed: 14 km

About Granite Gorge Cross Country: Great cross-country trails; located directly on Route 9, the Gorge is simple to get to. Trails date back decades and have been reconstructed with the latest technology for superior conditions.

Great Glen Trails

Location: Rte. 16, Pinkham Notch Phone: 603-466-2333 Web: www.GreatGlenTrails.com Total Kilometers: 45 km Groomed: 22 km Tracked: 22 km Skate Groomed: 22 km

About Great Glen Trails: Located at the base of Mount Washington, Nordic skiers can come experience beginner terrain with customized snow elements and simple terrain features, promoting faster learning in a non-intimidating environment. For a truly unforgettable experience, climb into a custom nine-passenger four-track SnowCoach for a thrilling ride to treeline at 4,000 feet on the Mount Washington Auto Road. Selection and service at Great Glen Outfitters are second to none, and breakfast and lunch at the Glen View Café offer some of the best views in New Hampshire. Great Glen Trails has invested in improvements to increase terrain during early and low snow seasons.

Gunstock Mountain Resort Cross Country

Location: 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford, NH 03249 Phone: 603-293-4341 Web: www.gunstock.com Total Kilometers: 50 km Groomed: 50 km Tracked: 15 km Skate Groomed: 38 km

About Gunstock Cross Country: A full-service Nordic and snowshoe center in the heart of the Lakes Region, Gunstock even has snowmaking to cover the trails when Mother Nature doesn’t. Experience the snowy wilderness of New England in a pristine outdoor environment as you stride, skate, or snowshoe Gunstock’s extensive set-track and single-track trail system. Equipment rentals and lesson programs are available for all skill levels and disciplines, and when you’re done playing in the woods be sure to visit Gunstock’s historic base lodge for some après fun.

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Jackson Ski Touring Foundation

Location: 153 Main St., Jackson Phone: 603-383-9355 Web: www.jacksonxc.org Total Kilometers: 154 km Groomed: 93 km Tracked: 93 km Skate Groomed: 93 km

About Jackson Ski Touring Foundation: A not-for-profit organization focused on providing the largest family-friendly and affordable cross-country and snowshoe center in the eastern U.S. The 150-plus-kilometer trail system, offering something for everyone, starts in the heart of picturesque Jackson Village and meanders through rolling fields, along streams, past warming huts and spectacular views, and straight to the doors of a dozen inns, restaurants, and pubs. We even offer 15 KM of pet friendly trails. Rentals, retail shop, and refreshments are available at the spacious lodge. Offering daily lessons, weekly tours, group rates, and more than 100 special events throughout the winter. Alpine skiers get 33% off on Sundays. If you are looking for adventurous backcountry skiing, we offer some of the best! Ski the backside of Wildcat Mountain with a vertical drop of 3,245 ft.

Loon Mountain Cross Country

Location: 60 Loon Mountain Rd., Lincoln Phone: 800-229-5666 Web: www.loonmtn.com Total Kilometers: 20 km Groomed: 20 km Tracked: 8 km

About: Explore a serene network of Nordic trails that parallel the Pemigewasset River and climb through the forest along old logging roads.

Nordic Skier Wolfeboro Cross Country

Location: 47 North Main St., Wolfeboro Phone: 603-569-3151 Web: www.wolfeboroxc.org Total Kilometers: 30 km Groomed: 30 km Tracked: 30 km Skate Groomed: 30 km

About Nordic Skier Wolfeboro: The “XC Village of the Lakes Region,” a New Hampshire Magazine 2012 “Editors’ Pick” as “Best Cross-Country Ski Deal”: “Leading the pack with community-run, family-friendly, affordable, and beautiful cross-country skiing.” Voted 2014’s “Best Nordic Ski Shop in New England.” New for 2014–15: 2-kilometer Manmade Snow Loop. Cross-country skiing’s best-kept secret: Come see for yourself.

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Pine Hill Ski Club

Location: 220 Mountain Rd., New London Phone: 603-381-8685 Web: www.pinehillskiclub.com Total Kilometers: 20 km Groomed: 20 km Tracked: 20 km Skate Groomed: 20 km

About Pine Hill Ski Club: A community-based organization with a cross-country ski area open to the public; 20 kilometers of groomed-track skiing. The parking facility is located three miles from Lake Sunapee Country Club. Rentals available at Village Sports in New London (603-526-4948). Don’t miss Robb’s Warming Hut (open weekends only), on Robb’s Hut trail where they have just refurbished two bridges and are offering hot drinks, snacks, and a fun destination, located just a 20-minute ski from the trailhead.

Purity Spring Resort XC and Snowshoe Reserve

Location: 1251 Eaton Rd., East Madison Phone: 800-FREE-SKI Web: www.kingpine.com/xc-skiing.html Total Kilometers: 28 km Groomed: 15 km Tracked: 15 km Skate Groomed: 15 km

About Purity Spring Resort XC and Snowshoe Reserve: Twenty-eight kilometers of cross-country and snowshoe trails wind around Purity Lake and throughout New Hampshire Audubon’s Hoyt Wildlife Sanctuary. Terrain to satisfy all abilities, plus scenic views and unblemished forest throughout the 1,000-acre property. Lessons and rentals are available.

Waterville Valley Adventure Center

Location: Town Square, Waterville Valley Phone: 800-GO-VALLEY Web: www.waterville.com Total Kilometers: 70 km Groomed: 70 km Tracked: 70 km Skate Groomed: 70 km

About Waterville Valley Adventure Center: More than 70 kilometers of Nordic trails, widest in New England, provide diversity and challenge to both novice and expert skiers amid the splendor of White Mountain National Forest. Trails are groomed daily; wide range of terrain, from novice to expert, for both skate and classic styles. At day’s end, the Nordic Center provides a crackling fire and the amenities of Town Square.

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Windblown Cross Country

Location: 1180 Turnpike Rd., New Ipswich Phone: 603-878-2869 Web: www.windblownxc.com Total Kilometers: 40 km Groomed: 40 km Tracked: 40 km Skate Groomed: 40 km

About Windblown Cross Country: Nestled in the wooded hills of the Monadnock Region, 40 kilometers of exciting trails with beautiful views from the fields. Unbeatable grooming with two PistenBully snowcats and three snowmobiles.

For more information on Ski New Hampshire’s 18 cross-country ski area members, visit SkiNH.com or reach out to the contacts listed on the resort media information page at the end of the press kit. For high-resolution imagery, please visit our Media Gallery.

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RFID Technology Hits New Hampshire’s Slopes Direct-to-lift access ticketing and other major capital improvements planned for 2017-18 ski season

CONWAY, NH (October 16, 2017)—When one thinks of the great outdoors, technology isn’t the first thing to come to mind. But three of New Hampshire’s ski areas are making it easier than ever to access the slopes by installing Radio Frequency Identification technology to their ticketing systems and chairlift portals. This technology is but one way that Ski New Hampshire’s members are making improvements for a better guest experience this coming winter.

Gunstock Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee Resort, and Waterville Valley Resort will debut their RFID systems, which replaces the traditional lift ticket worn on the outside of a person’s jacket, with a card that can be read as they enter the chairlift portal.

At Gunstock, RFID access gates will be installed at each lift location, and will be used for season passes, Flex passholders, and even day ticket holders. Tickets can be loaded to these cards online at Gunstock.com for direct-to- lift access. Mount Sunapee Resort’s Real.Easy.Card will also replace traditional lift tickets and season passes, and will be read by automated lift access gates to allow guests to use the chairlifts. Waterville Valley Resort’s RFID system will differ from the other resorts, as it will be the first gateless RFID system, which will streamline the skiing experience.

Other capital improvements for Ski New Hampshire member resorts include the following:

Black Mountain

- In partnership with Ski the Whites, Black Mountain will be adding a backcountry skiing and snowboarding program to their facility. They will be offering backcountry-specific skiing and snowboarding lessons and rentals from their base lodge. - Trail maintenance will be completed in partnership with the Granite Backcountry Alliance to prune and manicure the glades this fall. - New high-efficiency snow guns will be added to their fleet to strengthen snowmaking capabilities and provide a better snow surface throughout the season.

Cannon Mountain

- Following last year’s $5 million snowmaking and energy upgrade project, Cannon Mountain was able to make two times the snow with half the energy. This year, they will add an additional $250,000 in upgrades to snowmaking. - Cannon will also spend $135,000 for a public warming hut on Mittersill, $200,000 on chairlift upgrades, and $150,000 for a state-of-the-art ski and snowboard tuning machine.

Cranmore Mountain Resort

- As part of their $50 Million Master Development Plan, the 18-unit Kearsarge Brook Condominium project at Cranmore Mountain Resort will be completed by the end of October. - The Kearsarge Brook Amenities Building will be built in two phases, including a four-season outdoor pool with an indoor viewing area and changing rooms, which will be completed in December 2017. The second phase of this

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building, located next to Cranmore Fitness, will feature a tubing park base lodge, which is expected to be completed within three years. - Unload Zone has been renovated to include new paving, drop-off parking, sidewalks, decorative and improved lighting, plus landscaping. - 86 new high-efficiency snow guns will be added to the mountain’s inventory, which were developed by Cranmore’s owners, Brian and Tyler Fairbank. They will use 90 percent of water pumping capacity and 50 percent less air, which will cut down on energy costs while producing twice the amount of snow.

Granite Gorge

- Granite Gorge is grading and adding drainage to their 350-foot-wide race trail, and will be acquiring new race- specific safety equipment for that trail. - They are adding two new Demac/Lenko Titan Snow Fans to their fleet. - They will also add 50 Tube Pro Snow Tubes, new lighting for Cosmic Tubing, and they will have new rental equipment available for skiing and snowboarding.

Gunstock Mountain Resort

- Gunstock is purchasing 37 new, energy efficient HKD snow guns for the winter season. 34 of these guns will be mounted on sleds and 3 are tower mounted. The purchase of these guns completes a multi-year initiative to replace all of the resort’s snow guns with modern, energy efficient technology. This snowmaking plan is part of a resort wide initiative to reduce total energy consumption by 15% by 2020.

King Pine Ski Area

- To maintain their snowmaking infrastructure, King Pine has spent close to a $100,000 installing 5,000 feet of new larger diameter snowmaking pipe to replace older pipe. King Pine is also spending close to $200,000 to acquire 45 additional new HKD Snowmakers high efficiency, low energy tower and ground guns. In addition, King Pine sent four of its fan guns to Snow Machines Inc. (SMI) to be upgraded and refurbished to the most up-to-date snowmaking efficiency specifications. - King Pine has been working to maintain and improve its existing tree skiing areas and develop more within its existing boundary area. King Pine and Purity Spring Resort have also recently spent more than $80,000 to improve networking and customer cellular service and WiFi by installing fiber-optic cable throughout the resort.

Loon Mountain Resort

- Loon is enhancing its commitment to snowmaking this winter by installing 11 semi-automated snowmaking hydrants on Lower Rumrunner. Since 2013, Loon has installed more than 150 of these ultra-efficient hydrants on key early-season snowmaking trails. By drastically reducing the time required to turn the guns on and off, the hydrants allow Loon to open more terrain more quickly in the early season – and enable the resort to deliver better, more consistent snow all season long. In addition to installing new semi-automated hydrants on Lower Rumrunner, Loon is also upgrading other aspects of the snowmaking infrastructure in the resort’s West Basin area.

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Pats Peak Ski Area

- A new triple chairlift at Pats Peak will replace the old Peak Double, doubling the capacity of the lift from 800 to 1,600 people per hour. Also, they will be deploying some newer technology at the bottom of the lift with a conveyor carpet system that will make loading easier and faster, cutting down on the ride time to the summit. - With early season skiing and riding in mind, another $250,000 investment has been put into their state-of-the-art snowmaking coverage system. This year’s investment is the addition of six (6) Fan Guns from Snow Machines Inc. - Pats Peak is midway through its lodge expansion and renovation. When it is complete, it will add more seating, an elevator and new bathrooms along with expanded locker service. This year’s expansion work will be done on the middle A-frame of the lodge and by adding more seating on the cafeteria level. - Renters will find new Elan skis, boots and poles along with new Burton snowboard boots. The 9,600 square foot Starting Gate Rental Shop is Northern New England’s largest rental shop. The Rental Shop will continue to provide fast service to renters with its self-service check-in service, where renter information is stored to make each rental process quicker. This allows skiers and riders out on the slopes even faster. - Brand new deck heaters will take the edge off of that chill while skiers and riders are relaxing on the deck. These are state-of-the-art and incredibly efficient. They'll be placed throughout the third floor deck nearest the Sled Pub.

Ragged Mountain Resort

- Ragged Mountain Resort is adding a new Bison X Groomer to their snow grooming fleet. - They will also have a new hardware update for their point-of-sale system.

Waterville Valley Resort

- The New Learner’s Area Experience will include the replacement of the original J-Bar with two new carpet lifts as well as additional trail earthwork and grading for a more effective teaching area. The addition of the two carpets will divide the trail into a shorter or longer run, and create a supportive experience for beginners, without the fear of challenging lift loading or conquering a full length trail before first getting comfortable on snow. - Skiers and riders can expect to see the first stage of renovations completed on the ground floor of the base lodge. The Ticket Office will be relocated and renovated for a better purchasing experience and overall better traffic flow at the base area. The relocation will also make way for an expanded Waterville Valley Adaptive Snowsports Program facility, with improved access to the base area, the courtyard, and unload. - Further earthwork and grading will mean that more of the new Green Peak terrain will be skiable this season. $1.15million has been invested in snowmaking infrastructure and more than 500 new snowmaking guns have been purchased. Guests will see new equipment and an improved snow product on Green Peak and the main mountain this season.

Whaleback Mountain

- Thanks to grant funding and private donors, Whaleback has begun upgrading their snowmaking system, doing trail work to get ready for the season, and replacing the West-Side T-Bar.

Windblown XC

- Improvements at Windblown include drainage in the parking lot and a new snowplow to keep it clear, major brushing on all of the trails, brand new rental gear, and additions to the lunch menu.

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For further information on these improvements and what’s new this season, please reference the media contact guide included in this press kit to reach out to the ski areas directly. For high-resolution imagery, please visit our Media Gallery.

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Ways to Save on Skiing and Riding this Winter Ski New Hampshire and its member resorts offer products and pricing to attract business

CONWAY, NH (October 16, 2017)—Skiing is often thought of as an expensive sport, but it doesn’t have to be. As part of its core mission and by way of New Hampshire’s winter playgrounds, Ski New Hampshire aims to bring more people into the sports of alpine skiing and snowboarding, as well as cross-country skiing, and to that end its member resorts are improving their product mix to reflect the goal of getting more people skiing.

From Ski New Hampshire, guests can purchase discounted lift tickets from 14 alpine ski areas in the state. The sale, which launched on October 7, offers a limited supply of lift tickets—at 20-45% off of the window rate—that can be used any day of the 2017-18 season. There is no minimum purchase, and these tickets are fully-transferable to friends and family. Tickets are sold on SkiNH.com and prices will increase on November 1, 2017.

The non-profit organization also offers the 4th & 5th Grade Snowsports Passport. For just $30, students from those grades from in and outside of New Hampshire can get one lift ticket or trail pass for all 34 of Ski New Hampshire’s member ski areas during the 2017-18 season. Parents who purchase the passport must show proof of grade in order to be eligible to download the passport’s vouchers. These passports are on sale for the entire ski season, and part of the proceeds benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire.

As for resort promotions, Loon Mountain Resort is expanding its season pass offerings with Loon-only products, such as the Loon Millennial Pass, the Loon Senior Bronze Pass, and the Loon Sunday Pass for skiers with more specific needs who are budget conscious.

Pats Peak has also launched a pre-paid “Passport Program PLUS.” For just $349, new skiers ages 18+ can get four lift, lesson and rentals packages. This pass is only for beginners and offers the chance to earn a free season pass and brand-new pair of Elan Skis with bindings at the completion of the program.

Ragged Mountain Resort has positioned itself as an affordable ski destination by way of the Mission: Affordable season pass, as well as the free BeBe Wood Learn-to-Ski Program, which offers beginners free lessons and upon completion, the opportunity to take advantage of many Ragged Mountain deals.

Granite Gorge is also pricing competitively, and has slashed day ticket prices significantly across the board to promote more affordable skiing and riding.

All Ski New Hampshire member resorts offer season passes as well, which are a great deal for those who know where they like to ski and intend to ski there consistently throughout the season.

These are certainly not the only ways to save throughout the winter. Deals will be added to Ski New Hampshire’s Daily Deals page all season long to keep thrifty skiers and riders in the loop.

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Story Ideas from New Hampshire’s Ski Areas

If you need inspiration for filing stories this winter, Ski New Hampshire’s members have each supplied their top story for the season. To follow-up on these leads, please reference the media contact guide included in this press kit to reach out to the ski areas directly.

Black Mountain

Backcountry Beckons In partnership with Ski the Whites, Black Mountain will be adding a backcountry skiing and snowboarding program to their facility. This will include a backcountry-specific lesson and rental program that can be found in their base lodge.

Bretton Woods

Top Grooming and Snow Conditions Bretton Woods, New Hampshire’s largest ski area, continues its quest to provide a consistently exceptional ski experience, as recognized once again by SKI Magazine’s reader survey as among the best in the East. For the fifth consecutive year, Bretton Woods holds the top two spots for Grooming and Snow, with the Best Grooming in the East getting the highest nod this year. With these two main ingredients supported by the Best Service and Lifts in the state, the recipe for a fantastic day on the slopes starts here at Bretton Woods.

Cannon Mountain

2X More Snow Last winter, Cannon Mountain made the most snow in its history, while also reducing energy costs by 30 percent. 2016-2017 snowmaking upgrades not only churned out two times more snow, but also helped to save over $400K in energy costs at the same time. Our $5.1 million energy-efficiency initiative with over 400 state-of-the-art tower guns kicked our system into overdrive and we’ll be back at it again for 2017-18 with even more snowmaking upgrades. We’ll make it white and keep it covered so that you can make it yours.

Cranmore Mountain Resort

A Master Plan Cranmore’s $50 Million Master Development Plan is now underway, with the new 18-unit Kearsarge Brook Condominium project being completed last month. New amenities for the resort will also include a four-season outdoor pool, with indoor viewing area and changing rooms, by the New Year as well. On-mountain improvements include an enhanced snowmaking capacity with 86 new high-efficiency guns, new lighting on beginner terrain, a renovated unload zone, and expanded night skiing hours on Saturdays and holiday periods.

Granite Gorge

Slashing Prices Granite Gorge is focusing on affordability for the 2017-18 ski season. All alpine lift ticket prices have been cut by over 30 percent from last season, with a full-day adult ticket costing just $33. What’s more, Granite Gorge is also

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offering a brand new 2-hour ticket that can be used for any two hours throughout the ski day for those looking to just get a few runs in. And when you buy your lift tickets online, you’ll save an additional 10 percent.

Gunstock Mountain Resort

Night Session Savings Gunstock Mountain Resort’s all new Night Sessions offer great savings under the lights. Anyone with a lift ticket or season pass can now get a basic rental package (excluding helmet), Quick Tip lessons (beginner through intermediate levels available), and two runs of tubing or the Mountain Coaster, or one run of each during night skiing hours.

King Pine Ski Area

Top Notch Snowmaking To maintain its snowmaking infrastructure, which is capable of covering 100 percent of its trails, King Pine has spent close to a $300,000 installing 5,000 feet of new larger diameter snowmaking pipe; acquired 45 additional new HKD Snowmakers high efficiency, low energy tower and ground guns; and sent four of its fan guns to Snow Machines Inc. to be upgraded and refurbished to the most up-to-date specifications. All of this positions King Pine to move greater amounts of water, increase snowmaking performance, operate more guns covering greater terrain more quickly, all while significantly reducing the energy expended to do so.

Loon Mountain Resort

Continued Commitment to Snowmaking This winter, Loon is enhancing its commitment to New Hampshire’s most powerful snowmaking system by installing 11 semi-automated snowmaking hydrants on Rampasture, and upgrading key infrastructure in the resort’s West Basin area. Over the last several years, Loon has installed more than 150 semi-automated snowmaking hydrants on key early-season snowmaking trails. By drastically reducing the time required to turn the guns on and off, these hydrants allow our snowmakers to open more terrain more quickly in the early season – and enable Loon to deliver better, more consistent snow all season long.

Mount Sunapee Resort

Real.Easy with RFID In honor of our 70th operating season, Mount Sunapee Resort is celebrating with the Real.Easy.Card, an RFID- enabled lift ticket. This upgrade to our infrastructure will make for convenient online purchases, direct-to-lift access, and the ability to pre-load and re-load lift access products, which means that you’ll spend less time in the ticket and lift lines, and more time hitting our slopes.

Pats Peak Ski area

A Smoother Ride The ol’ Peak Double Chair was a good one. But with the new triple chair lift, Pats Peak will be doubling the capacity of the lift from 800 to 1,600 people per hour. Also, they will be deploying some newer technology at the bottom of the lift with a conveyor carpet system that will make loading easier and faster, cutting down on the ride time to the summit.

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Ragged Mountain Resort

Quality at a Low Price Ragged Mountain is on a mission to bring you the best value in skiing in all of New England. First, we brought you MISSION: AFFORDABLE season passes with prices starting at just $249 and ending at $449. Then we created the Bebe Wood Free Learn to Ski & Ride Program which made it ultra-affordable for people to take up our amazing sports. New for this season, Ragged Mountain has added another new snowmaking pond on top of the increased water storage capacity we added last year. In the last two years, we have increased our snowmaking water storage capacity eight-fold! That means more snow and the best value for both current and future skiers & riders!

Waterville Valley Resort

Progressing to the Next Level This summer saw the launch of Phase II at Waterville Valley Resort, an additional $7.5 million resort-wide investment that followed last season’s 45-acre terrain expansion. Most notable for this winter is $1.9 million in new snowmaking equipment, 3 new surface lifts, and the first stage of a base lodge renovation. The most significant technological innovation is the first ever Gateless RFID System, which will streamline ticketing and lift-access. Additionally, All-Mountain Progressive Programming will adopt new strategies to improve every person’s experience on snow. New and returning National events to the East Coast, including the U.S. Moguls Championships and the Toyota Revolution Tour will hit our slopes as well. New developments will continue through the 2018/19 season and beyond.

Whaleback Mountain

Crowd-Sourced Capital Improvements Backed by a grant from the Byrne Foundation and private donations, Whaleback Mountain’s West-Side Expansion project is well underway. A volunteer-built pump-house is but one of the many snowmaking upgrades the ski area has made this summer, which also includes two new snowguns that will make snow in warmer temperatures than the rest of their fleet. The biggest project, however, is the new 800-foot West-Side T-Bar, which will provide access to several intermediate and beginner trails.

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Resort Media Contacts

Abenaki Ski Area - Christine Collins Jackson XC - Breanne Torrey [email protected], 603-569-5639 [email protected], 603-383-9355

Bear Notch Ski Touring - John Garland King Pine and Purity Spring Resort - Thomas [email protected], 603-374-2277 Prindle [email protected], 603-367-8896 Black Mountain - Liz York [email protected], 603-383-4490 Loon Mountain - Greg Kwasnik [email protected], 603-745-6281 x5542 Bretton Woods - Craig Clemmer [email protected], 603-278-3304 McIntyre Ski Area - Ross Boisvert [email protected], 603-622-6159 Cannon Mountain - Greg Keeler [email protected], 603-823-8800 Mount Sunapee Resort - Megan Burch [email protected], 603-763-3500 Cranmore Mountain Resort - Becca Deschenes [email protected], 603-356-5544 Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring - Barbara x350 Sisson [email protected], 603-356-9920 Dartmouth Skiway - Doug Holler [email protected], 603-795-2143 Nordic Skier/Wolfeboro XC - Steve Flagg [email protected], 603-569-3151 Dexter's Inn Trails by Norsk - John Augustine [email protected], 800-232-5571 Pats Peak Ski Area - Lori Rowell [email protected], 603-428-3245 Eastman Cross Country - Leslie Moses [email protected], 603-863-6772 Pine Hill XC Ski Club - John Schlosser [email protected], 603-735-5000 Franconia Village XC - Alex Morris [email protected], 603-823-5542 Ragged Mountain - Ben Hall [email protected], 603-768- Granite Gorge Ski Area - Fred Baybutt 3600 x3022 [email protected], 603-358-5000 Waterville Valley Resort - Whitney Vos Great Glen Trails - Crispin Battles [email protected], 603-236-8311x3204 [email protected], 603-466-3988, ext. 141 Whaleback Mountain - Nora Barre [email protected], 603-448-5500 Gunstock Mtn Resort - Mike Roth [email protected], 603-293-4308 Windblown Cross Country - Al Jenks [email protected], 603-878-2869

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