After a snowy Tuesday, some local cross-country skiers made their way over to Beaver Meadow Golf Course to enjoy the conditions and get some exercise.
The following days delivered below-freezing temperatures, perfect for making more snow and creating a base for the rest of the season.
New England winters notoriously fluxuate, which is why having a groomer and consistent snowmaking capabilities on site would help to better prepare the city-owned land for Nordic activities, Sam Evans-Brown, chairman of Ski the Beav, explained.
A few years back, the nonprofit embarked on a three-phase plan to make Nordic skiing at Beaver Meadow a regional attraction as a local epicenter for the sport.
First, the organization raised funds for a groomer, and last year, they trialed a snowmaking fan gun in collaboration with Concord Parks and Rec. The nonprofit surveyed 370 people before trialing the snowmaker, which received widespread support, with respondents saying they would be more likely to ski at least once a week with consistent conditions on the course.
Similar endeavors had been successful elsewhere, including at the Weston Ski Track at the Leo J. Martin golf course outside of Boston and the Quarry Road Trails in Waterville, Maine. But Ski the Beav needed to show it could be a reality in Concord, too.
“They, down there in Boston, are able to ski more days than up here in Concord, in the snowy north,” Evans-Brown said. “My hope is that we’d be able to get a core loop.”
The month-long trial of the HKD Super Blizzard was a success as it pumped out two hundred gallons of water per minute 225 feet into the air. People from across the capital region and beyond came to the course and clicked on their skis to enjoy the great outdoors.
Even better for Ski the Beav, the trial provided further proof of concept. It allowed the Concord High Nordic team to practice more consistently and allowed Ski the Beav to host a Learn to Ski clinic for 80 beginners, as well as serving locals looking to ski without driving far.
This year, the organization aimed to make snowmaking a permanent feature. They raised about 58% of the $100,000 goal to cover the purchase of the snowmaker and the utilities costs of extending water and power lines out onto the golf course.
Additionally, the group received a rebate of $24,000 from New Hampshire Saves to cover the snowmaking machine purchase, which put them above 80% of the way to their goal. The city council will vote on December 8 to approve the rebate funding.
The utility infrastructure extensions are estimated to cost around $43,000, which means that the organization would be able to cover the snowmaking cost and be only a few thousand dollars away from reaching the project’s total cost.
“The gun has been built, like the folks at HKD sent me a photo of the gun, and it was all wrapped up in cellophane and stuff,” Evans-Brown said with relief in his voice. “And they’re like, you gotta present, you’ve got a package waiting to be unwrapped.”
If approved, it’s still unknown if the utilities work will be completed before the end of the snowy months.
That still would not stop the folks from Ski the Beav from connecting eight hoses together to extend water out to the snowmaker, and Evans-Brown was confident the organization will get at least some snowmaking going this winter.