Ski Ward Offers First Lift-Served Skiing of 2024-25 Season
The Massachusetts area installed a Latitude 90 snowmaking system last year.
Saturday, October 19, 2024, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Leveraging its Latitude 90 snowmaking system, Ski Ward will offer the first lift-served skiing of the season in New England today. The area opened on October 22 last year.
The Latitude 90 L60 system pushes out machine made snow via two outlets and can operate in temperatures as warm as 77 degrees. Ski Ward installed the system in 2023 to consistently start its ski programs during the first week of November. The system covers the 50 vertical foot Dream Maker slope, which is served by a carpet lift. A similar technology named SnowMagic was operated at Tenney Mountain in the fall of 2003.
A limited number of $5 lift tickets are being offered this weekend as part of the area's fall festival.
Other than brief tests, no other New England ski areas have fired up their snowmaking systems this season thus far. Multiple areas in Northern New England received snow earlier this week (with some reporting nearly a foot), but unfrozen ground and warmer temperatures are quickly melting it.
Located east of Worcester, Ski Ward has been owned by the LaCroix family for over 30 years. The 220 vertical foot hill is served by a triple chairlift and multiple surface lifts.
