This is our inaugural year, and due to the significant planning, coordination and communication by our team leaders of Ms. Pei and Ms. Tami on our first day we successfully schussed (ski term) down the road and onto the trails of Nashoba Valley Ski Area last Wednesday! While it may seem like a low bar, no one came back with frostbite, we did not lose anyone, everyone returned with all their gear, everyone had hot chocolate and many smiles were seen on the tired faces of everyone who ventured out into the cold (really cold!!!) afternoon!
The Ski Club heads out from Acera on Wednesday’s from January 8th through February 12th at 12:00pm and returns by 5:30pm. Nashoba coordinates group lessons based on ability (kind of like math at Acera) for one hour, and the remainder of time is spent free skiing with friends old and new. I witnessed at least one Acera student buddy up for free skiing with a student from another school they had met during their lesson.
We spent part of two days before break going over the framework and norms for this school based activity including, but not limited to the following: Ski Club Guidelines, Ski Club Calendar, Ski Area Norms, NSAA Skier Responsibility Code, emphasizing that Skiing is FUN, and Trivial Pursuit. I have provided the Ski Club Trivial Pursuit if you have any interest in playing…and recognize the opportunity here to prepare for the upcoming 7th Annual Reed Hollett Trivia Night Fundraiser on February 6th!
Stay tuned for more photos and updates from the snowy hills of eastern Massachusetts! And as always…please pray for more snow!
Ski Trivia Pursuit (answer key below)
- Number of ski areas in USA: ____________
- Number of ski areas in Massachusetts: ____________
- Three states with most ski areas in order:
- _________________________ How many:______
- _________________________ How many:______
- _________________________ How many:______
- Year first ski area opened in USA:________________
- State where first ski area opened:____________________
- State where two ski areas opened in 2023:
- __________________ & _____________________
- Average annual inches of snowfall at Nashoba: _______________ inches
- Highest average annual snowfall in inches at ski area in USA: ________________ inches
- State where ski area with highest annual snowfall is located:____________________________
- World record inches of snowfall at a ski area in one year: __________inches
- Location of this ski area_________________________
- What is telemarking: _________________________________________________
- Extra credit…
- State of ski area where Mr. Malcolm was on Ski Patrol:______________________
- Extra Extra credit
- Ski area where Mr. Malcolm was on Ski Patrol:___________________________
Ski Trivia Pursuit (Answer Key)
- Number of ski areas in United States: 486 (2023/2024
- Number of ski areas in Massachusetts: 12
- Three states with most ski areas in order:
- New York: 52
- Michigan: 40
- Colorado & Wisconsin: 34
- Year and state where first ski area opened in United States: 1915 & Colorado
- States where two ski areas opened in 2023: North Dakota & Colorado
- Average annual inches of snowfall at Nashoba: 43 inches
- Highest average annual snowfall at ski area in United States: 669” (Alyeska Ski Area)
- State where ski area with highest annual snowfall is located: Alaska
- World record annual snowfall in one year in inches: 1,140” (95 feet Mt. Baker, Washington)
- What is telemarking: Free the heel!!! Traditional ski technique where only the toe is attached to ski.
- Extra credit…State of ski area where Mr. Malcolm was on Ski Patrol: Washington
- Extra Extra credit…Ski area where Mr. Malcolm was on Ski Patrol: Mt. Baker
