Hill Names: Easy Mile

Easy Mile: don't be fooled by the name. It is not easy, and it is not a mile. Easy Mile is the hardest "Green Circle" hill at Nub's Nob. Also, it is not a mile long. Ramblewood is our longest hill at about 9/10 of a mile. Why then is it called Easy Mile? Back when Nubby and Dorie Sarns had the hill cut, it became the easiest slope after the beginner rope tow area that was in front of the lodge. It was also the longest hill by the time you followed the trail back down to the lodge. Hence the name, Easy Mile.

Dressed for Success: Helmets

The Nub's Nob Winter Sports School policy is that helmets are recommended, but not required. I highly recommend them! Helmets can be purchased at any local ski shop or at the Nub's Nob General Store. They are also available through rental for just $10 a day. There are many things on a ski hill that can cause an injury: the ground, equipment, trees, buildings, other skiers and snowboards, terrain elements, and the thing that scares me the most, a chairlift. Will you or your child sustain a head injury while skiing? Probably not, but wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry?

Advice From the Purple Chair: The Bumps

When you are riding the Purple Chair at Nub's Nob, you will notice a beginner terrain park to your left. This is new in the last few years and has been great fun for kids. There is a box and a few rails, but my favorite part is the "bumps." They aren't moguls, but a series of mounds of snow that are lots of fun to ski over. Kids of all abilities love it, but I like to wait until kids are off of the "tip ties" that attach to the end of their skis. I find it is a great motivator.

ChairTalk: The Orange Chair

The Orange Chair is the longest lift at Nub's Nob. It has 104 chairs and 19 towers, or does it? If you pay close attention to the numbers on the "riblets" you will notice there is no tower 12! When the hill Bay View was cut, management saw that tower 12 was in the middle of the skier's path and would be a safety problem. The tower was removed, and extra supports were attached to tower 11.

Why We Ski: Powder!

Powder! Well this was not the soft and fluffy stuff, but fresh untracked snow is nothing to sneeze at. The storm of the last few days has left some nice stashes here and there. I am very proud of these figure 8s I made!

Advice From the Purple Chair: Reservations

As you can see from the picture, instructor training has begun! Now is the time to start making lesson reservations for the holiday season. Reservations are not required, but a good idea. You can request particular instructors, like yours truly, who might otherwise be booked if you wait until you arrive. Also, reservations are a good idea if you want a specific lesson, such as bumps or pipe and park. The people at the Winter Sports School desk are great at matching up students to the right instructor.

Addendum 12/27: If you have a reservation but can't make it to the hill, please call and cancel at least 24 hours ahead!

Signs of the Season: First Day!

Although Nub's Nob opened last weekend, today was my first day back. Before my new skis (first pair in seven years) weren't ready yet, and even if they were, there is too much to do over Thanksgiving weekend. This morning I got out there and it was great. Not many hills are open yet, but it was fun to make those turns again. The best part was the camaraderie. It is so fun to see ski friends again and be able to catch up and talk about skiing!