Waterville Valley Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waterville Valley Resort |
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Top of Highcountry Double,
south shoulder of Mount Tecumseh |
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 Waterville Valley Resort
Location in the United States
Waterville Valley Resort
Location in New Hampshire
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| Location | Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Plymouth – 20 miles (32 km) |
| Coordinates | 43°57′55″N 71°31′40″W / 43.96528°N 71.52778°W |
| Vertical | 2,020 ft (615 m) |
| Top elevation | 3,840 ft (1,170 m) (lift-served) 3,997 ft (1,218 m) (summit) |
| Base elevation | 1,820 ft (555 m) |
| Skiable area | 265 acres (1.07 km2) |
| Runs | 62 15% Novice 59% Intermediate 26% Expert |
| Longest run | 1.9 miles (3.1 km) |
| Lift system | 2 HS Quads, 2 Triples, 2 Doubles, 1 Platterpull, 2 T-Bar, 2 Conveyor Belt |
| Terrain parks | 6 |
| Snowfall | 148 inches (12.3 ft; 3.8 m) |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Night skiing | Yes |
Waterville Valley is a popular ski resort located in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, United States. It sits within the beautiful White Mountain National Forest. The resort is built on Mount Tecumseh, which has a top point of 3,997 feet (1,218 m) above sea level. The ski trails reach a high point of 3,840 feet (1,170 m), giving skiers a vertical drop of 2,020 feet (615 m).
The ski area has 11 lifts, including two fast "high-speed quads." Most of the slopes face east and northeast. Besides downhill skiing, Waterville Valley offers many other activities. You can enjoy 46 miles (74 km) of Nordic skiing (cross-country skiing), golf, tennis on nationally-ranked courts, a skateboard park, and an ice arena open all year. There are also opportunities for hiking, biking, and water sports.
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History of Waterville Valley Ski Resort
Skiing first began on Mount Tecumseh in the 1930s. This was thanks to the Civilian Conservation Corps, a group that built two ski trails. One of these trails was later used as part of the Waterville Valley ski area we know today.
How the Resort Started
In 1966, a group led by Tom Corcoran officially opened Waterville Valley. They started with four new double chairlifts and a J-Bar surface lift. Today, only one of those original chairlifts, called Lower Meadows, is still in use.
Over the next few decades, more lifts were added. Three triple chairlifts were installed, including the World Cup Triple in 1985. In 1988, a fast "high-speed detachable quad" chairlift was put in. However, due to strong winds, the top part of this lift was later removed. Now, the very top of the ski area is only reached by the High Country Double chairlift. In 1997, another high-speed quad chairlift, known as "Quadzilla," was installed.
Who Owns Waterville Valley?
After some financial difficulties in 1994, Waterville Valley was briefly owned by the American Skiing Company. Then, in 1996, it was sold to Booth Creek Ski Holdings. Since October 2010, the resort has been owned by members of the Sununu family from New Hampshire and other local investors. It remains an independent resort.
Waterville Valley and the World Cup
Waterville Valley has a special connection to the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. This is a series of international ski races. Waterville Valley first hosted World Cup events in slalom and giant slalom in 1969. It then became a regular stop for these races throughout most of the 1980s.
In the 1969 races, American women did very well. Kiki Cutter won the slalom, and Judy Nagel came in third. A few days earlier, Marilyn Cochran and Karen Budge tied for second place in the giant slalom. Later, Tamara McKinney won five World Cup events in a row at the resort from 1983 to 1985. The most recent World Cup races at Waterville Valley were held in March 1991.
After 1991, the World Cup circuit did not return to the eastern U.S. for over 25 years. It finally came back in November 2016 at Killington, Vermont.
Ski Clubs and Schools
Waterville Valley is home to the "Black and Blue Trail Smashers" (also known as BBTS) ski club. This is one of the oldest ski clubs in the USA, started way back in 1934. The BBTS team trains athletes in ski racing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and boardercross. The club has won many awards, including the USSA Club of the Year award in 2006. Olympic gold medalist Hannah Kearney, who won the women's moguls in the 2010 Winter Olympics, was part of this club.
Waterville Valley Academy (WVA) is a special winter sports boarding school. It trains skiers and snowboarders and operates at Waterville Valley. WVA is connected to the Waterville Valley BBTS ski club and uses many of its resources and staff.
