{{Infobox ski area , name =Ski Ward Ski Area , picture =Ski_ward.jpg , caption = , location = Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US , nearest_city = Worcester, Massachusetts , coordinates = {{coord, 42, 18, 20, N, 71, 40, 30, W, type:landmark_scale:50000, display=inline , vertical =220 feet , number_trails =9 , longest_run = , liftsystem = 1 Triple chair, 5 Surface Lifts , snowmaking = 100% , external_lin
Ski Ward Ski Area
} Ski Ward Ski Area is a small ski area located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Ski Ward has nine trails covering a vertical drop of approximately 220 feet. The summit is served by a triple chairlift and

t-bar A surface lift is a type of cable transport for snow sports in which skiers and snowboarders remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill. While they were once prevalent, they have been overtaken in popularity by higher-capacity and higher-co ...

, while the beginner area has a handle tow and carpet lift. There is a lodge with a bar and grill, restrooms, guest services, rental shop and ski patrol first aid room. Ski Ward also has a tubing facility with 8 lanes serviced by 2 lifts. Boston area schools including

Wellesley High School Wellesley High School is a public high school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States, educating students on grades 9 through 12. The principal is Jamie Chisum, who took the position in 2014 after the departure of Andrew Keough. As of 2022, ...

and Westwood High School hold their Ski Team practices at Ward and the hill hosts both practices and races on White Out almost every day of the week. Ski Ward has is also host to USASA

Boardercross Snowboard cross, also known as boardercross, is a snowboard competition in which four to six competitors race down a course. Snowboard cross courses are typically quite narrow and include cambered turns, various types of jumps, berms, rollers, ...

events, rail jams and terrain park competitions and a variety of other special events.

History

The facility began operation in 1939, known as ''Ward Hill Ski Area'' (operated by the Ward family). It has been in continuous operation since that time. In 1990 John and Effy LaCroix purchased the area and began an extensive upgrade, including a snow-tubing slope, a triple chairlift, and improvements to the lighting, snowmaking and

snow grooming Snow grooming is the process of manipulating snow for recreational uses with a tractor, snowmobile, piste caterpillar, truck or snowcat towing specialized equipment. The process is used to maintain ski hills, cross-country ski trails and snowmob ...

equipment. A non detachable chairlift brings up skiers to the summit, it is very high. The truck which originally provided power for the rope tow is still visible, off to the right of the Triple.

Trails

*Beginner: 5 *Intermediate: 2 *Expert: 12

Snowmaking

Ski Ward has 100% snowmaking coverage.

External links

Ski Ward
Official Website Buildings and structures in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts Ski areas and resorts in Massachusetts Sports venues in Worcester County, Massachusetts