West Bridgewater High Ski & Board Club

2016-01-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

Week one came and went and it looks like everyone had a great time! Here are some pictures:

Julia & Elaine getting those boots on.

Steve's smile tells us he's ok.

Parker & Paul all geared up and ready for their lesson.

Alyssa & Mrs. Edgar helping each other out.

Hitting the slopes.

Grabbing some dinner.

Good conditions for the start of the season.

2015 Ski Season Deadline

2014-11-24T11:45:00.003-05:00

So today was the deadline for bringing in checks and forms for the 2015 ski season (without a penalty). I'm shocked at the numbers since they have dropped significantly from last year. I guess losing all of those seniors last year really did make a difference.

At any rate, we'll still have a blast and I look forward to posting more info as we get closer to our first trip!

2014 - A Success!

2014-03-13T22:08:00.000-04:00

I promised some pictures a long time ago and since I've been so terrible at uploading them to the blog this year, you'll get the whole season all at once! It looks as though many students managed to avoid the camera this year; I'll be on the lookout for you next year for sure.

This year (our 5th) was as successful as any other we've ever had. We have 22 of our 67 students graduating this year, many of which have been on Ski Club all 4 years of high school. The seniors were just barely the largest group of all four grades this year. I wish them great skiing and riding no matter where their future takes them! While we didn't have an overnight trip this year as hoped, we did have an awesome time at Bretton Woods a few weeks ago. We had some solid conditions the most of the season at Wachusett Mountain who always treats us right. Mother Nature dumped plenty of snow and we only had to reschedule one trip which was much better compared to last year when every storm fell on a Friday.

I plan on wrapping things up with putting in an order for fleece tops similar to what we got last year and fleece bottoms for those who want something different. Hopefully cost will be minimal. I'll also be throwing an after school pizza party shortly. Stay tuned for more info on both.

Now for the pictures, enjoy and see you on the slopes in 2015!

(feel free to download any of these pics by right-clicking and saving)

Week 3 will be a cold one...

2014-01-23T16:54:00.003-05:00

Just a couple of quick points to make as you pack your gear for another great night at the mountain:

1. It will be freezing tomorrow night. 10 degrees at arrival, single digits by the time we leave. If you start to feel any numbness in your fingers, toes or face, bring yourself inside immediately. It'll be one of those nights where you may end up stopping inside to warm up a couple of times and that's ok. Bring extra layers and cover all bare skin to stay warm.

2. If you are leaving after your last exam, please be back at the studio at 1:45. I want to take our yearbook picture before we board and maybe we can get an early jumpstart toward the mountain. If you have your own car or you have a ride bringing you back at 1:45, I'm ok with you bringing your equipment in afterwards rather than in the morning - your choice. If you are staying through, you are more than welcome to head on over to the studio after 11:00 - just bring something to occupy yourself.

See you in the morning!

Week Two!

2014-01-16T17:07:00.001-05:00

Hello all,

So we have found ourselves in the middle of a January thaw, completely opposite of last year of course. Some schools have cancelled due to there being a little less snow but as of today there are 20 trails open and temps stayed low and should stay low tomorrow so that means more room for us. Temps should be in the mid-30's with a slight possibility of a little snow later in the night!

Just a couple of things:

Remember to come to school tomorrow morning between 6:45 and 7:10 AM. This allows us to get you and your equipment safely to the studio before the hallways get packed. I'll have people helping once again and hopefully I won't run into any 6AM traffic jams.

I forgot to mention this in the past but everyone was really pretty good about it last week; save a dollar in your pocket so we can collect it afterwards for a tip for our driver. They do a great job and we want to thank them for it.

Finally, please remember to adhere to the rules of the mountain, the lodge, and the WB handbook which include no swearing, no speeding on Ralph's Run and Conifer Connection (family trails), if you must stop on a trail, pull off to the side and finally, stay off closed trails. Simple rules that are in place to keep you and everyone around you safe and having fun.

See you in the morning!

Oh, one last thing...we are leaving at normal time (2:05) next week during exam week.

Stratton Pics!

2013-03-12T19:31:00.001-04:00

A perfect day at Stratton with blue skies, 39 degrees, and LOTS of snow! Not a ton of pics of kids since I had to conserve phone battery but here's what they enjoyed!

Week 5 Pics

2013-03-12T19:16:00.004-04:00

Best Wachusett skiing of the year during this week.

Just hanging out before a run.

That looks like it hurt!

A WB run waiting for fresh corduroy.

Plenty of snow!

A great view from the top.

Week 4 Pics

2013-03-12T19:10:00.002-04:00

Enjoy!

Apparently embarrassed to see me.

We have such a good time, we cause lock jaw.

Add caption

Helmet head - not bad.

Helmet head - bad.

Almost Stratton Time!

2013-03-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning will come fast and Stratton is waiting for us with some fresh powder! A couple of notes:

1. All rules that you signed at the start of the season are in effect. This is a school function and I don't anticipate any problems.
2. Helmets: You guys have been great. Keep them on like everyone else and you'll stay safe. Take them off and you sit in the lodge. This is not the trip to sit in the lodge!
3. Ski Buddy: If you don't have a ski buddy for some reason, I need to know this before Saturday. Otherwise, stick together. These trails split a lot more often so no taking off down the mountain without your buddy. Stay within eyesight and you won't get lost/left alone. Please have one of your buddies cell phone numbers on you.
4. The main lodge will have my cell phone number. If something isn't right, go the main lodge and tell them you are with West Bridgewater High School. They'll call me and I'll be there.
5. No disrespect toward Wachusett but the two black diamonds they have are really much closer to blues. If you just started skiing and riding blacks this year, you do not belong on the blacks at Stratton until you get plenty of blues in. For a lot of you, that will be plenty of a challenge to satisfy you. If you just started skiing or riding this year and were completely new to all this, you should be on greens first to see how that goes before proceeding.

Stratton has 92 trails open right now. In case you didn't know, Wachusett has 22 trails so that gives you an idea of the difference in variety. There are fantastic greens and blues as well as plenty of challenging blacks.

The bus will be leaving school at 5:30am from the tv studio parking lot. I will be there at 5:00 and I am expecting everyone to show up by 5:15 so we can leave on time - you can sleep on the 3.5 hour ride. If you are someone that needs caffeine to function, according to their websites, the Dunks on Main Street and West Center both open at 5:00 am while the Dunks at the Shell Station and the Honeydew on West Center are 24 hours. Please, please keep the bus clean!

The bus will drop us off and pick us up at the Sun Bowl, which is a smaller lodge right next to the slopes. Once there, please store your belongings in a locker, cubby, or at the Main Base Lodge at the complimentary bag check. If you are interested in getting a park pass, go to www.SES.Stratton.com or you can get the pass at the lodge after you watch the safety video. We will be leaving the mountain at 4:00 pm so plan on being back on the bus by say 3:30-3:45. The runs are longer so don't try to squeeze one more in if you don't have time. You'll probably be in the lodge wiped out by then anyway. We will stop for a quick fast food dinner on the way home - probably within the first hour. Once we're 20 minutes out, you'll call home for pick-up.

If I missed anything, please let me know. Parents, if you have any questions or concerns, e-mail me anytime before Friday. Students, e-mail is fine but I'm happy to address any concerns/questions if you just stop by the tv studio. I hope you're all as excited about this trip as I am!

Finally, for an interactive trail map, go to: http://www.stratton.com/the-mountain/trail-maps/interactive-map.aspx

There you can click on the greens, blues and blacks to see which trails are where. See you Saturday morning!

Week 3 - 1/2 Way There

2013-01-26T10:50:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe we just finished up our 3rd week already! The cold scared some schools away this week so we experienced nice short lines and outside of the park, really nice conditions. The mountain has received some snow this year and the cold has allowed them to make it frequently.

Big thanks to the chaperones: Mrs. Longo, Mr. Rosow, Ms. Beaver, Mr. Smith, and Mr. McMurray.

Plenty of pictures this week:

Kelsey was playing camera shy.

Mr. McMurray looking all European.

BFFLS

Can she breathe?

Note the groomers behind them.

Trust me, he's having a good time.

Those are serious waffles.

Mr. Rosow and I needed some camera time.

Rabbit ears?

All she does is scowl.

So I decided to imitate her.

Talk about peer pressure!

The gang.

Siblings in the lodge.

Mrs. Longo is a trooper in the lodge.

Nice group picture but only a 3rd of our group!

Week Two

2013-01-19T10:18:00.001-05:00

It was a cold one this week! I'll take the cold over warm and rainy any day and I think most of the students would agree. Another smooth week - keep it up WB! Thank you Mrs. Longo, Mrs. Kenrick, Mrs. Edgar, and Ms. Miller for all your help this week Now for the pics:

27 and shorts?

Excited to get out there!

Getting their boots on.

Nice and warm in here!

Was it something I said?

Time to head out.

These girls mean business!

Take the picture already, it's cold!

A lot of happy siblings this year.

Dinner of champions.

I survived my 2nd lesson!

Don't take pictures while I'm eating.

Week One

2013-01-05T15:35:00.001-05:00

Seems like everyone had a great time for our first trip. I can tell you I was very impressed at how smoothly everything went. Having pick-up and drop-off across the street worked out perfectly and I want to thank Mrs. Smith and the businesses in that lot for allowing us to take up some space throughout the day and night to make this happen. I think this solution will work just fine in order to keep our kids safe from 106 at night.

I'd like to thank all of chaperones for their help: Mrs. Longo, Mrs. Kenrick, Ms. Beaver, and Mrs. Edgar!

As always if anyone had any questions or problems from week one, contact me anytime. Now on to the pictures!

Welcome 2013 Ski Club!

2013-01-02T20:00:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe we are leaving for our first trip in less than two days! There is a mandatory meeting with all club members tomorrow in the tv studio at EITHER 7:10AM or 2:05PM - take your pick. Don't forget to check out the Facebook page: West Bridgewater High Ski & Ride Club. In the meantime, here are some things you should know:

We leave PROMPTLY after school so save your wardrobe changes for the mountain. The busses will be across the street in the Sunnyside plaza across from the TV Studio parking lot. Please wait for a chaperone to cross you so that you leave in large groups minimizing the stoppage on 106. This is exactly where the busses will return later that night so parents can park in that lot for pick-up. Please leave an open space for the busses to pull in. Parents, the students will call you when we are about 20 minutes or so from the school on the way back just for a heads-up.

A few new things this year to help avoid crossing 106 late at night:
1. As I mentioned, pick-up at night will be across the street in the Sunnyside plaza, not in the school parking lot. Parents, please park in that lot but leave room for the busses.

2. Because of this, all students will be bringing their school bags onto the bus with them and storing them in the overhead compartments. This is so you don’t have to go back into the school later.

3. Lastly, student drivers should park across the street in the morning! Feel free to drop off your stuff but then get your car off to the side portion of the parking lot across the street. Seniors can move their car after privileges if they go out. There aren’t many of you so it shouldn’t be a problem. Again I’m preventing any need to cross 106 at night so thank you for doing this.

4. There will be two busses this year (64 members strong). 9th and 11th graders on one bus, 10th and 12th graders on the other. No exceptions! This makes attendance much easier so we can spend our time heading up to the mountain.

Final tips:
Eat a good lunch and think about bringing a snack. Bottled water isn't a bad idea either to keep yourself hydrated during the trip. We will be supplying (complimentary) one bottle of water and one snack on the way up only. We're not back to school until around 9:30/10:00 so everyone should plan on eating dinner by bringing something to eat (don't leave it on the bus when we get to the mountain) or money for the food they sell at the lodge. Food at the lodge is typical cafeteria food/price: pizza, chicken fingers, salad, burgers, etc...

Don't forget my two most important rules: ski with a buddy and wear a helmet. No one should be on the trails alone. Stay with a buddy or a group. Find out who is at your skill level and have fun! Wear your helmet. If a chaperon or myself find you on the mountain without a helmet, you will sit in the lodge. You don't want to be in the lodge and neither do I so protect that noggin. There is NO warning for either of these rules and they are enforced at all times, every trip. I want you to have fun but staying safe is always my #1 priority.

Lastly, let’s take care of our bus drivers. While a tip isn't mandatory, I think a little extra thank you goes a long way. On the way up, if everyone throws in a buck, the driver should get a nice tip once we arrive safely home. They work hard and have a lot of responsibility at the wheel so I think a buck isn't too much to ask.

That’s all I’ve got today! At the meeting tomorrow, I'll reiterate this and I’ll talk about lessons and rentals as well as getting a terrain park pass ahead of time. I’ll also keep new members for an extra 5 minutes in case you have any additional questions you’d like to ask me. As always if any parent or student has a question, PLEASE ask anytime!

Getting closer...

2012-09-24T12:02:00.002-04:00

We're not cold enough yet but we sure are thinking about it! If you are already a member of the Ski & Ride Club or plan on joining, check out our Facebook page. Find us at West Bridgewater High Ski & Ride Club. Don't have Facebook? I'll be posting duplicate information to this blog as well. Welcome!

One Week To Go

2012-02-12T21:48:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe we're at the tail end of our ski season already. I got the green light from Stratton Mountain, VT for our big trip up north on March 3rd. More details in an e-mail tomorrow!

Week 4

2012-02-07T20:56:00.000-05:00

It was nice to get back to the mountain after having to cancel the week before. I'll probably be playing lodge-dad this week since the mountain got the best of me on Friday. No fear, there will still be plenty of presence on the mountain by the other chaperones. This will be a great time for me to try to get pictures of those that I've missed so far.

Save the Date

2012-01-30T22:39:00.000-05:00

Attention WBHS skiers and riders, mark Saturday, March 3 on your calendars. Big trip you won't want to miss! More details coming very soon...

3 up, 3 down

2012-01-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe we are halfway through our ski trips already! The mountain is starting to look more like winter now that we have some fresh snow, the trails are opening up and it's a hair lighter when we first get there.

Everything went smooth this week and we even got a bonus with some fresh cookies for the ride up! A few things I need to mention this week:

1. Let's not get stingy on our tips. Try to save a dollar and don't forget it in your bag below the bus. The drivers work hard to get us there and back safely and a little goes a long way.

2. So far WB has received nothing but compliments on your behavior from both the mountain and the bus drivers so keep up the good work! I see some not so well behaved individuals here and there on the mountain and in the lodge and I'm happy to see that it's always students from other schools.

3. We will not be providing water on the way up this week. The bus was once again littered with bottles and wrappers despite bringing a trash bag down the aisle and asking to check for trash on the way home. Please make sure you throw out your trash in the front or back of the bus this week and we can resume hydration next week.

Time for some pictures:

Thank you WBPD!

2012-01-14T18:26:00.000-05:00

Conditions were a little fast at the mountain thanks to some snow followed by rain followed by more snow. We had a couple of hard falls but that's why we wear helmets! A big thank you to the officer that was at the school when we got back - I do think it made a huge difference and I hope they'll be able to make it in the future.

Next week is midterms and all students should be back at the tv studio NO LATER than 1:45. I'm hoping to take our yearbook picture outside before we board the bus.

Now for some pictures:

Preparing For Week 2

2012-01-10T21:35:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned, everything went great our first week but there were a few things I wanted to mention moving forward:

1. Keep track of your belongings. In the first week, we had a couple of pairs of snow pants, a hat, and a lift ticket go missing. Ski clothing isn't cheap so take the time to throw your name on a tag somewhere. If the mountain finds it and puts it aside for you, you can identify it. When you take your jackets off for dinner or changing, pay attention to where your lift is!

2. Not a bad job with the tip this past week but many of you did not participate. Please keep a dollar aside for the collection on the ride home. Our drivers really appreciate it!

3. Speaking of the bus, let's keep it clean. After doing a sweep at the end of the night, we found quite a bit of junk at the back of the bus. I'll be addressing these students Friday.

4. Thank you to all of the parents who were at the school picking up their kids on time! Parking across the street really helps the bus get into the small lot. Crossing the street at night made me a little nervous though - some of the traffic was zipping along and not expecting crossers at that time. Once the bus pulls in, feel free to drive on over. You can pick up your kids and loop around the bus to get out.

As always, any questions, just ask away!

Some Pictures From Week 1

2012-01-07T14:23:00.002-05:00

So Far, So Good

2012-01-07T13:40:00.000-05:00

So our first trip came and went without incident and it seems like everyone had a great time! Everyone got their rentals and to their lessons on time. The conditions were pretty good considering they didn't open too long ago. I was able to get several runs in with the other chaperones and students throughout the night which always fun. Any feedback is welcome:

How was the food?
Everything go ok in the lodge?
What did you think about your experience for our first time out?

It's almost time!

2012-01-03T20:35:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe we are leaving for our first trip in three days! Mandatory meeting with all club members this Thursday after school in the tv studio. Don't forget to check out the Facebook page: West Bridgewater High Ski & Ride Club. In the meantime, here are some things you should know:

Students should be dropped off in the morning over by the tv studio parking lot; I'll be there by 7am. All gear and bags will be stored in the studio safe and secure. Please be on time for your first class, I will NOT be giving late passes. All student drivers should be parked in the tv studio parking lot so you can jump right into your car when we get dropped off later that night.

We leave PROMPTLY after school so save your wardrobe changes for the mountain. We leave outside of the tv studio parking lot which is exactly where students are to be picked up when we get back. Students that drive themselves to school: park in this parking lot since you get back after dark...don't forget! Students are allowed to leave their books and school bags in the tv studio before we leave. Don't forget anything in your locker - you will NOT be able to access the building outside the tv studio. Parents, the students will call you when we are about 20 minutes or so from the school on the way back just as a heads-up. Parents, can you please park across the street (Sunnyside) in order to allow the bus into our small parking lot. Once the bus is in the lot, drive on over. We had a good system down last year so we’ll try it again.

Eat a good lunch and think about bringing a snack. Bottled water isn't a bad idea either to keep yourself hydrated during the trip. We will be supplying (complimentary) one bottle of water and one snack on the way up - I would still bring something for the trip back. We're not back to school until around 10:00 so everyone should plan on eating dinner by bringing something to eat (don't leave it on the bus when we get to the mountain) or money for the food they sell at the lodge. Food at the lodge is typical cafeteria food/price: pizza, chicken fingers, salad, burgers, etc...

Don't forget my two most important rules: ski with a buddy and wear a helmet. No one should be on the trails alone. Stay with a buddy or a group. Find out who is at your skill level and have fun! Wear your helmet. If a chaperon or myself find you on the mountain without a helmet, you will sit in the lodge. You don't want to be in the lodge and neither do I so protect that noggin. There is NO warning for either of these rules and they are enforced at all times, every trip.

Last thing for today: the bus driver. While a tip isn't mandatory, I think a little extra thank you goes a long way. On the way up, if everyone throws in a buck, the driver should get a nice tip once we arrive safely home. They work hard and have a lot of responsibility at the wheel so I think a buck isn't too much to ask.

Good to go for 2012.

2011-04-23T09:14:00.000-04:00

Exciting news today as I just verified our day and time slot for next ski season already! Same day, same time, same place. My prediction would be that the first trip would be 1/6/12 and we would run for 6 weeks ending on 2/10/12.

That pretty much wraps up this blog for the season. It was a fantastic season - one that we may not see again for awhile! I'll start the conversation again sometime at the end of September/beginning of October so everyone has enough time to plan things out.

Thanks for following and as we make the switch to warmer weather, stay active!

Big Trip This Saturday!

2011-03-01T19:33:00.000-05:00

We had an eventful last trip to Wachusett didn't we? Luckily, the heavier rain showers had passed through earlier in the afternoon but once again, Mother Nature had a show in store for us. There are a few places you do not want to be when lightning strikes in the distance and the top of a mountain is one of them! Two thumbs up to the staff at Wachusett as they shut down the lifts immediately and waited it out long enough before starting back up again. Unfortunately, once they had to stop a second time for a little while, it was time for us to go home. A big thank you to the members of the Ski & Board Club as well. I knew the fastest way to get word out that we were leaving a little early was through you guys calling and texting everyone and you didn't let me down. Thank you!

Time to shift gears a little, we have a big trip this Saturday and while for some of you, it's another day at the mountain, others are excited to ski and ride for the first time on another mountain outside of Wachusett. I spoke to the students before vacation and will reiterate 5 points here.

1. All rules that you signed at the start of the season are in effect. This is a school function and while I don't anticipate any problems, you will be dealt with accordingly if there are any.
2. Helmets: You guys have been great. Keep them on like everyone else and you'll stay safe. Take them off and you sit in the lodge. This is not the trip to sit in the lodge!
3. Ski Buddy: If you don't have a ski buddy for some reason, I need to know this before Friday. Otherwise, stick together. These trails split a lot more often so no taking off down the mountain without your buddy. Stay within eyesight and you won't get lost/left alone.
4. The main lodge will have my cell phone number. If something isn't right, go the main lodge and tell them you are with West Bridgewater. They'll call me and I'll be there.
5. This isn't a bash toward Wachusett but it is the truth: the two black diamonds there are really much closer to blues. If you just started skiing and riding blacks this year, you do not belong on the blacks at Bretton until you get plenty of blues in. For a lot of you, that will be plenty of a challenge to satisfy you. If you just started skiing or riding this year and were completely new to all this, you should be on greens first to see how that goes before proceeding.

Bretton Woods has a base of 5' right now and they've had 8 inches in the last 48 hours, it doesn't get much better than that! All 102 trails are open right now. In case you didn't know, Wachusett has 22 trails so that gives you an idea of the difference in variety.

The bus will be leaving school at 5:30 am, same lot as always. I will be there at 5:00 and I am expecting everyone to show up by 5:15 so we can leave on time - you can sleep on the 3 hour ride. Whether or not we see a movie on the way up will be up to you guys. If you are someone that needs caffeine to function, according to their websites, the Dunks on Main Street and West Center both open at 5:00 am while the Dunks at the Shell Station and the Honeydew on West Center are 24 hours. Please, please keep the bus clean! We will be leaving the mountain at 4:00 pm so plan on being back on the bus by 3:45 sharp. The runs are longer so don't try to squeeze one more in if you don't have time. You'll probably be in the lodge wiped out by then anyway. We will stop for a quick fast food dinner on the way home - probably within the first hour. Once we're 20 minutes out, you'll call home for pick-up.

I think that's about it. I know it's a long post but this will probably be the last one before we leave. If I missed anything, please let me know. Parents, if you have any questions or concerns, e-mail me anytime before Friday. Students, e-mail is fine but I'm happy to address any concerns/questions if you just stop by the tv studio. I hope you're all as excited about this trip as I am!

Finally, for an interactive trail map, click on this link: http://brettonwoods.com/flash/alpine_map_orig/alpine_trail_map.html

There you can click on the greens, blues and blacks to see which trails are where. Someone told me that "2 Miles Long" (blue, all the way to the left) was awesome (thanks Ms. Nicolli). I know a few of you have been to this mountain...so what are your favorites?
*If you're getting this via e-mail, you can click on the headline and respond through there.