Beaver Meadow Golf Course in Concord, New Hampshire, is positioning itself as a central destination for Nordic skiing through enhanced snowmaking capabilities. Following a snowy Tuesday in early December 2025, local cross-country skiers flocked to the course, taking advantage of the recent conditions. A series of below-freezing temperatures that followed provided an ideal opportunity for snowmaking, vital for establishing a reliable skiing base throughout the winter season.
Sam Evans-Brown, chairman of the nonprofit Ski the Beav, explained that the unpredictable nature of New England winters necessitates consistent snowmaking and grooming on the city-owned property. The organization has embarked on a three-phase initiative over the past few years to transform Beaver Meadow into a regional attraction for Nordic skiing.
In the first phase, funds were raised to acquire a grooming machine, and last year, a snowmaking fan gun was tested in collaboration with Concord Parks and Recreation. Prior to the trial, the nonprofit surveyed 370 local residents, with a significant majority expressing that reliable snow conditions would encourage them to ski at least once a week.
The success of similar projects in other locations, such as the Weston Ski Track near Boston and the Quarry Road Trails in Waterville, Maine, served as a motivating factor for Ski the Beav. Evans-Brown noted, “They, down there in Boston, are able to ski more days than up here in Concord, in the snowy north. My hope is that we’d be able to get a core loop.”
The recent trial of the HKD Super Blizzard snowmaker, which pumped out 200 gallons of water per minute, demonstrated significant potential. During the test run on December 6, 2024, David Gill, Director of Concord Parks and Recreation, oversaw operations to ensure the equipment functioned correctly. The trial attracted skiers from the capital region and provided ample snow for local enthusiasts, including the Concord High Nordic team, which benefited from enhanced training opportunities.
This year, Ski the Beav has set a goal to make snowmaking a permanent feature at Beaver Meadow. As of now, they have raised approximately 58% of the $100,000 target needed to cover the purchase of the snowmaker and associated utility costs for extending water and power lines to the golf course. A rebate of $24,000 from New Hampshire Saves has significantly bolstered their funding efforts, bringing them over 80% of the way to their goal.
The funding request will be presented to the city council for approval on December 8, 2024. The estimated cost for the utility infrastructure extensions is around $43,000, which means that the organization is on the verge of securing funding to cover the entire project.
Evans-Brown expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating, “The gun has been built, and the folks at HKD sent me a photo of the gun, and it was all wrapped up in cellophane. They’re like, you gotta present, you’ve got a package waiting to be unwrapped.”
While it remains uncertain if the utility work will be completed before the end of the ski season, Ski the Beav is prepared to connect hoses to extend water to the snowmaker. Evans-Brown is confident that, even in the interim, some snowmaking will be operational this winter, further solidifying Beaver Meadow’s status as a hub for Nordic skiing enthusiasts.
