Snowboarding is expensive. But what if it was free?
That’s the question Storrs Hill Ski Area in New Hampshire has asked, and now answered. The small mountain in Lebanon with a 300-foot vertical drop announced free community riding and skiing throughout the entire 2024-2025 season.
Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the community will have the chance to snowboard and ski for free. Volunteers are on hand to help guide newcomers through the process. No registration is required. Participants looking to get on snow should simply show up during public skiing hours and pick up a lift ticket at the window. The ski area has been a part of the community for over 100 years.
“This project embodies the spirit of our community, providing an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the outdoors and experience the magic of winter sports,” Cory Grant, President of the Lebanon Outing Club and Hill Manager, said in a press release. “We hope this initiative brings neighbors together and inspires a love of skiing in a fun and accessible way.”
Photo: Storrs Hill Ski Area
The entire initiative was made possible from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation. The nonprofit is named after the philanthropist that called New Hampshire’s Upper Valley home until his death in 1999. It’s contributions have helped local public radio stations, the New Hampshire Music Festival, and several departments at Dartmouth. The opportunity highlights Storrs Hills’ dedication to making winter recreation accessible to everyone.
Jack Byrne was a successfully business man, who’s resume includes rescuing Geico Insurance from bankruptcy in 1976. A 2008 story in The Salt Lake Tribune dubbed him the “Babe Ruth of insurance.” An avid skier, he split his time between Salt Lake City and New Hampshire.
There is only one catch at Storrs— If you don’t already own your own board, you’ll need to head elsewhere to rent some gear. There are no ski or snowboard rentals offered at the hill, but the Storrs Hill website recommends Omer and Bob’s and Golf Warehouse.
What Storrs Hill lacks in vertical drop, it makes up for in community outreach. It is one of the only places in New Hampshire that offer ski jumping lessons with experienced coaching. It also offers classes that introduce its community to skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry, telemark skiing, and ski racing.
There are seven trails at Storrs Hill, and one terrain park. It typically sees more than 5,000 visitors a year.
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