Cleary: Learn to ski or ride close to home

So if you’re not a skier or boarder, there are a couple of options close to home where you can learn. It can be a daunting task at any age to learn, but luckily there are multi-week programs for children and adults located within a reasonable distance of Lynn.Ski Bradford, located in Haverhill, is 26 miles from Central Square, and Nashoba Valley Ski Area, located in Westford, is 38 miles. Both ski areas offer lesson programs that include lift tickets, and what’s nice about learning in one of these programs is that your equipment rentals can be included at affordable rates.Ski Bradford has been operating for almost 60 years, opening with a couple of rope tows and a warming hut in 1949. Brothers Brad and Neal Sawyer are the second generation to run the business and have seen the ski area grow to include 100 percent snowmaking coverage, chair lifts, t-bars and magic carpets for beginners.”We also still have rope tows in the learning area, because it is good practice on the way up the hill for your legs to get used to being on skis or a snowboard,” said Brad Sawyer.There are many options of ski and snowboard programs at Bradford that offer weekday, weeknight or weekend start times. Ski programs are offered from age 3 through adult, and snowboard programs from age 6 through adult. For example, the Little-B 4-week ski program for ages 3-7 costs $95 on weekdays or weeknights and rentals would cost an additional $45. The same program for adults is $110 for weekday and $125 for weeknight and rentals would cost an additional $65. Weekend rates are higher for all programs and rentals.All 4-week programs begin Dec. 29, but group and private lessons are available every day. To find out more information about Ski Bradford and to sign up for programs, visit www.skibradford.com.Nashoba Valley Ski Area opened for its first season in 1964 with rope tows servicing 4 slopes. The base lodge was gravel floor and heated by a pot-bellied stove and staff had to pack the snow on the slopes with shovels due to a lack of grooming machines. In the ’70s and ’80s, Nashoba expanded and now operates with 4 chairlifts, 2 conveyers, and 4 rope tows. Nashoba also has a snow tubing park, which opened in 2001 and is New England’s largest snow tubing area with 4 lifts, over 600 snow tubes and up to 16 lanes.Nashoba offers weekday, weeknight and weekend ski and snowboard programs for children and adults. Skiers can start at age 4 and snowboarders if they are in first grade. There is even a special Young at Heart program designed for those 55-plus who would like to ski with a pro-peer or brush up on their skills. The Young Learners 6-week ski program for ages 4-6 costs $140 on weekdays and rentals would cost an additional $60. The same program for adults is $160 for weekday or weeknight and rentals would cost an additional $90. Weekend rates are higher for all programs and rentals.Nashoba’s programs begin Jan. 2, 2008, but group and private lessons are available every day. To find out more information and to sign up for programs, visit www.skinashoba.com.For the complete New England ski report, see page B6.