History

 

Named after the Blackwater River flowing through Hopkinton, NH, Blackwater Nordic was formed in 1985 by a few motivated parents to provide their children with opportunities to learn how to ski. They adopted the Bill Koch (1976 silver medalist) youth program as their model and relied on volunteer Hopkinton groomer Phil Cole (1918–2012) and, later, Will Brunkhorst.  The club lapsed briefly in the early 90’s but revived in 1996.

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Since then, Blackwater Nordic has successfully sponsored Bill Koch programs, improved its facilities at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds, and bought new grooming equipment. In 2006, the club became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission statement resonates back to the intent of those founding parents “to build a strong community of Nordic skiers in the Hopkinton area to provide support for our educational programs from BKL through high school race team.”

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In 2010, Blackwater Nordic added Gould Hill Farm to our venue options. Also open to the public, the location offers improved terrain and a picturesque setting. In 2013, the club applied for and received a competitive grant offered though the NH Recreational Trails Program and purchase 3 pieces of grooming equipment. With this added equipment, we are now able to maintain trails at both Gould Hill and Hopkinton Fairgrounds. We have also recently added a Master Skier Program.

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High school and middle school teams from Hopkinton and surrounding towns train at our facilities and favor the challenging trails provided by the Gould Hill site. The Fairgrounds are mostly level and more suited to beginners and those who prefer a less challenging terrain. We are known for the quality and dependability of our trails thanks to our dedicated team of groomers and year round club volunteers.

Come experience some great local skiing right in your own backyard!