Winter wonderland

"I started last season but I never had my own board," he explains. "I could only go when my friend could lend me his board, but most of the time he was using it."

MacDonald plans to spend the week in Blue Hills' Snow Camp, a special holiday program aimed at giving riders and skiers of all ages some concentrated work on their form.

For skiers and riders by the thousands, the week ahead is the first serious time to spend in snow country. Lots of them drive to the mountains north and west, some even flying to the Rockies or Europe. But for those who want serious snow time rather than sitting in airports, the local ski areas have plenty to offer.

Blue Hills, the South Shore's venerable granite ledge, runs its 350-foot vertical steeply down the famous Big Blue, then spreads out on seven more runs. Built in the late '30s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and run by the state for decades, the area is under a five-year lease by the Endriunas brothers, developers of Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire.

The emphasis has been on snowmaking, which began whirring out the product before Thanksgiving and has it piled deep enough to withstand our holiday rainstorm.

Snow Camp, aimed at skiers and riders ages 7-17, will run from Monday through Jan. 3, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with a full-time instructor available from 10:30-3:30. For people who need to rent equipment, the cost of the camp is $299. Those with their own skis or boards pay $199.

"Classes are for all ability levels," said spokesman Mark Pinns. "There's still room in Snow Camp, but it starts to fill up fast by Monday."

The program will be repeated during February vacation, said Pinns.

For more information, contact the Blue Hills Ski School at 781-828-5070.

Instruction is also on the agenda at Wachusett Ski Area in Princeton, where the early-season cold weather and snowstorms have allowed nearly 100 percent opening. This area is a 1,000-foot vertical with 18 trails.

"We got a late start compared to last year," said Tom Meyers, spokesman for the ski area 50 miles west of Boston. "But we're in good shape now, even with the rain. Last year, when Santa arrived by helicopter, he landed on green grass. This year it's snow."

Two of the area's most popular trails, Ralph's Run and Minuteman, run off the summit and allow for some big-time carved arcs to the bottom. Halfway between the two quads are some new trails, "cut and ready to go," said Meyers. "These are good, old-fashioned New England trails. Really traditional."

Wachusett places heavy focus on the New Year's end of the holiday week. "On New Year's Eve," said Meyers, "the lifts run until midnight, allowing parents to linger over the gourmet dinner at the restaurant."

One of two carpet lifts installed this year will be used over New Year's to service the tubing run, an activity the area is experimenting with this season. Tubing usually is enjoyed under the lights after a day's skiing and boarding.

The partying will be in full swing all night, said Meyers, as a cluster of new suites on the mountain have been rented out by revelers. They will be treated to a magician, music, and, at midnight, a fireworks display. For information, call 978-464-2300.

Also running this week is the traditional racing camp at Nashoba Valley, a 320-foot, 17-slope Westford ski area that knows a little about ski racing. US Olympic downhiller Pam Fletcher grew up flying on this snow, and the Olympic medalists Phil and Steve Mahre raced there when the pro tour was in town.

The racing camp is for all ages, skis or boards, and offers two packages: three days, including instruction and all-day lift tickets, for $115, and a five-day package for $175.

"Mostly kids get into these camps," said general manager Al Fletcher Jr., son of the founder and brother of Pam. "But they're open to anyone."

Nashoba's best runs are War Dance and Nashoba Slope, which blast down the face of the hill with some wide-open big arc skiing. Also popular at the area, said Fletcher, is the tubing park, which offers an alluring nighttime alternative to hanging around the condo. "If a family is sitting around at night, they can go tubing for about a 10th the expense of skiing," said Fletcher. "And anyone can do it. You don't need any special skills."

New Year's is also played up at Nashoba Valley, with a gourmet five-course dinner and champagne toast, a DJ, torchlight parade, and midnight fireworks show. For information, call 978-692-3033.

At Haverhill's Bradford Ski Area -- another oldie that has been a beginner area feeding the larger mountains to the north -- owner Rick Savastano is ready to test a new chairlift over the vacation week. Serving the terrain park, novice slopes, and intermediate slopes, the new lift will service the entire 250 vertical feet.

Next week Bradford also will feature its snow camps, running all day with 10 hours of instruction and racing from Monday through Jan. 3. Cost is $150. For information, call 978-373-0071.