Go beyond the traditional winter activities. Instead try something new this year
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Winter isn’t the time to hibernate at home. You have many reasons to get outside that go beyond the basic ice skating, skiing and snowboarding. And some of these activities offer some of the aspects of your favorite summertime recreation.
Instead of Alpine Skiing…
Try ziplines. If you still want to get out to the mountains to placate the skiers in your group — and it’s hard to deny the views are amazing — try zipline riding at Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua (https://bristolmountainadventures.com) or at Cortland’s Greek Peak Mountain Resort (www.greekpeak.net). The vistas and speed are breathtaking, and no skill is needed to enjoy them. Just strap in and away you go! The mountain coaster and bobsled riding at Mt. Van Hovenberg in Lake Placid (https://mtvanhoevenberg.com), also offer high speed alpine adventure. You can feel like an Olympian skimming along the courses.
Instead of Bicycling…
Try fat biking. You can ride a fat bike anywhere regular cycling is permitted — and much further — because of how the wheels are made. The four-inch rims accommodate “fat” tires that dig in and provide the traction you need to pedal right through winter’s snow, slush and mud. You won’t have to hang it up for spring through fall, either. The wider traction is helpful for sand, wet leaves and other lower-traction surfaces.
Instead of Court Sports…
Try curling, especially if you’re a fan of pickleball, tennis, shuffleboard or other team-oriented activities. You can gather your friends to try curling. The sport involves strategy and teamwork. Players work together to advance their “stone” toward the goal. They also try to knock the opposing team’s stone away from the goal as they take turns hurling their stones down a sheet of ice. To learn more about the ancient Scottish sport, reach out to Utica Curling Club in Whitesboro (315-736-1724, www.uticacurlingclub.com) or Rochester Curling Club (585-235-8246 www.rochestercurling.org).
Instead of Motorcycle Riding…
Try dog sledding. A few places you can learn more include Adirondack Kennel near Sandy Creek (https://adirondackkennel.weebly.com), Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours in Lake Placid (www.facebook.com/thundermtdogsled), Mike Arnold Dog Sled Rides (518-323-7622), also in Lake Placid and Seneca Siberian Husky Club (www.facebook.com/senecasiberianhuskyclub) in Rochester (owning a husky is not required). A similar activity is skijøring, a Scandinavian practice of tethering a dog or dogs to a skier for cross country movement. “Skijøring” means “ski driving” in Norwegian, and the handler must guide the dogs in a similar fashion as a sled driver for dog sledding. The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club, which includes members from several states in the region, hosts a dog sled and skijøring event, Tug Hill Challenge (https://www.pasleddogclub.com/races-events-source/2022/7/25/tug-hill-challenge-2023-37sxa) Jan. 27-28.