Winter sports given a different spin
By Karen Schwartz |
January 19, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
After nearly 50 years of living in the Rocky Mountains, I thought I knew how to enjoy the winter. I've gone skiing, skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, tobogganing, sleigh riding, dog-sledding and more.
But until this winter, I'd never heard of bumper cars on a skating rink. And it wasn't until recently that I had my first chance to carve turns down a ski hill on a snowbike.
It's part of a trend to provide visitors to ski resorts and other snowy destinations with a wider variety of choices, said Troy Hawks, managing editor of the National Ski Areas Association Journal.
"What we're seeing is a larger swathe of the family - you've got the grandkids all the way to the grandparents - and all of them have their idea of how they want to spend their day," he said.
Some activities are more popular in certain regions, and some aren't well advertised, so for a different spin on a snow-destination vacation, here are some things to look for.
Airboards
A high-tech spin on winter tubing, these snow body boards are inflatable sleds with molded plastic runners and handles. They can reach speeds of nearly 100 kilometers per hour. They're offered at some ski areas (though banned at others) as well as through some private operators; www.airboard.com has a list of rentals.
Air bags
These massive inflatable air bags are placed at the bottom of jumps to allow skiers and boarders to try flips and spins. Nail the landing on your feet and you ride off down the hill. Fail, and you have a soft landing; www.bagjump.com or www.bigairbag.com.
Bumper cars on ice
These are turning up at skating rinks from coast to coast. The battery-operated "cars" are large rubber tubes with molded seats that can hold one adult or an adult and small child. They are easy to steer or spin by two joysticks.
Skijoring
Some places, like the adult-only Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana, offer guests the chance to see what it's like to be pulled on Alpine skis behind a horse. Other resorts, like Eden Mountain Lodge in Eden Mills, Vermont, and Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado, work with experienced skiers and their own dogs.
First tracks
The opportunity for intermediate and advanced skiers to take the first runs in the morning before the slopes open to the public is an option at more resorts. Some, like Northstar in California, require skiers to stay with a guide; others, like Aspen, Colorado, include a gourmet breakfast.
Ice castles
A series of pathways take visitors through ice columns, tunnels, caverns and archways. Introduced last year in Silverthorne, Colorado, castles were being built this winter in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Snowbikes
Bicycles on skis have been around for decades, but now have the blessing of some resorts; www.snowbike.info.
Snowkiting
Snowkiting or kite boarding is a cousin to ocean kite surfing. For the winter version, an experienced, fearless skier or snowboarder is harnessed to a kite and uses wind power to propel themselves around.
But until this winter, I'd never heard of bumper cars on a skating rink. And it wasn't until recently that I had my first chance to carve turns down a ski hill on a snowbike.
It's part of a trend to provide visitors to ski resorts and other snowy destinations with a wider variety of choices, said Troy Hawks, managing editor of the National Ski Areas Association Journal.
"What we're seeing is a larger swathe of the family - you've got the grandkids all the way to the grandparents - and all of them have their idea of how they want to spend their day," he said.
Some activities are more popular in certain regions, and some aren't well advertised, so for a different spin on a snow-destination vacation, here are some things to look for.
Airboards
A high-tech spin on winter tubing, these snow body boards are inflatable sleds with molded plastic runners and handles. They can reach speeds of nearly 100 kilometers per hour. They're offered at some ski areas (though banned at others) as well as through some private operators; www.airboard.com has a list of rentals.
Air bags
These massive inflatable air bags are placed at the bottom of jumps to allow skiers and boarders to try flips and spins. Nail the landing on your feet and you ride off down the hill. Fail, and you have a soft landing; www.bagjump.com or www.bigairbag.com.
Bumper cars on ice
These are turning up at skating rinks from coast to coast. The battery-operated "cars" are large rubber tubes with molded seats that can hold one adult or an adult and small child. They are easy to steer or spin by two joysticks.
Skijoring
Some places, like the adult-only Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana, offer guests the chance to see what it's like to be pulled on Alpine skis behind a horse. Other resorts, like Eden Mountain Lodge in Eden Mills, Vermont, and Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado, work with experienced skiers and their own dogs.
First tracks
The opportunity for intermediate and advanced skiers to take the first runs in the morning before the slopes open to the public is an option at more resorts. Some, like Northstar in California, require skiers to stay with a guide; others, like Aspen, Colorado, include a gourmet breakfast.
Ice castles
A series of pathways take visitors through ice columns, tunnels, caverns and archways. Introduced last year in Silverthorne, Colorado, castles were being built this winter in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Snowbikes
Bicycles on skis have been around for decades, but now have the blessing of some resorts; www.snowbike.info.
Snowkiting
Snowkiting or kite boarding is a cousin to ocean kite surfing. For the winter version, an experienced, fearless skier or snowboarder is harnessed to a kite and uses wind power to propel themselves around.
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