Winter Sports Thread
Posted by jkl on Jan 06, 2008 · Member since Dec 2002 · 900 posts
I just returned from a ski trip and am still hopped up so I thought it would be fun to start a thread about winter sports. I was going to do just a skiing thread, but I thought "winter sports" would be more inclusive.
I learned to downhill ski in middle age and so am not terribly good at it. My husband likes downhill and cross country. The little ones had their first real cross country and downhill lessons this week. It is so great to be outside in the winter, even when it is freezing cold. I only wish it weren't so terribly expensive!
Last week we went to Vermont, but I think in two weeks we're going to try to go to one of those places near where Davedrum lives.
I always get hurt when I go tabogganing and my toes freeze (I have really bad circulation) when I go skating. dang! I like winter sports - the simple ones - but I get so frickin cold!
never gone skiing, snowboarding, etc. that would be fun, but again... cold feet!!!!
it makes me a little sad. :-\
Curling! I stopped skiing after a little skiing accident in elementary school. A few years ago the local curling club had an open house and it was a lot of fun, and a really unique experience. I went back to campus and founded the curling club. Hopefully this year we'll compete in the national college curling tournament thing.....
My toes are always cold. Heck, my toes are cold when I'm indoors!
My daughter would love to ice skate but I avoid bringing her. The shoes are so tight and the falls are so hard! When I was a kid my mom would bring us to the nearby park where they flooded the parking lot and drop us off. We'd stay there for a couple of hours and then she'd pick us up. I remember it was cold but somehow we managed to stay out there for two or three hours.
Now, of course, thanks to global warming, I'm not sure that same parking lot would freeze over.
Foofie--curling looks like a lot of fun. I've never done it, but it does look fun.
Cali and I are going to a 'learn how to snowshoe' hike with Dog Paddling Adventures in March. I used to downhill and cross country ski when I lived in Montreal. Used to loved skating on outdoor rinks growing up. Haven't been on my skates in over 25 years. Think I would still love skating. Must one day plan a trip to Ottawa in the winter and skate the canal.
I no longer like the cold. None the less, Cali has husky in her and seems to really like walking, hiking and playing in the snow. As I have to keep her active, I do what she wants!
So, my winter activity when thinking of winter sports is watching 'Cool Runnings'. ;D
i was just talking today about all the fun we had in the winter time when we were young...i saw alot of people out on the ice (likely ice fishing >:() but it reminded me of spending hours shoveling off a huge rectangle on the ice to make a rink, then spending the last daylight hours playing ice hockey before trudging home.
i have to say though, that snowshoeing is the BEST! you dont get nearly as cold as when you are doing less active things or intermittantly inactive (like having to sit in the chairlift), it uses your whole body and keeps your blood pumping.
jkl...where in VT did you go??
i was just talking today about all the fun we had in the winter time when we were young...i saw alot of people out on the ice (likely ice fishing >:() but it reminded me of spending hours shoveling off a huge rectangle on the ice to make a rink, then spending the last daylight hours playing ice hockey before trudging home.
i have to say though, that snowshoeing is the BEST! you dont get nearly as cold as when you are doing less active things or intermittantly inactive (like having to sit in the chairlift), it uses your whole body and keeps your blood pumping.
jkl...where in VT did you go??
You are so right! Childhood memories. Getting out there and shovelling all the neighbours driveways. Building snow forts. Having snow ball fights. Tobogganing.
My neighbour for years turned their backyard in to a skating rink. We skated and played ice hockey. I apparently was a dirty player (hooking my hockey stick in people's skates and tripping them) that they made me be goalie. I was scared sh*tless of being hit by the puck. That is why I was probably a great goalie. Contorting my body to miss the shot. It just bounced off various body parts!
I never and I swear never hung on the bumper of a car or bus to be dragged along although many of my friends did!
As for snowshoeing, I am totally excited. I am sure the funniest will be when I fall over and Cali runs over to me with 10 to 20 dogs in tow to doggie laugh at me. Of course, they can laugh all they want. They don't have to wear snowshoes that day.
This is what we will be doing: http://www.dogpaddlingadventures.com/trip_winter.html#3
Thanks for the heads up on snowshoeing. I am sure it will be a truly fun day!
Di
The bonus with Dog Paddling, they always have vegetarian lunch options!
I live in Portland OR, so winter sports require a car trip, but luckily the mountain is only an hour away. Still my sports involve hiking, or taking the dogs down to the sandy river delta, there is a big off leash area, called 1000 acres with trails and mud and ponds and tons of dogs and they just run along as I walk.
I used to downhill ski, but I blew my knee out on a bike trip through the French countryside about 7 years ago, with no insurance, and no treatment, and thus cannot really downhill ski anymore. I love to cross country, and my BF is trying to convinve me to snowshoe with him, but for some reason snow shoeing has never applead to me.
Oh, and Di, I do believe that as I type this you are at 1000 posts!
i have to say though, that snowshoeing is the BEST! you dont get nearly as cold as when you are doing less active things or intermittantly inactive (like having to sit in the chairlift), it uses your whole body and keeps your blood pumping.
Word! I heart snowshoeing since it doesn't require this thing called "balance" required to ski or snowboard. There are places pretty much everywhere that you can snowshoe, so when we get dumped on here, we pick up the shoes and go out to some trails near our apt. With the ginormous storms we've had here recently, they actually would have gotten us home from campus quicker than sitting on the bus too, so they're functional as well, as long as you're willing to carry them around... As a nerdy often-seated grad student, I need ways to keep my muscles from wasting away in the winter, and I highly recommend shoeing. We got our relatively inexpensive ones from rei's outlet store.
I want to learn to ski and snowboard, but for the above stated reasons (and being sans mountains and enough dinero for even the lift tickets), I haven't. boo. :(
We neglected to bring our snowshoes and regretted it every day.
so, when I was 16 or 15 or something, my parents moved me from sunny Tucson to icy cold Maine.....the day before Christmas. The snow came up (literally to my armpits....) I made a face something like a wet cat the whole winter....I tried tobogganing and snowboarding and stuff, but I was hardly able to move with all my snow gear on and i was STILL cold! (think of the kid in the Christmas Story.)
Snow is COLD, you bunch of crazies! The only sport I do in the snow: surfing....the net!
J/k...well kinda...joking anyways...I was thinking that if I'm moving back to Maine, I should TRY to enjoy the season that takes up 5 months of the year. My dads dog is a husky and my two guys are really muscular and active (although the lack of fur could be problem), so I was considering (considering) doing something like mushing with them. Id hate for them to strain themselves hauling my fat you-know-what all over, so it would probally end up being something more like tethering them together pulling a sled and running around the field like a crazy lady with the (toy sized) American Eskimo getting a free ride from the big dogs...ummm....then i think of the time it was -32 degrees outside with windchill...and I'm just not so sure.... :-X
I hate winter. I used to (still do in a way) bury myself under blankets on the couch and watch TV all winter. But my best friend had a bright idea to get me to snowboard to get me out of the house in the winter. I avoided it for the longest time. But then, I gave in and tried it. I wasn't into it the first couple of times. But after the third time, I was hooked. I still hate the cold, so I only go snowboarding when it's nice out (sunny, fairly warm, and no wind). Oh yea, LucidAnne, that's the only part I hate about snowboarding ... the chair lift ride up :o bbbbrrrrr
We just got like 2 feet of snow here!! Er in the local mountains at least. I used to teach snowboarding, some skiing too even though I can barely ski myself ::) I have bad circulation but its still worth it, I loveee snowboarding. Ive never done the snow shoe thing... Is that like hiking??
Oh yea, LucidAnne, that's the only part I hate about snowboarding ... the chair lift ride up :o bbbbrrrrr
Thats the best part though! Because you get to appreciate all the beauty and nature of the area and the scenery!! <3 Thats a huge part of what makes snowboarding, hiking, and golfing so fun.
so, when I was 16 or 15 or something, my parents moved me from sunny Tucson to icy cold Maine.....the day before Christmas. The snow came up (literally to my armpits....) I made a face something like a wet cat the whole winter....I tried tobogganing and snowboarding and stuff, but I was hardly able to move with all my snow gear on and i was STILL cold! (think of the kid in the Christmas Story.)
Snow is COLD, you bunch of crazies! The only sport I do in the snow: surfing....the net!
J/k...well kinda...joking anyways...I was thinking that if I'm moving back to Maine, I should TRY to enjoy the season that takes up 5 months of the year. My dads dog is a husky and my two guys are really muscular and active (although the lack of fur could be problem), so I was considering (considering) doing something like mushing with them. Id hate for them to strain themselves hauling my fat you-know-what all over, so it would probally end up being something more like tethering them together pulling a sled and running around the field like a crazy lady with the (toy sized) American Eskimo getting a free ride from the big dogs...ummm....then i think of the time it was -32 degrees outside with windchill...and I'm just not so sure.... :-X
I would suggest LL Bean. I believe it was was founded in Maine. Their clothes and outdoor gear are top notch and last forever. They also have a lifetime warranty on their products to back up their awesomeness. (I've never had to ship anything back)
As far as winter sports....only thing I do is make snow angels, snowmen and get in snowball fights. None of which can be considered sport. :w00t!:
As far as winter sports....only thing I do is make snow angels, snowmen and get in snowball fights. None of which can be considered sport. :w00t!:
Snow angels. Haven't made one of those in years. Think I will make that my winter goal. Making at least one snow angel.
Maybe the day I try snowshoeing. I will make an snow angel. I can see it now, all the dogs on the hike will run over and jump on me! ;D
Di, your adventure sounds great. I'm sure the dogs will love it.
And VZH, I had to laugh about the mushing. Whenever I hear about mushing it reminds me of that Jack London novel--the name escapes me right now. But I bet your dogs will be really into it!
Di, your adventure sounds great. I'm sure the dogs will love it.
And VZH, I had to laugh about the mushing. Whenever I hear about mushing it reminds me of that Jack London novel--the name escapes me right now. But I bet your dogs will be really into it!
What the heck was that book/movie called? I can picture it but can't remember the name.
The Dog Paddling Adventures are a lot of fun. Cali learned how to canoe this summer.
Cali is the one going for the food on the canoe and the lump pooped out in the canoe!
http://www.dogpaddlingadventures.com/trippicsjune162007.html
I hope someone remembers the name of that book as it is now bothering me!
Call of the Wild!
I remembered as I was going to sleep, but too tired to get up and post.