Try These Winter Olympic Sports

Venues in the Northeast Ideal for Fun in the Snow and Ice

Feb 19, 2010
Dee Dee Smith

Many Resorts Have Areas Dedicated to Snowboarding - Cosmi Corporation

Many resorts and recreational centers throughout the northeast offer an opportunity for one to try a Winter Olympic Sport.

Watching the Winter Olympics can be awe inspiring. Seeing all of the beautiful snow and action makes one want to participate in a few winter sports themselves. This is especially true of some of the more daring sports like snowboarding, bobsledding (also called bobsleighing or bobsledging), luging, and skeleton sledding (sometimes referred to as tobogganing). These sports are relatively new to some viewers motivating them to want to try them even the more.

Because many cities in the northeast portion of the United States receive considerable snowfall, winter sports have become a popular activity in this region. Common winter sports like skiing and ice skating are still being enjoyed, while new activities like luging and snowboarding are also being tried by many.

Places to Learn How to Snowboard

The last two Winter Olympics brought much attention to the sport of snowboarding. A cross between skiing and surfing (on the snow), this daring activity is especially favored by teens and twenty somethings. Due to the popularity of this sport, many resorts and recreational centers now offer slopes or areas dedicated to snowboarders. Additionally, newbies can take introductory lessons from professional and seasoned athletes. Because many of these locales are in resort towns, these are also great places for a mid-winter vacation. Some places to consider include:

The Kilington and Pico Mountains in Vermont.
The Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania.
The Monadnock Region of New Hampshire.
The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva, Wisconsin.
Huff Hills near Bismarck, North Dakota.
The Lutsen Mountains in Northern Minnesota.

Try the Sport of Luging, Bobsledding and/or Skeleton Sledding

The truly fearless might want to give high speed sledding a try. Bobsledding, luging and skeleton sledding are growing in popularity, nonetheless, there are still only a few facilities offering these sports. Some places to enjoy this activity in the northeast include:

The Muskegon Winter Sports Complex in Muskegon, Michigan.
Echo Valley in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, New York.

For an exciting winter getaway, stay a few days. While visiting, consider trying some of the other winter activities offered at these facilities or in nearby towns. Some options might include snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing and tubing.

When making reservations for any of these events, be sure to ask about rules or requirements. Because all of these sports are dangerous, there may be age, height and/or health requirements. Additionally, one may also be required to sign a waiver and/or present medical background and insurance information before being allowed to participate.