Get Outside! FAMILY WINTER FITNESS: where to go & what to do By John Boccacino

 

Despite a recent spell of warm weather and sunny skies, as the calendar turns from November into December native Rochesterians know what awaits them in the coming months. Snow, snow and more snow.

 

The notoriously long and dreary Rochester winters, which feature ample snowfall, cold, whipping winds and prolonged stretches of gray, overcast skies, have been known to cause people to hibernate in their houses, seeking warmth and shelter from the cold and snow. However there is a growing segment of the area's population that, rather than confining themselves to their houses, are embracing the winter wonderland.

 

It's All Downhill from Here 

 

Many area families take to the slopes seeking the high-speed thrills associated with Alpine (downhill) skiing, where individuals can whoosh down the beautiful mountainside at speeds of up to 15 to 20 miles per hour. For those winter enthusiasts seeking a place to ski, there are plenty of ski resorts within a short drive from Rochester, and all of them offer beginner programs with beginner hills, ski and snowboard rentals and fresh powder snow perfect for downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing and cross country skiing.

 

"The number of people seeking winter sports fun through downhill skiing, cross country skiing or snowboarding have grown tremendously and even in a recession, people find it important to get out in the winter time and get some physical fitness," says Drew Broderick, director of sales and marketing for Bristol Mountain, who along with her teenage daughter makes a point to get out and enjoy the trails as often as possible. "We live in New York State, one of the top 4-5 states for snowfall and winter fun, so we can chose to be cooped up inside, or we can embrace the great outdoors and take advantage of the great winter fun."

 

Cindy Novak and her husband Greg have two children, Rebecca, 15, and Adam, 10, and the family of four loves to frequent Bristol Mountain in pursuit of activities to beat the winter blahs. Both Cindy and Greg are avid skiers, so when it came time to pick family activities to do together, the Canandaigua couple was pleased when both children eagerly expressed their desire to hit the slopes.

 

"We're fortunate that our kids love skiing and we can share the activity together, it has turned out to be such a great activity for the whole family," says Cindy, who enrolled both Adam and Rebecca in Bristol's beginner ski programs and has enjoyed watching her children progress in this thrill-seekers' sport. Steve Howie, the snow sports school director at Bristol, estimates that like Rebecca and Adam Novak, roughly 5,000 to 6,000 youths between the ages of 3 to 18 will take lessons/attend one of Bristol's classes during a given year.

 

"We can't wait until the first snowfall, that first day Bristol is open so we can start up this tradition again," says Cindy Novak. "Once the summer and fall sports seasons end, we have this period where we're finding ourselves with free time and everyone is anxious for the winter sports season to begin."

 

Where to Go 

 

BRISTOL MOUNTAIN, which is located in Canandaigua along State Rte. 64, experienced its second-busiest winter season during the 2011 season, according to Broderick. With a vertical rise of nearly 1,200 feet, Bristol is the highest vertical in the region, with 138 acres of ski area and 34 total slopes and trails, from beginner to the most expert of skiers. Like most of the resorts in the area, Bristol features its fair share of night-time skiing, with lighting available on 96 percent of its trails. Group and private lessons are available daily. Group lessons are $35 for youths ages 4-12 for a 90-minute session, and for adults the cost is $28 during the day, $22 at night. All lessons require either a lift ticket or the purchase of a season pass, but children ages 7 and under receive a free lift ticket when accompanied by a paid adult. There are also ski and snowboard packages starting at $79 that include an eight-hour lift ticket, eight-hour ski or snowboard rental and lessons. Bristol also boasts of a two-mile run as its longest trail. For more information on Bristol Mountain, or to schedule a lesson, call (585) 374-1160 or visit online at www.bristolmt. com.

 

THE BRANTLING SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTER in Sodus (4015 Fish Farm Rd.) offers skiers and snowboarders a wide variety of trails to test their skills, from beginner through expert. Brantling offers combination lift ticket, lesson and rental learn-to packages for skiers of all ages. The junior rate (for those ages 12 and under) is $43 for an all-area lift ticket, rental equipment, a one-hour group lesson and unlimited skiing that day/evening. The price is $41 for four hours of skiing, and $33 for the night-time (after 4pm) option. For adults, the unlimited option runs $46, the four-hour plan is $44 and the night-time choice is $36. There are also family plans available. In addition, one-hour group lessons start at $18. For more information, or to book a lesson, call (315) 331-2365 or visit online at www.brantling.com. 

 

SWAIN RESORT (located at 2275 Main St. in Swain) features 30 trails in all: eight easy/beginner trails, 10 intermediate trails and 12 black diamond/difficult trail runs to satisfy the adventureseekers. The summit elevation is 1,970 feet with a 650-foot vertical drop, and for the experienced skier, Swain offers a long run of 5,280 feet. Group lessons start at $24 for 90 minutes of instruction, but do not include lift ticket or rentals. Lift tickets are $43 for an all-day pass during the week, $47 on weekends, and also are available in four- and eight-hour options at different prices for beginners, juniors and seniors. Children ages 7 and under receive a free lift ticket with a paying adult. Swain also has its Gunny's Gorge Tubing Park, a 750-foot park where participants can grab some air in their snow tubes. An all-day pass costs $15, $12 for a four-hour session or $9 for two hours of tubing. For more information, or to book a ski or snowboarding lesson, call (607) 545- 6511 or visit online at www.swain.com. 

 

Each of the above resorts is family-friendly and offers season packages and lessons for children and parents of all ages and talent levels. In Brantling's Cubs program, youths learn the proper techniques, fundamentals and the importance of safety in skiing and snowboarding from certified instructors.

 

Bristol features a children's learning center for both skiing and snowboarding that offers programs designed to hook children between the ages of 4 and 12 on their favorite snow sport. This year, Bristol is having its Family Fun Nights on Saturdays and Sundays. For $72, a family of three can ski or snowboard from 4-10p. m., with half-price rentals and a free one-hour beginner lesson.

 

Swain features its First Turns program, where children can learn how to ski or snowboard through playing fun games and activities. During the month of January, parents can receive 20 percent off the cost of the First Turns program, which normally costs $49 and includes a beginner lift ticket, rentals and a 90- minute lesson.

 

Going Cross-Country 

 

For those outdoor adventure seekers looking for a slower, but just as scenic pursuit, there is Nordic (cross country) skiing, where participants can glide across beautiful snowy surfaces at their own leisure.

 

There are two different types of cross country skiing: classic skiing, which can be easier to pick up and can be enjoyed with more of a focus on exercise and enjoying the scenery and skate skiing, which gives participants more of a rush as they push along the snowy path on a stiffer boot and a different set of skis. With its consistent strides, classic cross country skiing can be viewed as striding on snow, usually occurring along a set track of snow, while skate skiing is similar to rollerblading on snow.

 

Last winter, 70 children between the ages of 5 and 13 participated in the Rochester Cross Country Ski Foundation's Youth Skiing program, which is organized by Bill Broderick, the youth skier development director. As part of their instruction, these chil dren learned the sport's ins and outs while receiving age-appropriate instruction at one of three courses in town: Mendon Ponds Park, Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area (located in Canadice) and the Bristol Mountain Nordic Center.

 

"No matter what your age or ability level, (from) age 3 to 93, total beginner to total elite racer, cross country skiing brings you into the most incredibly beautiful, quiet woods you've ever imagined," says Broderick, who adds that one of the biggest obstacles facing newcomers is making sure they are properly fitted with appropriate equipment. Getting a lesson from a qualified instructor makes it even more enjoyable. "Some skiers decide to get into racing while others just enjoy being outside and taking advantage of the ski trails at our local parks – or skiing out their back doors."

 

A new children's beginner cross country ski package costs about $175 for skis, binding, boots and poles, with an additional $50 needed for registration in the RXCSF youth program, says Broderick. For more information, visit www.rxcsf.org. 

 

More Outdoors 

 

For families looking to introduce their children to a fun winter sport without a major financial commitment, the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford offers affordable snow shoeing and cross country skiing packages.

 

Open on weekends from 10 am through 5 pm during the months of January and February, the Nature Center at the museum rents snowshoes for $5 and cross country skis for $10, with an unlimited rental time to explore the 5.5 miles of trails along the facility.

 

Trails vary from the short, introductory type "perfect for beginners and families with small children through our two-mile long trail that are great for the more experienced," says Melissa Marszalek, a resident of Caledonia and one of two naturalist's who helps families orientate themselves with the sport and the equipment before setting out for the day's adventures.

 

"Snowshoeing is a cabin fever reliever and cross country skiing is a good activity for beginners and families with children, it's great especially here in New York," says Marszalek, who estimates the center attracts between 400 and 1,000 outdoor sports enthusiasts each winter. Hiking along the trails of the Nature Center is free. For more information on the Nature Center's programs, or to enroll in a program, call (585) 294-8262 or visit www.gcv.org. 

 

"We try to encourage families to get out of the house," says Marszalek. "A lot of people think winter is the time to be cooped up inside, but we try to get people to embrace winter and spend time outside getting good exercise. This is a great way for families to hang out and spend some quality family time." 

 

John Boccacino is a freelance writer living in Webster, NY who reported on sports and local news for more than 6 1/2 years with the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. He is currently the Director of Sports Information for Keuka College. Boccacino is a Brighton native who enjoys reporting on a wide variety of topics. To comment on this story email our editor at Editor@GVParent.com

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