Winter Sports in Calgary

There are weeks in Calgary when it's really hard to go outside. At times, temperatures can dip below -30 degrees. But, that's usually only for a week or two. Most often, Calgary winters are quite pleasant. We get enough snow to toboggan and enough cold to build skating rinks. And, for the most part, we get out and enjoy it.

Everybody knows that Canadians love hockey. Calgary is one of the most passionate fan-bases, and the Calgary Flames are our team. Although they haven't won since 1989, and it doesn't look promising for the near future, a sold-out Saddledome is a normal occurrence. We also love to get out and skate at the various community rinks around town. Bowness Park has a great family skating area, and Olympic Plaza is a skating rink right at the heart of the city (but no hockey sticks allowed). Most Canadians learn to skate shortly after learning to walk.

Canada Olympic Park is Calgary's urban ski hill. It has one of Canada's best ski schools, as well. This is a perfect place to enjoy skiing, if you don't have time to head to the mountains for a whole day, and it's also great for learning how to ski without the intimidation of the steep Rocky Mountains. The cross-country trails at COP are very popular with Calgarians, too.

Kananaskis has hundreds of miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, as well. Some of these are pretty secluded, and others are pretty close to Kananaskis Village. It all depends on the level of challenge you want to try. Cross-country is not easy, but once you get the hang of it, it's a great way to exercise.

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