Waiting for Winter Recreation

Last winter was incredibly mild by Alberta standards, and so far, this winter is following suit. This may come as good news for the drivers of our city and those who tire of shovelling by mid November, but for the winter sport enthusiasts, this lack of snow is leading to restlessness. The variable temperatures over the last month mean that St. Albert’s outdoor ice rinks aren’t quite ready to open to the public quite yet, and the lack of snow means that cross-country skiing is off the table as well. Fortunately, there are a few resources that you can turn to.

The indoor rinks of St. Albert offer free, public-skate periods on a daily basis. At Servus Place, the Kingsway Toyota Leisure Ice rink is open from 9am to 9pm, while the Kinnex Arenas offer free, public-skate sessions most days from 6:30 to 7:30pm, unless otherwise scheduled for an event.

If hockey is more of your style, Servus is also offering informal “shinny” hockey games for adults on a drop-in basis. Ice availably varies for all of these skating periods, so for full schedule information, make sure to check the city’s DROP-IN RECREATION WEBSITE.

Unfortunately for skiers, indoor cross-country ski tracks haven’t quite made it to our area of the world yet. In the meantime, it might be worth looking into the world of roller-skiing as investment for summers and mild winters yet to come. It’s the closest you can get to skiing without the luxury of snow. The Edmonton Nordic Ski Club rents roller skis to members, and they can be purchased at many ski shops throughout the region.

These aren’t perfect solutions for those of us keenly waiting for the winter to arrive, but they’ll do until the season starts cooperating with our sporting needs.