I’ve always said that life should be downhill in winter. But sometimes it’s fun to try something else besides skiing, riding, or even X-C skiing or snowshoeing. Here are five other winter sports available in Aspen/Snowmass, including one that is an Olympic sport.
Curling
If you’ve ever been bowling and thought, “we should be doing this on ice” then curling is for you. Dating back to 16th century Scotland, curling pits two teams of players against one another.
But instead of rolling balls at pins at the end of a long polished wooden alley, curling competitors slide 40-pound stones with handles across a sheet of ice towards targets of concentric circles. The name referrers to the rotation of the stones on the ice, as they “curl” towards their targets.
The Aspen Curling Club hosts matches every Wednesday at the Aspen Ice Garden, and Aspen Snowmass offers a quick introduction to the sport at Game Of Stones each Thursday at the Snowmass Base Village Ice Rink.
Fat Biking
Aspen is a cycling mecca in the summertime, but a little snow on the ground doesn’t mean the wheels stop spinning. So-called fat bikes, which feature oversized tires and fenders to protect riders from the elements, allow for comfortable year-round riding.
The fat tires are typically run at a lower PSI. Such under-inflation allows more surface area to contact the ground, and that provides better grip and stability even on snow. Note that under-inflation is okay for bikes, but not for cars.
Fat bikes are available for rent at bike shops around town or at the Aspen Snowmass Nordic Center. They are perfect for conquering trails around town or for a ride to the Maroon Bells if you’re feeling especially adventurous.
Snowbikes
Snowbikes—not to be confused with fat bikes—do not have pedals and are actually designed to be ridden downhill on ski slopes.
Originally known as skibobs, snowbikes have seats and frames similar to bicycles, but the wheels are replaced with skis. Riders wear boots with small skis attached to assist in steering. Rentals and lessons are available on Snowmass.
Ice Karting
Sliding sideways behind the wheel of a vehicle on ice or snow normally is a harrowing experience. But it’s all part of the fun at Aspen Ice Karting, a pop-up cart racing operation on Kodiak Lake in Willits, where a little drift is expected – even welcomed – through the turns.
Ice karts are equipped with spiked tires for traction on their frozen lake. Speeds can reach 50mph on the straightaways, ensuring a heart pumping winter driving experience.
Uphilling
We said earlier that life should be downhill in winter – but have you tried uphill?
Aspen Snowmass is an uphill-friendly ski resort, meaning uphillers can enjoy climbing the four mountains and skiing down them via designated routes. Locals across the Roaring Fork Valley — and elsewhere in the Rockies — are passionate about uphilling, and you can get in the game by renting uphilling skis of your own.
All four mountains at Aspen Snowmass, including Highlands and Buttermilk, accommodate uphill travel, but an uphill pass is required. Uphillers are asked to follow the designated routes to ensure safety as well as a scenic and enjoyable route to the top.
Know before you go: There are occasional closures for safety reasons, crowd-control, and snow mitigation, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with this information.
Learn more here about each mountain’s rules and routes, including elevation gain. https://www.aspensnowmass.com/discover/experiences/guides/uphilling-guide
