Skiing During the Pandemic

Hitting the Slopes this Winter  

Growing up in New England, some of the best memories of my childhood are the ones where I would spend Friday nights skiing with my family. Staying up late to ski and having hot chocolate on the way home was something that I always looked forward to every winter. As I got older though, schedules got busier and time just seemed to fly by. I often miss the days of skiing when I was younger, as it was a great way to do something fun and stay active. Now that the pandemic is among us, doing things that bring us joy is something sacred. If I’m being honest, I’m not really looking forward to this winter break. Most places of entertainment are closed, my favorite restaurants have a curfew, and I see my friends less often as we are all trying to stay mindful of physical distancing guidelines. What am I supposed to do to keep myself entertained throughout the winter break?  

Then I saw an advertisement for one of my favorite ski resorts. They are planning on opening this winter, and yes things will look a little differently, but hitting the slopes this winter is going to be a great way to get some fresh air and rid those feelings of cabin fever! Whether you ski or snowboard and still want to keep yourself and others safe at the slopes; check out some of these tips below.  

• Pack your snacks (and something to drink, too)! Most likely the lodges that we once loved will have limited capacity. This means that there will be less time to grab a bite to eat and something to drink if we are lucky enough to get into the lodge on a Friday or Saturday. Kick it old school this winter and pack a bag with your favorite snacks and drinks to keep in the car. This way you can avoid the crowds, have something to eat while you take a break from the slopes, and keep yourself safe.  

• Bring your handsanitizer! Even though you will probably have gloves on most of the time, you never know when you’ll need clean hands. Washing your hands or using hand sanitizer before you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth will help keep you healthy!  

• Add the extra layers! In most years past, if you’re a daytime skier or snowboarder; you wear lighter layers as you are out in the sun and moving around all day. This year, lines at the lifts might be a little longer due to physical distancing. Having this extra time to stand around is going to give your body more time to cool off. Keep your muscles warm to prevent injuries by adding the extra layers.  

Even though there are a lot of things that we can’t do this winter due to COVID-19, there are still some things we can do to have fun and get some fresh air. Fortunately, skiing and snowboarding is a naturally physically distant activity!