Cross Country Skiing

Central Park offers a remarkable opportunity for cross-country skiing at the very center of the city. While not exactly an alpine setting there are dozens of sections of the park where enthusiasts can swoosh and glide to their hearts content. There is also the comforting knowledge that a steaming cup of hot chocolate is only a few hundred yards away. One place that serves hot chocolate at the southern end of Central Park is the Wollman Skating Rink where you can enjoy your well earned refreshment while watching the skaters glide by.

?The biathlon has been an Olympic discipline since 1960 and it combines cross country skiing and rifle shooting. A New York variety has been suggested that would include, instead of target practice, schlepping several Bloomingdale shopping bags, hailing a taxi and speaking on a cell-phone. A suburban variation would substitute checking your makeup in the rear view mirror for cabbie calling.

Location: Sheep Meadow, the Great Lawn, and other large meadows in Central Park.

When: Cross country skiing is allowed only when there is a base of snow of at least six inches.