Breaking out of your comfort zone is often a fast track to thrilling, mentally stimulating experiences. Whether or not you’ve tried them before, these five winter activities are sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Let’s dive in!
Fatbike
With fat bikes, there’s no need to put away your cycling gear as soon as winter rolls around. Fat bikes are off-road bikes with oversized tires specifically designed for snow, mud, and other extreme terrain (see photo above). You can rent regular or electric fat bikes at many locations throughout Quebec. Make sure to bring a helmet!
Ski touring and splitboarding
If you like skiing and hiking in the forest, ski touring and splitboarding will be right up your alley. These activities involve touring—trekking up the mountain on foot rather than by chairlift—using either skis or a splitboard fitted with grippy climbing skins. Talk about some serious cardio! Once you reach the top, the skins come off so you can enjoy a well-earned leisurely descent down groomed trails or off-piste terrain.
Ski resorts sometimes offer touring equipment rentals, as regular skis and snowboards won’t get you very far. If you want to learn more about these activities, check out this handy guide.
Sledding
Who says sledding is just for kids? No matter where you live, sledding is an accessible and affordable activity—not to mention a good workout if you climb up the slope on your own two feet. Here are a few safety precautions to keep in mind:
- Wear a ski or hockey helmet
- Go down the hill feet first, in a seated position
- Don’t overload the sled; stick to one passenger at a time if possible
- Sled in areas designed for the activity (to avoid hidden obstacles)
Forest skating
Skating is a classic winter activity, but skating along a frozen forest trail is an entirely different experience! These skating trails spread throughout the province will leave you utterly enchanted.
Snowkiting
Imagine being pulled across a snow-covered expanse behind a giant, windswept kite. Surreal as it sounds, snowkiting (also known as kite skiing) is a popular winter activity! It’s likely the most extreme of our suggestions, though perhaps the most exciting one as well. After taking an introductory course with a specialist, plan your next getaway to put your new skills to use. This one isn’t for the faint of heart!
