Kick off the New Year right with a little skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding, blues, and, of course, outdoor hockey.
By Katie Rogers
NHL Winter Classic 2009, January 1
Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
After a night of celebration and resolutions, shake off your hangover and ring in the New Year with an Original Six face-off between the NHL champ Detroit Red Wings and the surprisingly resurgent Chicago Blackhawks. It took until 1988 for the first night baseball game to be played in the storied confines of Wrigley Field, and just over 20 years later the first hockey game there will transform the 94-year-old ballpark into an ice rink. The first non-exhibition outdoor NHL game took place last year in Buffalo, where an NHL-record 71,217 fans braved brutal cold and blizzard-like conditions to watch Sidney Crosby score the game-winner in an overtime shootout to lead his Pittsburgh Penguins over the Buffalo Sabres. Now an annual event, the NHL’s Winter Classic is historic for another reason — it’s likely the only way Cubs fans will ever get to enjoy sports at Wrigley in the post-season.
Accommodations and Travel: For hotels near the field, visit wrigleyfieldhotels.com. The tickets sold out in a matter of minutes, so you’ll need to find a scalper outside the game. Or just watch the frozen festivities from the comfort of your own couch on NBC at 1 p.m. or on NHL.com.
Steep Skiing Camp, January 2-4
The Canyons Resort, Park City, Utah
Want to amp up your skiing skills? Then this weekend, attend world extreme skiing champion Brant Moles’s three-day steep skiing camp at The Canyons Resort. Lessons are for intermediate to advanced-level skiers looking to improve their performance both physically and mentally. The camp will provide you with the essential tools needed to handle more extreme terrain you may encounter on the trail. Reservations are required, and tickets cost $470 for the three-day clinic.
Accommodations and Travel: The Canyons Resort is located 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. Follow I-80 East for 15-20 minutes, then take the Park City Exit onto SR-224. From there, follow The Canyons Resort Drive. For lodging deals and lift passes, go here.
Burton Super Demo, January 2-4
Copper Mountain, Colorado
With the snowboarding season in full swing, isn’t it time to pick up a new board and a few tricks? Burton Snowboards is hosting the biggest consumer demo in snowboarding history this weekend at Copper Mountain Resort, with free demos of Burton snowboards, boots and bindings, plus sneak peeks of upcoming Burton products.
Accommodations and Travel: Copper Mountain Resort is located at exit 195 off of Interstate 70, an hour and 45 minutes from Denver International Airport, and an hour and 15 minutes from Eagle County Airport.
2009 Flathead Sled Dog Race, January 2-4
Whitefish and Olney, Montana
Who wants to go all the way to Nome, Alaska to see some fierce dogsled competition? Come early on Friday from 11 am to 4 pm to meet the competing mushers and their dogs at the pre-race vet check for the teams. There are also games, raffles and a silent auction at the O’Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center. The event itself kicks off Saturday at 9 am at the Olney trailhead, with a 50-mile race for the five 12-dog teams, followed by the 25-mile race between the eight six-dog class teams, all for a $2,500 grand prize.
Accommodations and Travel: Whitefish has quickly become one of Montana’s fastest-growing adventure hotbeds, located only 15 minutes from Glacier Park International Airport, with direct flights from Minneapolis, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver and Las Vegas. Whitefish is located directly off US Highway 93. For a list of nearby hotel accommodations, go here.
Mississippi Blues Marathon, January 3
Jackson, Mississippi
Combine the art of running with the sounds of the blues this Saturday at 7 am at the second annual Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon. Race registration is limited to the first 3,000 runners to sign up. Leave your iPod at home, as live blues music will be played at various locations along the course to keep your legs moving.
Accommodations and Travel: The race will be held in the Mississippi capitol’s Fondren Arts District, just fifteen minutes from Jackson-Evers International Airport. For hotel accommodations and the best restaurants, go here.
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