If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
TR- New York City park skating
My first time snow skiing in New York City today. The snow in Central Park
was decent, but I didn't like the trail layout or the grooming, on my attempted skating tour from south to north. Prospect Park in Brooklyn had thin cover, but I found much better skiing terrain. Any other New York City parks I should try next time? my Trip Report: After a fun time skating all over a local county park in New Jersey, I thought I was ready to try the "big city" parks. So I took my skate skis in on the train to Manhattan, then on the subway to Columbus Circle / 59th St. No one commented on my skis in the subway, but then a couple of New York sidewalkers volunteered their doubts that I'd find any use for them. As I entered the southwest corner of Central Park, I found adequate snow cover which allowed me nice skating. But too many fences to prevent me from getting off the designated paths -- seemed like half the open ground in the southern half of the Park was dedicated to the protection of elm trees. The "grooming" strategy for most of the paths themselves was either to plow them or sand them. So I was taking my skis on and off every minute or two. Finally I got to the Great Lawn -- and that too was surrounded by a fence and marked Closed. There some fine print about Open for XC skiing if six inches of snow, and I saw some ski tracks inside, so I tried some skating -- and found that the "Great" lawn isn't very big from a skiing perspective. Then I discovered another set of skate tracks and followed them north to the Reservoir. Skied 3/4 around it on alongside a road (not the runners trail) -- but couldn't make it a full loop due to parked trucks. Trying to link together patches of skiing seemed like some sort of urban orienteering. Finally I made to the north end at 110th St, and left this disappointing Park and got on a "B" subway south, then changed at 34th for the "Q" train to Brooklyn. The terrain around the Prospect Park subway station wasn't very inviting for skiing, but the many of the paths inside the Park were barely skatable, and I made my way to the big northern meadow. Snow cover was thin, and completely covered with human footprints -- but somehow most of it was very skatable. (though I suspect this weekend will be too late). Then I tried skiing alongside the Park road around the southern half and the lake -- the terrain was possible, but the snow cover insufficient. (Next time I think I'd use the "Grand Army Plaza" subway station and focus on the northern fields.) I finished by walking to the subway and riding on the "Q" wearing my Pilot skate boots. (nobody noticed) This ungroomed park + golf course skating is a whole new dimension of my skiing exploration that I've gotten into only in this last year. I'm surprised by how often we get the snow conditions for it here in the metro NYC area. I'm hoping I can try find some more upstate this weekend. Ken |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
TR- New York City park skating
Ken,
GREAT report, you explorer, you! Shame the snow wasn't better. These are my old haunts from living in NYC for 4 years and in-line skating all over Manhatten, and to / from Central Park, Prospect Park etc... Other parks? Riverside Park on the Upper West? Long and narrow. North of Battery Park / World financial center? (or did they fill that in with condo's?) Bronx Zoo? Mark Frost, Bedford, NH, USA "Ken Roberts" wrote in message ... My first time snow skiing in New York City today. The snow in Central Park was decent, but I didn't like the trail layout or the grooming, on my attempted skating tour from south to north. Prospect Park in Brooklyn had thin cover, but I found much better skiing terrain. Any other New York City parks I should try next time?... |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
TR- New York City park skating
Riverside Park sounds like a great idea -- Thanks, Mark.
In Central Park, Bryan suggested trying the bridal path around the Reservoir and the bridal loop just north of the Reservoir. Mark Frost wrote . . . in-line skating all over Manhatten, and to / from Central Park, Prospect Park etc... Yes, the inline skating on smooth pavement is so fun around the metro NYC area that my first couple of days on snow felt disheartening. But once my legs learned again to make all those instant unconscious adjustments to snow variations, and I tuned my speed expectations down -- snow skating seems like plenty of fun now. Ken Road Skate Hudson Valley -- http://roberts-1.com/sk8hv |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Where to rent skis in Park City | Daniel | North American Ski Resorts | 0 | February 2nd 04 02:45 PM |
Salt Lake City next week anyone? (longish) | Chris Cline | Nordic Skiing | 0 | January 9th 04 04:11 PM |
Lessons in Park City | Boardin' Fool | Snowboarding | 0 | January 4th 04 04:23 AM |
Park City Mountain Resort Opens November 14 | User | North American Ski Resorts | 0 | November 13th 03 07:20 PM |
Park City, Utah skiing & snowboarding | User | Nordic Skiing | 0 | October 11th 03 06:45 PM |