Upcoming Winter Recreation Events February 5-6

The first weekend in February has some fantastic options for adaptive recreation in New England! Hopefully current good snow conditions will prevail. Here are three great choices for fans of snow and cold -

DCR Universal Access Winter Recreation Festival in Gardner, Massachusetts: Saturday, 11am - 3pm. Head to Dunn State Park (off Route 2, exit 24B, follow signs) for a free day of sampling activities on the snow. Enjoy ice skating on ice sleds (or bring your own conventional skates), snowshoeing, kicksledding, cross country skiing, sit-skiing, and short snowmobile rides. Indoor warming area with refreshments. For more information and to pre-register, call Gigi at 617-626-1294.

Boston Vasalop Classical Ski Race: Sunday, 9:30 and 10am. Stop in at the Weston Ski Track to view a classic Swedish style cross country ski race and cheer on the handful of seated skiers who tackle the 5 mile course along with throngs of stand skiers. Enjoy a cup of traditional blueberry soup and try sitskiing, kicksledding or snowshoeing with DCR's Universal Access Program after the races. To sign up for Universal Access activities call Brenda Davies at 413-259-0009.

New England Disabled Sports Ski and Ride Challenge and Adaptive Sports Expo:  Saturday's Adaptive Sports Expo from 9am-5pm at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire will feature speakers, panel discussion, and demonstrations of adaptive ski equipment. Sunday's 15th Annual Ski and Ride Challenge is a major fundraiser for New England Disabled Sports in which participating skiers ski every lift within their ability range followed by more adaptive demos. For more information contact Rob Mueller at 603-745-6281 extension 5663 or robm@nedisabledsports.org