Saturday, Jan. 21, was a great day in the City of Greater Sudbury.
The weather was relatively mild, which was nice, after having been subjected to a snow storm just days earlier, which unceremoniously dumped 10 cm of the white stuff in our area.
I wondered how Sudburians would be enjoying this winter wonderland. After all, Sudbury has no shortage of outdoor winter recreational activities.
I took a drive downtown to Queen's Athletic Field, a track and field oval owned and operated by the City of Greater Sudbury that is transformed into a beautiful outdoor skating oval in the winter.
The ice surface looked perfectly smooth and inviting and there were many folks out enjoying a skate; from toddlers being taught how to skate, to older, skillful skaters and everyone in between. It was an excellent opportunity to practise the art of photography: bright blue sky with white fluffy clouds and great subject material.
I installed a polarizing filter on my lens to make the blue sky darker, allowing the white clouds to “pop”
My favourite shot was of a couple; a man wearing a Montreal Canadians sweater and a woman wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater. I introduced myself and asked if I could take some pictures of them. They obliged, and the woman told me that was her first time on skates since she was 13 years old.
She looked a little wobbly at first, but after a couple of laps and some support from her partner, she definitely had a handle on it and judging by the smiles on their faces, they were having a wonderful time. It just may have been the inspiration I need to dig out my dusty skates and try it out myself after all these years! It's like riding a bike, right?
Beside the skating oval, there is a nice big snow-covered hill for young and old alike to enjoy. They say a picture speaks a thousand words and the pictures I took say “This is fun!”
Everyone I photographed had big smiles on their faces, and I found myself wishing I had a toboggan so I could participate.
The skating oval, is open Monday to Friday from 4-10 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 10 p.m. There is no cost to use the skating oval and parking is free. Also, there is a nice warm building where you can put your skates on and take a break to warm up. I think it's one of the nicest outdoor rinks on which to skate in Sudbury.
After my visit to the skating oval, I journeyed over to Adanac Ski Hill, also owned and operated by the City of Greater Sudbury, to see what was happening there and take some action photographs.
I haven't been skiing since that one time in high school. It wasn't a good experience as I lost my balance and rolled down the hill, landing in an awkward position, both skis pointing in different directions. I decided then and there that downhill skiing wasn't for me, but I love to watch people as they ski and snowboard.
It does look like a lot of fun. There were many wee children learning to snowboard and ski one-on-one with instructors. Adanac offers classes and rentals for people who would like to try it out before buying equipment. Adanac has 240 vertical feet of skiable terrain and an abundance of fresh snow for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels to enjoy. In addition, they have the Vale Chalet and a shop where you can purchase equipment.
There were so many other places I wanted to visit this past weekend; including the recently opened Ramsey Lake skating path and ice fishing on area lakes to name a couple. That will have to wait for another weekend.
For more information on the Queen's Athletic Field Skating Oval, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_leisureservices&lang=en&currID=394.
For more information on Adanac Ski Hill, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_leisureservices&lang=en&currID=3862.
If you would like to view the pictures I took on Saturday, visit my website at www.janetyoungphotography.com.
Janet Young is an amateur photographer who likes to share community events with Sudburians.
