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Fight the Winter Blues

By Ida Seitter

In light of the weather being above 50 degrees the past few days, we all know that winter is far from being over. Lets all come to terms with the fact that more snow, ice, and cold is on the way. So as we continue to drag ourselves through yet another cold and icy month, many of you (myself included) may be starting to feel the all-too-familiar ‘winter blues’. This is a restlessness that comes from being inside too much and the complete exhaustion of our bodies from the sun going down at 5 o’clock. The feeling culminates in February and threatens to send us all inside until the end of winter. Because the groundhog saw his shadow this year, it seems that we must prepare for six more weeks of winter; and as a result, we have to find fun things to do in this seemingly never-ending winter season. As I started my quest for new activities, I ran into a lot of old ones that I could bring back in order to keep my sanity in gray Columbus.

SKIING OR SNOWBOARDING

These snow sports are possibly the best way to conquer the winter blues. Nothing beats the exhilarating rush of wind in your face, or the pain of your body the day after. It is maybe one of the more expensive ways to spend your time, but once or twice a season is totally worth it. Although Ohio is pretty flat, we still have a couple of snow resorts near Mansfield that boast many hills, jumps and comfortable lodges. Mad River Mountain is one of the biggest in Ohio and has 17 big hills, with renowned snow-making abilities. According to a Mad River rep, the regular price for a one-day lift ticket is $42 for an adult, and if you need it, $21 for ski rental or $29 for snowboard rental. If this is too steep for your pockets, they do offer reduced rates on Sunday afternoons and weekend late-nights (www.madriver.com). If you want to go through OSU, your best bet is probably to join the Ski Club in order to obtain group rates. You can do this by contacting coordinator Theodore Smith or going to the recreational sports Web page at www.recsports.osu.edu/clubs. Maybe the best thing to remember about skiing is that it is not our middle school or high school ski trip for one reason: the bar in the lodge!

ICE SKATING:

This may seem like a lame throwback to when we were younger, but I went ice skating last week and it was surprisingly fun and hilarious. Remember, there is nothing funnier than seeing your confident boyfriend or your best friend totally break his body on the ice. It is also a really good ice-breaker (no pun intended) for a first date; it invites conversation as well as some touching! The best thing is that you don’t even need a car to do it. Ohio State has its own recently-remodeled skating rink right on campus. Ice skating is not even expensive– it’s $2 for students with a Buck ID ($2 for rental) and a mere $4 for the general public. If you go skating a lot and are looking for a fresh place to skate, check out the rink at the Columbus Zoo. While this rink is not as large as the one at OSU, it is outside and they have hot chocolate stands and real snow. While you are there, don’t forget to check out the awesome aquarium where it’s warm, and dream about someday living on a tropical island.

SLEDDING:

If you are looking for something totally free and a little dangerous, you can’t go wrong with a little sledding adventure. All you need is a good snowfall, a couple friends and at least one sled. You don’t even need to go to a huge hill to have fun if it’s icy. I asked around the OSU community to find out what your favorite hills in Columbus are and the most common responses were Glen Echo and Antrim Parks, as well as the hill near Tuttle recreation center off Norwich. My favorite place is the huge hills at Hoover Dam. Although you have to drive there, it is totally worth it; you think you might die going down them. The only real drawback is the fact that you have to walk all the way back up the hill; it kills if you are a smoker.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES:

If you just can’t bring yourself to go outside in the cold, there are many other fun options inside. The number one thing to do in winter, if you are an OSU student, is watch Ohio State basketball. I mean, it’s on three times a week and that means you have at least three nights taken care of. Basketball, beer and friends make a great combination. Another good way to waste some time is have a board game night. It sounds stupid, but games are a good way to have fun with a group of people without staring at the television. A couple games I find entertaining are: Cranium, which you can play with a bunch of people; Scrabble, which you can play with just one other person; and Scene It, if you just can’t turn off that TV. Don’t forget that you can make pretty much any board game into a drinking game if you love the sauce! You could also throw a dinner party or have a potluck with a bunch of friends. You can trade recipes and have a lot of fun making the food. Finally, if you find yourself with no plans and no homework, you can always curl up with a glass of wine, and yes I’m going to say it, read a book.

I know that winter can be a bummer, especially in the morning when you are scraping at the inch of ice on your car, but it can also be a great time of year. This is a season that many people south or to the west of us don’t ever get to experience, and it would be a shame if we wasted it. It’s the time of year we get to be kids again; running around in the snow, making snow angels and having snowball fights. If you just can’t get over winter, and refuse to try and go out and have some fun, just remember: spring is just around the corner!

Originally Published: February 11, 2009

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