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In his continuing search for out of season skiing in North America
Tom Greenal's travels brought him to New York City.
Broadway double diamond
OK, the Big Apple has no skiing of any sort (unless you count the
rumoured rope tow in a Brooklyn Park back in the mid 60s) but it
does have some of the most exciting rollerblading anywhere. You
may think San Francisco or LA would be better, but they only give
you quiet steeps or sunshine beach views. Rollerblading down Broadway
is like skiing a black run with a pack of angry wolves - if you
fall or catch an edge you'll get eaten, sorry, run over by a yellow
taxi.
  
Terrain parks
and slaloms
There's no need to take it to extremes, this is a town that loves
rollerbladers. Central Park is probably the first place you'd think
of, and it's rightly famous. The main loop roads are closed to motor
vehicles a couple of hours a day and all day Sunday and there are
even dedicated slalom courses to stop you getting bored.
If exploring is in your nature there are rollerblade friendly bike
paths along both sides of the Island of Manhattan, along both the
Hudson River and East / Harlem River. These nice prepared paths
could be likened to a nice long blue run, whilst the bumpy metal
plated mess that is midtown is more like a nasty moguly black run.
Blues, greens and reds
Despite being barely 2 miles wide at its widest and only 13 miles
long there is great diversity here. The divisions between rich and
poor are at there most dramatic here; it's only a couple of feet
from the full service entrance of a 5 star hotel to no-go alley
alongside. But also travel between smooth and tranquil and busy
and rough; you can skate leisurely down a leafy avenue or scream
at breakneck speed down a 1 in 4 hill, just a block or 2 apart.
For a good view of
the Manhattan skyline you need to leave the island to look back
across the river. The Staten Island ferry may be a free ride but
it isn't much fun. A much better view is afforded by heading over
the Brooklyn Bridge - they even let you skate over! Beware you'd
better have strong calves for this one as it's wooden planks all
the way and very quickly feels like a constant rumble strip.
Ice tea revival
Following in Natives tradition if you get over the Brooklyn Bridge
to long Island don't forget to have a 'Long Island Ice Tea' and
treat yourself to a 'Manhattan' when you return to Manhattan.
After two days skating around the sights I was as tired as on any
of my hikes to ski, and had definitely been scared far more than
I have skiing in a while, so time for me to head home to Europe
for a rest, and maybe just a couple of ski lifts...
Words and Pictures
from Tom
Greenall - Natives Resort Reporter
Watch out for more of Tom Greenall's reporting
from his base of Chamonix this winter (assuming he fixes his car...)
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