Estimated read time: 9-10 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
THE GREAT INDOORS — Let’s face it, not everyone enjoys wintertime. Not only is it cold, but even if you had time to get outside and play, the shorter days make for less hours to actually enjoy it.
Thankfully, there are places in the state that have gone above and beyond to bring outdoor adventures inside for all to enjoy without having to endure the cold, dark, or the combination thereof.
Here are five places that have brought your favorite outside activities indoors for your winter enjoyment:
Momentum Indoor Climbing
Rock climbing and bouldering are popular activities during the warmer months, with many Utahns testing their skills at places like American Fork, Echo and Little Cottonwood Canyons.The great thing about rock climbers, is they are not just physically strong, but mentally smart because they know that it is best to hone their skills inside, rather than testing them on icy rock. One such climber is Shirley Burnham, who is new to the art of rock climbing, and has chosen Momentum Indoor Climbing as her place to learn.
“I'm a total gym rat, so indoor climbing appeals to me a lot more than it does to the purists in the rock climbing community,” she said. “I have been top roping indoors for about a year now, but I recently got into bouldering at Momentum and I love it. Bouldering gives me more of an adrenaline rush since there is no rope to catch me if I fall — and I do, a lot!
"I love the way that bouldering challenges me to new physical and mental limits. The mental game is a huge part of climbing because there is this little voice inside you that says, ‘No, I can't do that. I'm too weak, and I'll fall.’ But when you can push past that, you really start to improve as a climber, not to mention build confidence in yourself.
"Another great thing about climbing is that you can do it at pretty much any age. Everyone from toddlers who can barely walk to seniors can enjoy the benefits of climbing. It really is a sport for all ages.”
Flowrider Utah indoor surfing
Yeah, we know— Utah doesn’t border any ocean, and the closest thing we have to a natural wave is what is experienced during halftime at a Utah Jazz Game. But, that doesn’t stop many Utahns from sporting their Pendletons on their way to hang loose and rip out some gnarly tricks while riding the sheet wave at Flowrider in Ogden.While here, kids and adults can gain the experience needed to take their skills to the coastline — or at the very least, lay claim that you are a “real Utah surfer.”
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
If the winter inversion has you looking to the higher altitudes, skydiving may be what gets you there — except for the fact that skydiving is not an option during the winter months in Utah.Not to worry. Within the safety of an indoor air chamber, you can skydive at places like iFLY in Ogden. With the use a vertical wind tunnel, you can fly in a controlled manner without the worry of your parachute not deploying.
Experience air blowing in your face with the greatest of ease as you fly inside. And come springtime, you may just be ready to jump from a plane flying approximately 13,000 feet above ground — or not. But, you just might.
Lowe’s Xtreme Airsports
If your favorite outdoor activities include jumping on trampolines, swinging from ropes into a blue lagoon, slacklining or freestyle running parkour-style, then Lowe’s Xtreme Airsports has all of that and more in its indoor facility in Provo.Within the comfort of a temperature regulated building, you’ll be able to jump and flip on many of the facility’s trampolines, then swing from a high bar into a sea of blue foam squares. If running’s your thing, you can do that, too — then pull out a sweet reverse vault, dive roll and wall splat, before gently landing on one of the many gymnastics mats in the parkour (freerunning) area.
While there, you can also hone your slacklining or rock climbing skills before tumbling to your demise in yet, another pile of blue foam — that you may just be pulling out of your socks in tiny bits for days to come.
Wasatch Bike Park
Riding your bike is all fun and games until you find a patch of ice and biff it, or when you try to take your non-fat tire mountain bike on the snow, only to find that riding your bike in place in the cold is only fun never.That’s when taking your bike riding indoors is a good option at places like Wasatch Bike Park in Salt Lake City. Here, you can practice your dirt jumping skills on the offseason without the worry of braving the winter elements. If skateboarding’s your thing, you can bring that too.
The more you keep your body moving during the offseason — even if it isn’t in Utah’s great outdoors — the more ready you will be to climb, hike, run, jump and ride come springtime.
What are your favorite outdoors activities to do indoors during the winter? Let us know in the comments.