Time may have given us the iPhone 5, GPS and blankets with sleeves, but it has yet to improve on the indelible combination of a thin piece of cheap plastic and a steep, snowy slope. Whether you find yourself responsible for entertaining children or simply wish to reconnect with your own inner-child, the sledding hill is the perfect place to spend a day without spending a fortune. With a wealth of hills located at school, state and county parks throughout the mitten, Michiganders needn't go far to find some momentum.
Ada Vista Elementary
7192 Bradfield St. SE, Ada
Belknap Park
30 Coldbrook St. NE, Grand Rapids
Bertha Brock Park
2311 West Bluewater Highway, Ionia
Caledonia Lakeside Park
300 N. Lake St., Caledonia
Cascade Township Park
3810 Thornapple River Dr., Cascade
Echo Valley Winter Sports Park
3309 Woodhams Ave., Portage
Johnson Park
2600 Wilson Ave. SW, Walker
Kindleberger Park
400 Park Ave., Parchment
Lake Harbor Park
3600 Lake Harbor Rd., Norton Shores
Leila Arboretum
928 West Michigan Ave., Battle Creek
Manhattan Park
400 Manhattan Rd.SE, East Grand Rapids
Mary Waters Park (Belknap Hill)
1042 Lafayette Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Mulick Park
1761 Rosewood Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
Muskegon Winter Sports Complex
462 N. Scenic Dr., Muskegon
Pinery Park
1155 28th St. SW, Wyoming
Provin Trails Park
2900 4 Mile Rd., Grand Rapids
Richmond Park
1101 Richmond St. NW, Grand Rapids
Rosewood Park (Charlie's Dump)
1960 Rosewood St., Jenison
Van Raalte Farm Park
1076 East 16th St., Holland
Wabasis Lake Park
11220 Springhill Dr., Greenville
Woods Lake Elementary
3215 Oakland Dr., Kalamazoo
Sledding Safety Tips
We all have that one sledding story, and while it can be funny comparing scars or posting spills on YouTube, it's far more satisfying when you and your loved ones return home in one piece. Remember, sledding hills are self-policed, so adhering to the proper etiquette ensures that a good time can be had by all.
● Michigan Weather: 'Nuff Said. Remember what state you live in. Depending on how Mother Nature treats us, you could be sledding in subzero grayness or in sunshine. Oh, and if you think you're too old for snow pants, you're probably right.
● Size Matters. Didn't look that steep from the bottom, did it? There are a variety of sledding hills to choose from, so make sure to pick one that fits within your comfort zone.
● Adults Weigh More Than Children. Always take care to scan your path before taking off. You don't want to be the reason little Timmy develops a lifelong fear of inner tubes, do you?
● You Are Not Sully Sullenberger. No safe trip down the hill is complete without a runway. If you find yourself in the river, on the road or crumpled at the base of a wall, we advise that you stick to snow angels.
Cannonsburg Ski Resort
6800 Cannonsburg Road, Belmont
cannonsburg.com, (616) 874-6711
All-day lift tickets:
Adults 11 & older: weekday $28, weekend/holiday $35
Juniors 7 to 10: weekday $20, weekend/holiday $25
Kids 6 and under: FREE
Caberfae Peaks
1 Caberfae Lane, Cadillac
caberfaepeaks.com, (231) 862-3000
All-day lift tickets:
Adults: weekend $44, weekday $34
Teens: weekend $39, weekday $29
Juniors: weekend $34, weekday $24
Seniors: weekend and weekday $24
Children eight and under: FREE
Pando Winter Sports Park
8076 Belding Road, Rockford
pandopark.com, (616) 874-8343
All-day lift tickets:
11 and up: weekday $13, weekends $20
Six-10: weekday $11, weekend $17
Five & under: FREE with paid adult
Rentals:
Ski package: $18
Snowboards: $20
Crystal Mountain
12500 Crystal Mountain Drive, Thompsonville
crystalmountain.com, (231)378-2000
All-day lift tickets:
Adults: $50 - $69 / Rentals $30-$38
Seniors: $25-$34
Juniors: $40-$59 / Rentals $25-$32
Children eight and under: FREE
Rentals:
$12-$22
Boyne Mountain Resort
1 Mountain Road, Boyne Falls
boyne.com/boynemountain, (231) 549-6000
All-day lift tickets:
Adults: $53-$77
Seniors and Teens: $48-$66
Juniors: $42-$56
Eight & under or 70 & over: FREE
Rentals:
Adults Ski/Snowboard: $27-$40
Kids Ski/Snowboard: $18-$30
Bittersweet Ski Resort
600 River Road, Otsego
skibittersweet.com, (269) 694-2032
All-day lift tickets:
Adult: weekday $31, weekend $31-$39
Rentals:
$22-$24
These aren’t your average races. Test not only your running skills, but strength, swiftness and endurance by running through mud, obstacles and avoiding grannies in these eclectic runs.
Aug. 8, 9 a.m.
$45-$55 / thecolorrun.com
There are three rules to the Color Run: 1.) Anyone can participate, 2.) You must wear a white t-shirt, 3.) By the finish line, you will be covered in color.
Grand Rapids Mud Run (5k)
1200 60th St. SE, Kentwood
Aug. 25, 8, 9 and 10 a.m.
$40 / grandrapidsmudrun.com
Be ready to get dirty as you run 3.1 miles through mud pits, tunnels and conquer cargo nets, walls and a mudslide.
Warrior Dash (3.31 miles)
Millennium Park, Grand Rapids
September 15, 9 a.m.
$60-$70 / warriordash.com
The world’s largest running series comes into Michigan for the second time in 2012. Twelve obstacles from hell await you along this 3.31-mile course to see if you are a warrior.
The B.O.B. and WGRD host a day of dodging
Written by Patrick Nothaft
Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge -- the five D's of dodgeball, according to Patches O'Houlihan, the legendary hurler from Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
On Sept. 10, West Michigan throwers might consider O'Houlihan's advice as teams converge on The B.O.B parking lot, 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, for an aerial assault of red rubber balls.
Teams of six players 21 years of age or older will try to mercilessly pelt and eliminate their opponents in the 2011 WGRD Dodgeball Challenge, which is sponsored by 97.9 WGRD. Each team will play one another in the round-robin style tournament until one overall winner is determined. The winning team will receive a prize pack valued at more than $500, which includes gift cards from The B.O.B. and Leinenkugel's swag.
The tournament will host a maximum of 60 co-ed teams, but Dave Kim, Promotions Director for WGRD, said that 20-40 teams is more realistic.
Participants can register their teams at WGRD.com until Monday, Sept. 5. The registration fee is $120 per team. The first game will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 10. Spectators can watch the competition for free.
| WGRD Dodgeball Challenge The B.O.B. parking lot, Grand Rapids Sept. 10 21 + $120 per team wgrd.com |
At first glance, dodgeball might not seem like a very complicated sport. It's basic human nature to avoid projectiles sailing toward your face. President Bush showed us this at a 2008 press conference when he skillfully dodged a one-two combo of angry Iraqi wingtips.
But there's more to dodgeball than just not getting hit -- teams need offensive strategies, explained Paul Hillebrand, a competitor in this year's tournament.
"There are times when you need to coordinate with your teammates to throw at the same person," said the former member of Grand Valley State University's dodgeball team. "For example, one guy throws high, and the other throws low, or they each throw from different angles."
With $500 worth of prizes on the line, Hillebrand expects a day of fiercely competitive and entertaining dodgeball.
"You don't have non willing combatants in competitive dodgeball," he said. "You don't have that kid who gets clocked in the face and doesn't want to be there. Everyone wants to be there, so you can go all out and not feel bad about hitting people in the face."
