California has a long tradition of extreme winter sports. There are giant surfing at the Mavericks in Half Moon Bay to a rebellious Los Angeles-born skateboarding.
But California’s adrenaline isn’t limited to warm beachside days. You can do cross-country tracking and snow hikes across the Sierra Nevada Mountains or outdoor skating beside the Pacific in sunny San Diego City.
A water sport lover’s dream in summer, Lake Tahoe becomes a snow wonderland in winter. You won’t run off the challenging downhill paths of the epic terrain parks to try out skiing.
In Eastern Sierra, the 11,060m long Mammoth at Lake Mammoth is home to a charming SoCal ski crowd from LA. Skiing, the terrain winter sports park for skiing and convenient lifts located in the city center make Mammoth an easy winter vacation destination. Closer to LA, Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains is a family skiing spot, ideal for beginner skiers.
The same is true of Badger Pass, California’s oldest ski resort, located in the awe-inspiring Yosemite National Park. Beyond the beaten path, Mt Shasta Board & Ski Park is a relaxing place for families and novice skiers. It also happens to have the largest night ski activity in Northern California.
The Sierra Nevada offers plenty of opportunities for cross-country skiing or snow trekking through dense forests. There’s even a winter ice rink installed next to the beach on San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado peninsula.
What do Kitesurfers do when they find themselves in the mountains, instead of the beach? The answer is snow kiting, a combination of skiing and sailing, which allows the heart to tumble in midair.
At Lake Tahoe’s Sugar Bowl ski area, the Wind Sierra Snowkite Center will show you how to start flying along the dough, as long as you call in advance to make a reservation.
In Yosemite National Park, Curry Village outdoor skating is a cherished holiday tradition for families. There you can glide and make eights in the iconic Half Dome shadow.
For the thrill and more epic scenes. It is an ice rink at High Camp in the Squaw Valley located more than 2,000 meters from Lake Tahoe.