Adventures

The Amazing Races

Five Ski Races That Are Not At All Easy

It’s important to stay active during the off-season. You know, ride a vintage motorcycle across Siberia. Circumnavigate a frozen lake on ice skates. Things like that. So here are five relatively insane ice races to help keep you busy for a while. Or you could just take up surfing.

SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT

The Most Absurd Way to Cross Argentina

The race: Starting from Argentina’s Cerro Chapelco ski resort, you’ll ski trails and hike uphill before running to the city’s waterfront, crossing it via kayak and biking to the finish line.
The rationale: A lifetime of glory. And a big shiny trophy.

ALL SKATE

Because of Course This Is in Russia

The race: A leisurely week of ice-skating around the periphery of Lake Baikal in Russia, with nights spent in the cabins of locals who live along the coast.
The rationale: Maybe you miss the Olympics already. Maybe you think a weeklong ice-skating trip is hilarious because it kind of is.

HOT WHEELS

Biking Across a Frozen Lake in Siberia

The race: Oh, nothing too crazy. Just taking a vintage motorcycle for a not-at-all-casual spin across a frozen lake in Siberia. You’ve got two days to test-drive and train before you race toward the Arctic Circle.
The rationale: Biking across an unfrozen lake wouldn’t work as well.

YUKON DO IT

Canada’s Toughest Race Awaits

The race: A 430-mile endurance test that’ll see you trudging through the wilds of Canada by mountain bike, on skis or on foot. Heads up: you might get lost when the fresh snow covers the race markers. Which isn’t terrifying at all.
The rationale: Nothing good on TV?

THE GREEN MILES

Greenland Will Dish It, You’ll Take It

The race: Nearly 100 miles of ski mountaineering through the world’s largest national park. You’ll coast through a wintry apocalypse en route to the finish line: the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit. Good luck asking for directions.
The rationale: Witnessing the majesty of glaciers and frozen fjords. Maybe picking up a Nordic sweater.