Since it seems like we’re stuck in an eternal winter this year (I know, I know, we’re way past the snow… but still), we felt it was important to highlight the many opportunities the city offers for winter sports. A growing movement of parents, coaches, and nonprofits are leaning into fun in the snow. From the Catskills to the Adirondacks, world-class skiing is a bus ride away, and a new wave of programs are making sure that geography and income are no longer a barrier for city kids who want to learn to ski and snowboard.

Skiing remains one of the most culturally invisible sports in the five boroughs. Walk into any Brooklyn playground or Bronx recreational center and you'll find basketball courts packed and soccer fields booked weeks out. The ski rack, on the other hand, feels like a luxury reserved for weekend warriors who own cars and Patagonia jackets. That perception, say advocates, is beginning to change.The science is squarely on the side of getting kids outside in winter.

Research consistently shows that outdoor physical activity in cold months boosts mood, builds resilience, and skiing, in particular, develops balance, bilateral coordination, and confidence in a way few other sports can match. It's a skill that, once learned, lasts a lifetime.

The Catskills, the Poconos, and the Adirondacks are all within a two-to-three-hour drive of NYC, and many are now reachable by dedicated ski bus services. With beginner group lessons starting as low as $72 (plus lift ticket) at some local mountains, and free passport programs making lift tickets accessible to millions of schoolchildren, there has arguably never been a better time to strap in.

A growing number of organizations are connecting city kids with the slopes.