Winter Olympic Sports in New England | Where to Watch & Try Curling, Skating, Skiing & More Fun

Every four years, the Winter Olympics celebrate the many reasons to love snow and ice. The upcoming 2026 games, hosted in the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo area of Italy, will showcase 16 sports, including favorites such as figure skating, ice hockey, and Alpine and cross-country skiing. Mark your calendar for February 6 to 22 and then also March 6 to 15 for the Paralympic Games. In the meantime, get out to experience New England’s winter wonderland at places where you can see Olympic events or, better yet, experience these winter sports yourself.

Guide to Winter Olympic Sports in New England

Alpine Skiing

Want to schuss the slopes yourself? New England has about 80 ski areas and resorts waiting to be explored. But to really root yourself in the history of Alpine ski racing in the U.S., head to Saskadena Six in South Pomfret, Vermont. This small ski area is home to the Fisk Trophy Race, the longest-running Alpine ski race event in North America, hosted annually since 1937, and known for its challenging slalom course (this year, on February 8). Some of the East’s best young male racers test their mettle here; In 2025, Nolan Sweeney of Littleton, New Hampshire, didn’t place in the top 10 but still went on to be named to the U.S. Ski Team. Such top-tier racers also compete on the NorAm circuit, hoping to advance to the World Cup races; Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, hosts a series of NorAm races March 10-20, 2026.

Biathlon

Combining cross-country skiing with rifle shooting at a range, biathlon tests a competitor’s ability to manage heart rate and keep their upper body steady while their legs might be humming from the skate-skiing workout. Visit Fort Kent, Maine, to get a taste of the sport. Enroll yourself in the youth or masters programs at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center, where there are 25km of Nordic trails and a 30-point shooting range. Or, cheer on the skiers at one of the 2026 Eastern Regional Biathlon Cup Series races (January 23-25).

Bobsleigh

In the bobsleigh event, teams compete on a twisty track using aerodynamic go-kart-like sleds. Although there are no bobsled tracks in New England, enjoy the twists and turns of the region’s mountain coasters in Vermont and New Hampshire. The mountain coaster sled typically seats two people, and is gravity-driven and has brakes that you control (good news!). Enjoy such a thrilling ride through snow-covered woods at Okemo or Cranmore mountain resorts.

Cross-Country Skiing

Jessie Diggins, cross-country skier extraordinaire, may still claim Minnesota as her home state, but New England is where she’s been blossoming the past few years. Based out of the greater Boston area and training with the Stratton Mountain School’s elite SMS T2 team, Diggins is headed to her fourth Olympics. Hit the trails at Stratton Mountain’s Nordic Center, where you’ll find both classic and skate skiing. Rental equipment is available; call ahead if you want to also set up ski lessons.

Curling

With lingo like “bonspiel”, “button”, and “stone”, the jury is still out whether playing or watching curling is more fun. Look for “Learn to Curl” events and clubs throughout New England—like The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, where the first curling rink in America was established (1820)—at the USA Curling website. If you’ve ever wanted to learn the basics of curling, what are you waiting for? Rather watch? Try to score tickets for the U.S. Junior Mixed Doubles National Championship held at the Cape Cod Curling Club in Falmouth, Massachusetts, March 12-15, 2026.

Figure Skating

Jumps and spins abound at the oldest figure skating club in New England (and the third oldest in America, after Philadelphia and New York). The Skating Club of Boston, in Norwell, Massachusetts, hosts national and international events (check their calendar—especially for this winter’s synchronized competitions), and welcomes skaters of all ages and abilities for open skate. Olympians, including Oksana Baiul, have also trained at the International Skating Center of Connecticut, in Simsbury, which offers public skating, learn-to-skate programs, classes, and shows too.

Freestyle Skiing

Within the discipline of freestyle skiing, there are seven Olympic events: moguls, duals, aerials, ski cross, slopestyle, halfpipe, and Big Air. What do they have in common? Tricks and jumps that only the most flexible, acrobatic athletes can pull off! In New England, Carrabassett Valley Academy, Green Mountain Valley School, and Killington Mountain School (who hosted the U.S. Ski Team for some pre-Olympics training in early January) are known for their freestyle programs; look for their skiers at events around New England this winter or spy them practicing at one of New England’s ski areas or resorts when you duck into the park for a few tricks of your own.

Ice Hockey

Before Mike Eruzione played for Team USA at the “Miracle on Ice” 1980 Winter Olympics, he played ice hockey at Boston University. BU is one of four teams (BC, Harvard, and Northeastern are the others) to compete in Beantown’s beloved annual hockey tournament. TD Garden hosts The Beanpot, running a weekend of women’s games and a separate weekend of men’s games. Get tickets now to experience the intense rivalries and see some of the finest college ice hockey.

Luge

In luge, racers on a sled slide down an ice track at speeds up to 80 to 90 mph (145 km/hr). To introduce the sport, USA Luge sets up a safe track at Worcester EcoTarium in Worcester, Massachusetts, on January 24, 2026, and welcomes the public to give it a try.  After learning the basics, take some practice runs and see if you have what it takes to join the team! Later in the year, also mark your calendars for the USA Luge x White Castle Slider Search. Most of the U.S. Junior National Team was scouted at such recruiting events, including Olympian Zack DiGregorio from Medway, Massachusetts, who got selected at age 10 and, now in his early 20s, is poised to attend his second Olympics. Two Slider Search events will be held in New England this year, one in DiGregorio’s hometown (May 16-17) and one in Meriden, Connecticut (June 20-21).

Nordic Combined

A winter sport combining cross-country skiing and ski jumping, the “flying” happens first and determines where a competitor will start in the cross-country ski race. Only seven clubs in New England, most of which are based in New Hampshire, still offer training and competitions. Check out the Eastern Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined organization’s calendar to pick an event to attend as a spectator.

Short Track Speed Skating

In this indoor event, skaters jockey for position within a pack as they race around an oval ice track on long-blade skates, noticeably different from ice skating or hockey skates. New England has several speedskating clubs where you can get started. We recommend the clubs in Shelton, Connecticut; Walpole and Wellesley, Massachusetts; and Rutland, Vermont. Visit the US Speedskating Association website to find club information. Then follow in the footsteps of Olympic athletes Julie Letai (born and raised in Medfield, Massachusetts) and Kristen Santos-Griswold (from Fairfield, Connecticut) and give this speedy sport a try.

Skeleton

Test your sliding courage at the Jack R. Williams Toboggan Chute in Camden, Maine. While we don’t recommend positioning yourself on your stomach headfirst, as a skeleton athlete would, you can get a sense of how subtle body movements are all that control your sled (with no brakes) as you race down the icy track. Or, stay on the sidelines as you cheer on others at the U.S. National Toboggan Championships each February.

Ski Jumping

Gasp in delight as you see people “fly,” launching themselves off a curved ramp and landing as far downhill as possible on skis. Since 1922, the Harris Hill Ski Jump, in Brattleboro, Vermont, has welcomed athletes from all over North America and Europe. Ski jumping has a deep history here, from championship events in the early years to training several Olympic jumpers in the 21st century. (All four 2014 Olympic male ski jumpers were Harris Hill alum—Anders Johnson, Nick Fairall, Nick Alexander, and Peter Frenett.) The Fred Harris Memorial Tournament, typically the second weekend in February, is well attended. Another regional favorite is Jumpfest at Satre Hill in Salisbury, Connecticut.

Ski Mountaineering

New England, particularly New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, is the birthplace of the U.S. ski mountaineering scene. Skimo, as the event is colloquially known, features uphill climbing with technical descents—as a race. Incorporating skinning (using specialized mohair/nylon strips called “skins” to increase friction and traction on the snow) and bootpacking (hiking uphill in ski boots) as part of the ascent, a competitor must have the stamina of an ultramarathoner and the technical skills of a backcountry skier.

Take it at your own pace with a hired guide—we recommend Synnott Mountain Guides or Northeast Mountaineering. Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mount Washington is hallowed ground, but there’s plenty of terrain to explore beyond that.

Snowboard

Snowboarding events have come a long way since 1982, the birth of competitive snowboarding with the first National Snow Surfing Championship at Saskadena Six, in Woodstock, Vermont. At this Winter Olympics, 11 events within the snowboarding discipline are featured—from halfpipe, slopestyle, and Big Air, to parallel giant slalom races and snowboard cross. There are plenty of ski resorts around New England where you can shred, take lessons, and see snowboarders practicing their jumps and tricks in the park. But to really be a spectator, check the resort calendars in advance for when they are hosting halfpipe, slopestyle, and snowboard cross competitions. Meanwhile, Red Bull, with its Heavy Metal tour (February 21, 2026), brings snowboarding right to the heart of Boston! Although the modern street format on display isn’t technically an Olympic sport, riding the rails and upping the game with each trick are elements of what you’d see in slopestyle competitions.

Speed Skating

A regulation (long) speed skating track is 400 meters (1,312 feet), and there isn’t a dedicated Olympic-style oval like that in New England. In fact, according to the US Speedskating organization, there are only six 400-meter ovals in the United States (Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Utah, Wisconsin). Get a sense of the distance by skating at the natural track on Lake Morey, Vermont. The 4½-mile groomed trail is the longest in the country.

Katrina Farmer

Katrina Farmer is Yankee's associate editor. She enjoys supporting the editorial team by researching story ideas, answering queries, copyediting online content, and writing short articles. It is her goal to visit (and have a memorable experience in) all 67 counties in New England; she has five to go.

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