Where Ottawa Magazine Winter Spring 2018 | Page 9

FUN! FUNNER! ski odysseys Cross-country skiers push their limits across farmland and forest for fame and fun! 4 Canadian ski Marathon Feb. 9-11 On the Ottawa River’s north shore, skiers take a three-day trek from Lachute to Buck- ingham, Québec. Founded in 1967, this 160-km course isn’t a race — it’s for anyone who can ski at least 12 km, which is the shortest stretch available. There’s something for everyone: the Coureur des Bois is tailored to Where to train elite skiers who can ski up to 80 km a day, and the CSM Taster lets amateurs try out only the last sections the Saturday and Sunday courses. skimarathon.ca FUNNEST! 5 Gatineau Loppet Feb. 16-18 The biggest international cross- country event in Canada takes over Gatineau Park. The classic 51-km race can even take four hours for the most hardened athletes. There are also distances of 5 km, 15 km, and 27 km to ski and a Fatbike Race on Feb. 17. gatineauloppet.com It’s not hard to see why they call Gatineau Park the ultimate cross-country wonderland. It has cleared paths for hikers, over 60 km for snowshoers, and 200 km for skiers. There are even snow trails for fat-tire cyclists. In Ottawa, the Greenbelt features over 150 km of cross-country ski trails, a third of which are groomed, where every one is free to use and conceived with beginners and families in mind. ROLLER COASTER, BUMPER CARS, LASER TAG, ROCK WALL, JUNGLE GYM AND..... FUNHAVEN ESCAPES AN ESCAPE EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY #1 IN FAMILY FUN WWW.FUNHAVEN.COM NEED A personal ASSISTANT? TUrn To To plan YoUr ITInerarY