Winter Sports

The Pilgrims were a staid bunch whose favorite winter wonderland pursuit was staying out of the cold. Happily, we New Englanders have bucked our forefathers' traditions to find fun in the ice and snow. Most of us are familiar with the basic S's of winter sports - skating, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and snow angels. Those looking for off-the-beaten-slopes activities should try these alternatives. Curling When curling finally succeeded in its long quest to become an Olympic sport in 1998, thousands cried out, "Uh, what's curling?"

Dozens of high school students in Greater Boston experienced head injuries while playing ice hockey and basketball this winter, according to a Boston Globe survey of more than 40 leading programs. The numbers, while far lower than those collected by the Globe in the fall for football and girls' soccer teams, show that injuries are not uncommon for area high school athletes who play in winter sports. This is the first year that Massachusetts is requiring school athletic directors to track "head injuries or suspected concussions" in all sports.

Dozens of high school students in Greater Boston experienced head injuries while playing ice hockey and basketball this winter, according to a Boston Globe survey of more than 40 leading programs. The numbers, while far lower than those collected by the Globe in the fall for football and girls' soccer teams, show that injuries are not uncommon for area high school athletes who play in winter sports. This is the first year that Massachusetts is requiring school athletic directors to track "head injuries or suspected concussions" in all sports.

Global sports equipment maker Amer Sports Corp., whose brands include Atomic, Salomon and Wilson, saw first-quarter net profit grow slightly to (EURO)18.7 million ($24.7 million) on strong sales of sports clothes. The Helsinki-based company said Friday that revenue grew 9 percent to (EURO)490 million, from (EURO)450 million a year earlier. Net profit in the quarter in 2011 was (EURO)17 million. Amer gave an upbeat outlook saying it expects growth and profitability in most sectors, and that it will continue "executing its long-term strategy and sustaining profitable growth," with...

From a health and fitness standpoint, it's undoubtedly a good thing that modern snow sports in New England are primarily thought of as participatory activities and not spectator events. When you think of "going skiing" for the weekend, it usually doesn't involve standing around watching others whiz past. But decades ago, winter sports in the Northeast were synonymous with cheering hometown hopefuls at multi-event race meets that lasted for several days and drew throngs from as far away as Quebec and New York.

Global sports equipment maker Amer Sports Corp., whose brands include Atomic, Salomon and Wilson, saw first-quarter net profit grow slightly to (EURO)18.7 million ($24.7 million) on strong sales of sports clothes. The Helsinki-based company said Friday that revenue grew 9 percent to (EURO)490 million, from (EURO)450 million a year earlier. Net profit in the quarter in 2011 was (EURO)17 million. Amer gave an upbeat outlook saying it expects growth and profitability in most sectors, and that it will continue "executing its long-term strategy and sustaining...

GUATEMALA CITY -- Reward Russia with its first Winter Olympics? Take the Games to a new Asian market in South Korea? Or return to the Austrian Alps for the first time in nearly 40 years? That's the choice facing the International Olympic Committee today in the vote for the host city of the 2014 Winter Games. Amid frantic lobbying in the final hours of the campaign, the race was too tight to call among Sochi, Russia; Pyeongchang, South Korea; and Salzburg, Austria. "I think they are very close," IOC president Jacques Rogge said yesterday.

The following was submitted by Bonnier Corporation: Boston, Mass. — Snow season must be right around corner, as Warren Miller Entertainment is set to screen its latest winter sports film, Like There's No Tomorrow, in three Boston area theaters this November. The 62nd annual installment of the iconic ski & snowboard film series will be shown at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville on Nov. 9-10, the Berklee Performance Center in Boston on Nov. 11-12, and wrap up its eastern Massachusetts tour at the Endicott College Auditorium in Beverly on Nov. 13. ...

How to get there For the World Championship races Feb. 13-15: From Boston take Interstate 93 to exit 20. Follow Route 11C east to downtown Laconia, N.H. The races begin at 9 a.m. each day on Main Street and usually run until about 3 p.m. If weather is poor, races may begin at Opechee Park at the northeast end of town. Laconia is given over to dogs, mushers, and winter sports, and you will hear the dogs from blocks away. Bring your skates to skate on the lake and watch the teams pass.

GUATEMALA CITY -- Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi was awarded the 2014 Olympics yesterday, rewarding President Vladimir Putin and taking the Winter Games to his country for the first time. Sochi defeated the South Korean city of Pyeongchang, 51-47, in the final round of voting by the International Olympic Committee. The Austrian resort of Salzburg was eliminated in the first round of the secret ballot, setting up the decisive head-to-head contest between Sochi and Pyeongchang.

Baseball In Fort Myers, Fla., Adam Wainwright pitched two scoreless innings in his first start in over a year, leading the Cardinals to a 3-2 exhibition win over the Twins Friday. Wainwright missed all of last season after having elbow ligament replacement surgery and hadn't pitched since Sept. 24, 2010. He walked one and struck out two. "I haven't accomplished anything yet, but there's a sense that my rehab process is coming to an end," Wainwright said. "I'm a normal pitcher again.

From a health and fitness standpoint, it's undoubtedly a good thing that modern snow sports in New England are primarily thought of as participatory activities and not spectator events. When you think of "going skiing" for the weekend, it usually doesn't involve standing around watching others whiz past. But decades ago, winter sports in the Northeast were synonymous with cheering hometown hopefuls at multi-event race meets that lasted for several days and drew throngs from as far away as Quebec and New York.

The first day of winter was just warm enough to get by with a sweater and just cold enough to ice skate. "Yeah, it's one of those weird weather days when you know winter is here, but it's still warm enough to go outside and enjoy yourself," said Mary Gilchrest, 32, of Boston, who spent about an hour yesterday swirling around the Frog Pond on skates. Hundreds of people took to the ice there, some of them wearing T-shirts. At 57 degrees, yesterday's high was above average for the first day of the season, which in Boston, is 39. And typically, the average...

Teens from military families around the country will be skiing, dog sledding, ice skating and snow tubing in New Hampshire this winter. Two organizations affiliated with the University of New Hampshire have received a grant from the U.S. defense department to run a series of free, four-day camps in January and February for teens ages 14-18. The camps will be based at the Appalachian Mountain Club center in Crawford Notch, and two of the four sessions will be for teens with physical, developmental and cognitive disabilities.

The following was submitted by Bonnier Corporation: Boston, Mass. — Snow season must be right around corner, as Warren Miller Entertainment is set to screen its latest winter sports film, Like There's No Tomorrow, in three Boston area theaters this November. The 62nd annual installment of the iconic ski & snowboard film series will be shown at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville on Nov. 9-10, the Berklee Performance Center in Boston on Nov. 11-12, and wrap up its eastern Massachusetts tour at the Endicott College Auditorium in Beverly on Nov. 13. Filmgoers can catch one of...

If your idea of snowshoes resembles those clumsy, wood-and-leather contraptions displayed next to moose heads above fireplaces in rustic ski chalets, you'd better get with the program. Or, better yet, get outdoors and trek through the woods on a pair of contemporary, ultralight snowshoes. The difference in performance is remarkable, enough so that this once-obscure winter pastime is rapidly gaining in popularity as an alternative to winter sports that require steep investments of time and money.

Get the Sharpie ready for the annual winter sports kickoff, the Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo at the Bayside Expo Center today through Sunday. Anchored by the annual Ski Market kickoff sale, exhibitors include nearly every ski area in the country and Canada. Grab swag, plan a ski trip, pick up gear deals, score a free lift ticket, and run into a snow god such as 2006 Olympic snowboardcross gold medal winner Seth Wescott tonight. Stein Erikson , who brought elegance to the slopes during the 1950s and '60s, as well as winning 1952 Olympic gold and silver medals, will be around...

If your idea of snowshoes resembles those clumsy, wood-and-leather contraptions displayed next to moose heads above fireplaces in rustic ski chalets, you'd better get with the program. Or, better yet, get outdoors and trek through the woods on a pair of contemporary, ultralight snowshoes. The difference in performance is remarkable, enough so that this once-obscure winter pastime is rapidly gaining in popularity as an alternative to winter sports that require steep investments of time and money.

The Pilgrims were a staid bunch whose favorite winter wonderland pursuit was staying out of the cold. Happily, we New Englanders have bucked our forefathers' traditions to find fun in the ice and snow. Most of us are familiar with the basic S's of winter sports - skating, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and snow angels. Those looking for off-the-beaten-slopes activities should try these alternatives. Curling When curling finally succeeded in its long quest to become an Olympic sport in 1998, thousands cried out, "Uh, what's curling?"

Get the Sharpie ready for the annual winter sports kickoff, the Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo at the Bayside Expo Center today through Sunday. Anchored by the annual Ski Market kickoff sale, exhibitors include nearly every ski area in the country and Canada. Grab swag, plan a ski trip, pick up gear deals, score a free lift ticket, and run into a snow god such as 2006 Olympic snowboardcross gold medal winner Seth Wescott tonight. Stein Erikson , who brought elegance to the slopes during the 1950s and '60s, as well as winning 1952 Olympic gold and...