Victory Ranch is home to boundless terrain that begs for adventure year-round. In the winter months, regardless of the amount of snow on the ground, an array of adrenaline-filled activities engage members of all ages. In a recent interview with Victory Ranch’s newest trainer Nancy Russell, we gained plenty of insight into how she makes staying fit fun in the winter. Whether you wish to cross-country or skate ski, fat bike or hike, the wide-open spaces are beckoning you and your family to join in.

Cross-Country Skiing

Regarded as one of the best aerobic exercises in the winter, cross-country skiing—an offshoot of nordic skiing—is one of the most enjoyable winter activities. When the powder isn’t in its prime for backcountry skiing, Nancy Russell opts for cross-country skis to work a sweat amongst the cool air. With miles of private, groomed trails, members can exercise and explore with complete ease. Join us on one of our Nordic Ski Days and learn from some of the best instructors in the business as White Pine Touring introduces you to the basics of Nordic skiing.

Skate Skiing

While skate skiing, too, takes place on Victory Ranch’s groomed trails, it differs from the popular cross-country variety in the sense that skiers are able to propel themselves with more acceleration by virtue of shorter, more narrow skis. For those who are a bit more experienced, skate skiing is a wonderful, more demanding exercise to explore the winter landscape. According to Russell, “Cross country skiing and skate skiing are two of the hardest workouts you can do. They aren’t too hard to do and you get to be out in the beautiful winter air!”

Fat Biking

Believe it or not, biking isn’t just a warm weather activity. With fat bikes, you can explore the backcountry no matter the season. Featuring oversized tires, fat bikes are designed for riding on soft, unstable terrain such as snow. Nancy Russell heads to trails like Round Valley, with groomed singletracks, or up to Mirror Lake Highway in the winter, early before the snowmobilers are out and the snow is still packed. “It is so amazingly peaceful and beautiful up there in the winter when no one else is around. It’s magical,” Nancy explains. Several other adventurous paths are open along the River Trail, groomed Nordic Tracks and Kamloop Trail.