Wednesday, November 4, 2009
November’s arrival signals an arctic truth: Winter is coming. At a swifter rate than the redcoats once trotted, rain will turn into snow and lightly grazing winds will gain tenacity, hurling feather-weighted freshmen into the sides of the dorms on Daisy Hill. But just because students are throwing up their hoods and sliding into those long johns, it doesn’t mean they suddenly become different people. Whether snow layers the ground or sun blazes onto dry grass, we still love sports. Everyone already knows about basketball and hockey, but what if you lack the skills or the interest to compete in the mighty two of the winter? Alas, the outliers await.
Sledding
Don’t wait for the baddest storm of the winter to find that hill. Make sure that you know your baby well ahead of time, so that when white flurry madness breaks, you will be ready to go. No time wasted. Then it’s off to the races, with zooming lanes downhill and gleeful crashes soon to follow. And don’t worry, Local Burger fiends and Chipotle-heads — the more weight the merrier. Your chub will only accelerate your sled, resulting in anti-self-conscious fun for all!
Curling
Find yourself two brooms, some rocks, and a large body of ice, and now we’re talking! No, this isn’t a cleaning activity for the homeless. This is an Olympic sport that requires ultimate precision and technique. More or less archery on ice, curling features throwers (those who slide the rock) and sweepers (those who guide the rock’s path) who aim to guide their rocks to a target. It is an amusing and challenging sport that can be practiced with basic household provisions. So curl away, my friends, and sweep wisely.
Snowball Fights
All you naysayers might not categorize this as a sport. But snowball fights can be as competitive as you make them. With a Randy Johnson-like cannon (or at least the ambition) and a fort that rivals ol’ Sumter, this game can be as blood-pumping as the fiercest of sports. Peg a hated rival in the head for some personal retaliation or nail your pesky roommate in the rear for a good laugh. When you’ve got a crunched ball of snow ready to fire, you simply cannot lose — until you get whacked yourself.
Music From the Vaults
It doesn’t matter if you are curling with Canadians or just sitting in a park ogling crystal snowflakes that leisurely fall like feathers. The following albums will fit your soon-to-be-winter mood like snug mittens.
“Chelsea Girl” by Nico: This baroque folk piece is gorgeously introspective yet also overwhelmingly depressing. But the trade-off is well worth it. After all, we are only as happy as the music around us. Try gloom out for size.
Recommended tracks: “The Fairest of the Seasons,” “These Days” and “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams”
“Person Pitch” by Panda Bear: Put this one on your headphones and discover a maniacal escape that rides on the same waves as the Beach Boys. Forget the snow and enter an unknown world that warms the soul like hot chocolate.
Recommended tracks: “Comfy in Nautica,” “Bros” and “Good Girl/Carrots”
“Either/Or” by Elliott Smith: The suicidal songwriter may spook his modern day listeners. But his anti-capitalist rants from a Los Angeles perspective are of a different breed than your typical system-bashers like the Sex Pistols or Black Flag. Thus, the mumbly rifts cannot be lost like Smith’s existence.
Recommended tracks: “Speed Trials,” “Angeles” and “2:45 AM”
— Edited by Samantha Foster
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