Montrealers are an active bunch and the city has plenty to offer those who want to work up a sweat or watch other people doing it.
Montreal kayaking
Montreal itself is an island surrounded by scenic waterways and pretty islets. It’s no surprise then that in the balmy summer months Kayaking is a popular past-time. Close to the Atwater market, the imaginatively named H20 (514-842-1306) offer Kayak hire and lessons on the Lachine canal. If you fancy something a little different, why not try Kayak sans frontiers (514 595-7873) who specialise in Stand-up-paddle, a cross between surfing and kayaking.
Montreal cycling
Bicycles are big news in Montreal. There are 450 Kilometers of bike path in the city and it boast nearly twice the number of cyclists as London, no wonder then that the recent launch of Bixi the public bicycle scheme has been such a success. If you want to enjoy Montreal on two wheels, you can find a bicycle easily from one of the city’s 5,000 docking stations. The Montreal bike fest has been going for 26 years now, and is the perfect time to get out and about with many roads closed to motor traffic (May/June every year.)
Montreal ice-skating
Instead of hibernating inside during the harsh winters, many of the locals will grab their skates and head to a nearby rink for some skating therapy. The cold weather makes for truly spectacular skating opportunities, and broadly this is a very cheap pastime. Park La Fontaine is a particularly popular venue which provides meandering paths of ice through a beautiful snowy park, complete with snowy trees to deaden the scratching of your skates.
X-Games
Fans of in-line skating, skateboard, roller basket, roller soccer and BMX are spoiled in Montreal. The TAZ (514 284-0051) is a gigantic 32,000 square foot space chock full of gnarly half pipes, bowls and assorted acrobatic structures. A young but respectful vibe prevails with equipment rental possible and DJ music playing to get you in the mood to hurt yourself.
Montreal ice hockey
Somewhere in the Canadian genetic code is the ice hockey gene. Males and Females of all ages absolutely adore the sport, and in Montreal they have they’ve caught the bug worst of all. There are countless rinks across the city where you can have a lesson and shoot a puck or two, but for the full experience you will need to visit the Bell centre (514 790-2525) home of the beloved Montreal Canadiens. They are without doubt the Manchester Untied of Ice-Hockey, bringing home 24 Stanley Cups and reducing normally rational adults to quivering puddles of devotion. For a price, you can rent the rink to play yourself, but it may be best to start with watching a game.
Montreal skiing
The City has two small
ski slopes that you can start on, but it’s best to use it as a base for the excellent mountains nearby. Close to Montreal is the town of St Sauveur in the Laurentians which lays claim to the largest concentration of lit runs for night riding in the world.
Action 500 Karting
Found in the east end on Hochelaga street, Action 500 is one of the few locations in the city to offer 24 hour go-karting. Since the go-kart tracks are indoors, racing is fast and furious no matter what the season. Action 500 also offers indoor paintball at another location.
