With the Olympics now underway, there’s a special kind of excitement in the air! In a city like Minneapolis, where winter sports are part of everyday life, the Olympics feel especially close to home. From skating and hockey on outdoor ice rinks to cross-country skiing on groomed trails, Minneapolis parks provide accessible spaces for people of all ages and skill levels to stay active and enjoy winter.
This same spirit has helped shape Olympic athletes with Minneapolis roots, from medal winning speed skaters and hockey players to world class Nordic skiers. And did you know, long before modern arenas and refrigerated ice, Powderhorn Park’s frozen lake hosted the U.S. Olympic speed skating trials, drawing enormous crowds and proving that world class winter sport could thrive right in the heart of a neighborhood.
In this Listicle, explore the Winter Olympic sports you can try this season throughout Minneapolis parks! As a bonus, we’ve also rounded up a list of local Winter Olympians and memorable moments from the city’s Olympic history.
🏒 1. Ice Hockey & Pond Hockey
Minneapolis operates dozens of outdoor ice rinks across city parks where you can skate, play recreational hockey or join pond hockey pickup/league play. All rinks are natural ice and weather-dependent.
Some parks with outdoor rinks this season include:
- Armatage Park – outdoor rink for skating & hockey
- 40th Street Park – outdoor rink for skating & hockey
- Lynnhurst Park – rink lit for skating & hockey
- Logan Park – neighborhood rink (often two rinks)
- Windom Park – popular rinks for skating & hockey
- Powderhorn Park – lake skating when conditions allow
- …and many other neighborhood parks across Minneapolis
📍 Rink accessibility is based on weather; check the official Minneapolis parks ice rink status before heading out.
🎿 2. Cross-Country Skiing
Minneapolis parks groomed cross-country ski trails can be found at these four main areas:
- Theodore Wirth Regional Park – biggest network (many miles of groomed trails for classic & skate skiing)
- Columbia Golf Course – groomed ski trails when snow allows
- Hiawatha Golf Course – beginner/intermediate trails with city views
- Chain of Lakes Regional Park – multi-use trails linking Cedar Lake, Brownie Lake, Lake of the Isles and others
⛸️ 3. Figure Skating & Speed Skating
Outdoor park rinks at Armatage, Logan, Lynnhurst, Windom, and others are great for ice skating. While Minneapolis parks don’t have dedicated long-track speed skating ovals, many skaters use these outdoor ice surfaces and indoor arenas in the metro for training.
🏂 4. Snowboarding & Terrain Park
Theodore Wirth Winter Recreation Area features a dedicated snowboarding hill and terrain park with rails, jumps, and varied terrain that’s open when conditions allow. It’s operated through a partnership between the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the Loppet Foundation.
🧹 5. Broomball
Broomball programs are available through Minneapolis Parks in winter on outdoor ice, often at rinks where pond hockey is also played. Programs and leagues change seasonally, so check current Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board adult sports offerings for details.
🥌 6. Notable Mention: Curling
While located just outside of Minneapolis proper, seasonal outdoor curling sheets, community leagues, and open curl events are available in surrounding areas, most notably at the Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine, Richfield Ice Arena/Donaldson Park, and Brookview Park in Golden Valley.
🏅 BONUS: Winter Olympic athletes from Minneapolis & surrounding areas
Jessie Diggins – Cross-country skier from Afton, Minnesota and one of the most successful U.S. Nordic skiers ever; she’s won multiple Olympic medals and made history with the first U.S. gold in cross-country skiing.
Lindsey Vonn – Legendary alpine skier born in St. Paul and raised in Burnsville. She won Olympic medals and has been one of the most recognizable figures in skiing.
Paula Moltzan – Buck Hill alum and Prior Lake native, Paula Moltzan is back for her second Olympics this year, and just won a bronze medal in the team combined.
Zak Ketterson – Hailing from Bloomington where he lives and trains, Zak Ketterson is off to his first Winter Olympics with the U.S. cross-country ski team.
Corey Thiesse – Partnered with fellow Minnesotan Korey Dropkin, Duluth native Cory Thiesse is returns for her second Olympics. The pair just made history, winning the first U.S. medal in mixed doubles curling on February 10 at the 2026 Olympic Games.
Lucinda Anderson – Cross country skier from Golden Valley competing in the 2026 Olympic Biathalon.
Margie Freed – Cross country skier from Apple Valley competing in the 2026 Olympic Biathalon.
Iris Pflum – A snowboarder from Minneapolis is headed to her first Olympic Games, competing in the Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom.
Landon Uthke – The 18-year-old defenseman from Albert Lea makes his Paralympic debut at Milano Cortina as part of the U.S. Sled Hockey Team.
Oyuna Uranchimeg – Originally from Mongolia, but now lives in St. Paul, was part of the U.S. mixed wheelchair curling teammate that took 5th in the Beijing Paralympic games, and will compete again this year in her second Olympics.
See a full list of 2026 athletes with Minnesota ties competing at this year’s games, here.
Historic Olympians from Minneapolis and surrounding areas:
Rosie Frankowski – Cross-country skier born and raised in Minneapolis, who competed internationally and has represented the U.S. at high-level events.
Philip LaBatte – Ice hockey player from Minneapolis who competed in the 1936 Winter Olympics and earned a Bronze medal with Team USA.
Robert “Bobby” Fitzgerald – Olympic speed skater born in Minneapolis who competed in 1948 and 1952 and won a silver medal.
Janet Gerhauser Carpenter – Figure skater born in Minneapolis who competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics in pairs skating.
Gene Sandvig – Speed skater born in Minneapolis who competed at the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Aaron Pike – A six-time Paralympian (2012–2022) from Park Rapids, competing in both Para Nordic skiing (winter) and track and field (summer)
Mike Schultz – Snowboarder from St. Cloud who won gold in snowboard cross at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Games
📍BONUS #2: Historic Olympic Events in Minneapolis
Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis was a premier hub for speed skating in the 1930s and 40s, hosting U.S. Olympic speed skating trials three times (1936, 1940, 1948). The park’s frozen lake was renowned for its high-quality, hand-groomed ice, drawing crowds of tens of thousands to watch elite skaters, including future Olympians. Read more about the development and maintenance required for the Powderhorn Park Speed Skating Track from David C. Smith, here.
Beyond speed skating, Glenwood Park, now known as Theodore Wirth Regional Park, played a role in Olympic history as the site of the 1924 U.S. Winter Olympic ski jumping trials. For a time, Minneapolis was even in the running to host the Winter Olympics itself, submitting a bid to bring the 1932 Winter Games to the city.
Check out the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Facebook and Instagram posts, which highlights historic olympic facts and images from the MPRB archives print collection!
Image Credits: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, The Loppet Foundation