When winter arrives in Rochester, the cold doesn’t send everyone indoors. As temperatures dip, some locals embrace the season as an invitation to move, connect with nature, and enjoy the winter sports they love. From early mornings on frozen trails to snowy Saturdays on the slopes, winter sports become a lifeline for physical and mental health during the darkest times of the year. Meet four Rochester-area enthusiasts who have found joy and community in the pastimes they love—proving that winter can be a season to thrive, not just survive.
Hadley Lundback: Trail Runner
“I love the feeling of cold, crisp air in the morning before sitting in an office,” says Hadley Lundback of Brighton, an avid trail runner for more than 30 years. Lundback doesn’t slow down when temperatures plummet and daylight becomes scarce.
A headlamp illuminates quiet trails in the early morning hours before the sun emerges over Rochester’s horizon. “I start my runs by about 6 a.m. and hit local trails,” she says. “Sometimes with friends. Always with my dog.”
Lundback has three canine companions who have accompanied her on daily runs in all kinds of weather. She can usually be spotted running with either her mini golden doodle, Rory or a pit mix, Ace. Their go-to trails include Mendon Ponds Park and the Crescent Trail. “We’re fortunate to have so many fantastic trails in Rochester,” she says, finding it challenging to pick one favorite.
Interested in trying winter running? Lundback recommends connecting with professionals at a local running store to find the right gear for safety and comfort. Businesses like MedVed on Monroe Avenue offer education for runners of all skill levels. She also suggests joining a running group.
“You’ll get familiar with trails and meet fantastic people along the way.”
Brianne Blaszak: Downhill Skiing
Brianne Blaszak, owner of Endlessly Outdoors Company in Wyoming County, embraces winter as her preferred season for outdoor fun.
“I find it the most calming,” she says. “Fewer bugs, fewer people.”
Despite being an avid winter road runner and hiker, Blaszak was initially hesitant to try downhill skiing. “As an adult, you have more fear of falling.” At the time, she was also training for the Boston Marathon and worried that an injury might derail her progress.
She credits her nephew and sister-in-law (both skiers) for giving her the push she needed to start. After taking a beginner lesson at Swain Resort, Blaszak continued practicing on her own, gradually progressing to more advanced slopes. Today, skiing ranks among her favorite winter activities.
Through her business, Blaszak often meets people who are curious about winter sports but unsure of their abilities. Her advice is simple: “Never talk yourself out of it. Rent the gear. Get a friend to go with you.”
“Once you get started,” she adds. “You probably won’t want to stop.”
Deanna Kernan: Platform Tennis
For Deanna Kernan, general manager at the Tennis Club of Rochester (TCR), winter means trading her racquet for a paddle. Platform tennis—also known as paddle tennis—is a rare paddle sport designed to be played outdoors in wintry conditions.
The sport is played on a raised metal platform court about a quarter the size of a traditional tennis court. Players use perforated paddles and depressurized balls, which Kernan says bounce better in cold temperatures. “You can hit the ball harder,” she says, “which is more fun.”
Heaters beneath the court help evaporate moisture quickly, allowing play to continue even during snow or rain. “It’s a blast. You feel like you’re playing in a snow globe,” she says.
Kernan teaches many of TCR’s beginner platform tennis classes, and she’s far from alone in her enthusiasm. The club has about 350 members who play on the outdoor platform courts—often called “paddle huts”—during the winter months. The sport is so popular that TCR now hosts weekly Paddle Tennis Happy Hour events, pairing games with refreshments in the clubhouse.
“We love that it keeps us active and outside in winter,” Kernan says. “It’s not as much work as skiing. You don’t need special gear, and it only takes about 90 minutes.”
The social aspect is another major draw. The small court size makes it easy to talk, joke, and laugh throughout a match—helping ward off the winter blues. Kernan encourages anyone looking for a new winter activity to give platform tennis a try with a beginner class.
“It’s fun. It’s healthy. It brings people together.”
Conrad Baker: Ice Fishing
Conrad Baker is an avid outdoorsman—the kind of person most comfortable sleeping under the stars, hiking remote trails, and foraging in the woods. An environmental educator based in Livingston County, Baker looks forward to winter for its abundant local ice fishing opportunities. While he enjoys fishing year-round, Baker finds the tradition and community surrounding ice fishing particularly meaningful.
“It’s a huge tradition passed down from parent to child,” Baker says, describing the culture of ice fishing in the greater Rochester area. “Finding the best spots to fish is like chasing a great sunset.”
Baker’s preferred ice fishing destinations include Conesus Lake—the westernmost of the Finger Lakes—and nearby Silver Lake. The shallow depths of these lakes allow ice to form early in the season, attracting pike, perch, and other species that hide among the weeds.
“It’s a ritual to head out to the north end of Conesus and walk right onto the ice,” says Baker, who shares the tradition with his dad, Charlie, and brother, Alex. While some anglers set up ice shanties, Baker prefers a minimalist approach. “I sit on a bucket, bore a hole, and hope for bites.”
He values the sense of self-reliance that comes with being out in the elements, paired with the quiet companionship of loved ones. “Everyone has their own space, but we’re still together.”
“It’s a huge tradition passed down from parent to child,” Baker says, describing the culture of ice fishing in the greater Rochester area. “Finding the best spots to fish is like chasing a great sunset.”