Great Bear Taps Into Olympic Spirit With Winter Fun

The 2026 Winter Olympics kicked off this past weekend and even though we have no snow around the city, Great Bear Recreation Park has plenty of it. They're willing to indulge your Olympic dreams with skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

Well, okay, tubing isn't an Olympic sport - yet. But skiing and snowboarding sure are, and you can get your fix at Great Bear.

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Dakota News Now spoke with Great Bear General Manager Dan Grider about how the Winter Olympics help shine a light on the fun happening there on their hill.

Dan Grider was 13 and watching the 1976 Winter Olympics, which had such an effect on him that he decided that was what he wanted to do for a living. Grider said that interest in winter sports always gets a bump during the Olympics. They want to be sure to have plenty of snow for people to enjoy, whether they're just learning or old pros.

Great Bear also takes pride in their adaptive skiing program for skiers with disabilities, too.

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The Olympics truly excel at building stories around athletes. When viewers connect emotionally with a competitor's journey or root for their country, they become invested not just in that athlete but in the sport itself. A dramatic bobsled finish or an underdog figure skater can convert a casual viewer into a genuine fan.

This often leads fans to want to try some winter sports themselves, and that is exactly what they're looking forward to at Great Bear.

Source: Dakota News Now