Keep moving with indoor sports activities that will make the shoulder season more bearable. What’s more, they’ll boost your mood and your fitness!  Head to Espace Hygie, a top-of-the-line multifunctional sports centre. Strengthen your postural muscles in a Pilates class, find your balance in a suspended hammock in aerial yoga, and improve your cardio on the Biocircuit and your endurance with a SkillX session.  Meet friends at La Sporthèque for a game of indoor tennis or squash. Build up those thigh muscles with a rhythmic spinning session, or de-stress with hot yoga. Swim laps in the indoor pool and join an aquafitness class.  Although the Gatineau Sports Centre hosts regional and national competitions in several sports disciplines, it’s also open to the public. Discover a complex that includes an Olympic-size pool, gymnasiums, exercise areas and a training centre. 

Sometimes climbing the walls can be a good thing! Visit Altitude Gym, Klimat or Bloc 9.81 for some gravity-defying exercise. From bouldering to wall climbing, each centre offers unique facilities and outstanding service.  There’s no need to wait for the cold weather to lace up your skates! The Slush Puppie Centre has several skating rinks. Take advantage of free skate times or rent ice time for your hockey team. For an exciting evening of junior hockey, cheer on the Gatineau Olympiques! Go OL Go!

Hours of winter fun can be hard on sports equipment! To make the most of winter once again this year, why not gear up at Sports Aux Puces Aylmer, a store specializing in the sale, rental and repair of sporting equipment? Shop for new or used gear, book your seasonal rentals, or get your skis and skates ready for winter adventures! Throughout the winter season, Relais Plein Air offers a sports equipment rental service: cross-country skis, ski sleds, snowshoes, walking crampons and winter bikes. Accès Gatineau + cardholders benefit from a free rental service for 1 hour per week. Stay warm this winter, avoid frostbite, and dress like an onion—in layers. Les Promenades Gatineau and Les Galeries de Hull are home to several retailers where you can find your snowsuit, winter boots and sports equipment, all under one roof!  Want to hit the fabulous snowmobile trails this winter? Make sure you’re set up with the latest vehicles, snowmobile clothing and accessories from Équipements Maniwaki.

Make the most of the snow that will soon be piling up. Don’t miss any sporting events! Do you love cross-country skiing? Register for the Canadian Ski Marathon, taking place February 5–7, 2027. The event features a simplified and more flexible format, where participants choose their distance (from 15 to 60 km) and whether to complete the challenge over one or two days, while the traditional Coureurs des bois course remains unchanged. Saturday’s route has been redesigned around the Héritage Golf Club, while Sunday brings participants together on a shared route heading toward Montebello. For the 49th edition of the Gatineau Loppet, register online. Hours of adventure and wonder await you at this event, which runs February 19–21. If you haven’t already, book your season pass for Vorlage Center, Mont Cascades, Sommet Edelweiss or Camp Fortune. As you know, Gatineau Park is a prime spot for outdoor activities. Don’t forget to buy your NCC pass early to get access to the snowshoe, cross-country ski and fatbike trails. 

The transition period between fall and winter sports can seem endless, and waiting for the first snow can make us feel impatient, but there’s more than one way to have fun while we wait! 

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On gloomy days, keep your spirits up with fun indoor activities to enjoy with family or friends! After all, who says waiting has to be boring?