trying a new sport: Learning it together
could unite you in the quest for a common
goal. For Judy Waitz’s 65th birthday, her
husband of five years, Charlie Weber,
surprised her with a four-night Wintergreen
Dogsled trip in Minnesota. “The trip had
always been my dream,” Waitz says, “but
dogsledding turned out to be something
Charlie and I both truly love.”
Standing side-by-side on the sled as they
glided through snowy forests and across frozen
lakes, the Roslyn, N. Y., couple learned to mush
their dog team. “It’s more physical than I
thought,” says Weber, explaining that riders
sometimes run alongside the sled, push it up
steep hills and shift their weight to balance
the runners as the dogs whip around turns.
“Seven-hour sled days are exhausting,”
admits Waitz, a retired school administrator, “but we were exhilarated that we’d
risen to the challenge together.” She and Weber dogsledded with two other
couples and experienced guides. And after a rigorous day in the snow, a cozy
lodge and gourmet meals welcomed them.
Couple’s Quest:
A PLANNER
Planning your own adventure for
two? Start with these questions:
Encounter Group
What if one of your dynamic duo is in better shape or has more experience with
an activity? A guided group could bridge that gap, notes Fred Ackerman, chief
“shepherding” officer of Black Sheep Adventures, a multisport outfitter based
in San Francisco.
“Many adventure companies, including ours, accommodate couples with
different fitness levels,” he says. “On cycling trips, for example, partners often
ride the first 20 miles together, then one will hop in the support van and return
to the hotel for a swim or massage while the other makes an additional loop.”
Group experiences also let couples shift between staying in a pair and
joining peers with similar skill levels. At a dude ranch, for instance, one partner
could perfect horse trotting with a wrangler while the other goes for a gallop.
A professional guide is also handy when you need help — or a fresh perspective.
“A trip is more harmonious when someone other than your spouse gives you
pointers on shifting gears or paddling,” says Ackerman. ➺
1)What activities do you enjoy
doing together? Factor in your
different skill levels and
choose something equally
enjoyable for each partner.
Multisport vacations offer
variety — a plus if one or both
of you don’t want to repeat
the same activity every day.
2)What are your goals? Decide
in advance what pacing and
amount of activity suits you
both. Do you crave strenuous
exercise, a relaxed adventure
or days that alternate the two?
3)What are the logistics? Figure
out your budget, how long
you want to be away and the
kind of accommodations you’d
prefer. Consider the climate
and terrain, too.
4)Do you want to travel independently or with an organized
group? Self-guiding requires
personal research and planning, but you have more freedom and privacy, and you’ll
spend less money. Joining a
group costs more ($1,500 and
up per person for five or six
days), but the outfitter provides food, accommodations
and guides.
“Outdoor activities can strengthen
a relationship — as long as both people
enjoy being outdoors.... Spouses who
exercise together tend to have better
marriages. I suspect it’s from associating
your partner with the endorphins
released during exercise.”
