The Winter Survival Guide

4. Buy this sled…

Vermont-based Mad River Rocket’s Killer B is as fit for black-diamond terrain as for neighborhood slopes. Rather than sliding down face-first, you descend on your knees, which are secured to the sled with a strap, leaving arms and hips free for carving and swerving.

$127, Eastern Mountain Sports, 1041 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-254-4250, ems.com.

5. …and head for these hills.

photograph by betsy halsey

Jamaica Pond, Jamaica Plain: For Shaun White–style sledding, hit up “The Bowl.” As on a skateboarding half-pipe, you can launch from atop one side and let the momentum drive you up the opposite crest. Larz Anderson Park, Brookline: The former ski area boasts stellar city views, plus an outdoor skating rink, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, and public restrooms. Prospect Hill Park, Waltham: This spot has two major peaks, one of which, at 485 feet, is considered the second-highest point in the Boston area, after Great Blue Hill. Benjamin Hill Park, Shirley: The former Benjamin Hill Ski Area has recently been revamped into a recreation area; like Larz Anderson, it offers the bonus of public restrooms. Jericho Hill, Marlborough: Yet another one-time ski area, the hill is now a town-designated sledding spot whose main run stretches nearly 1,000 feet. And there’s plenty of public parking on nearby Brigham Street.

6. Brave a 36-hour barbecue project.

illustration by jameson simpson

To pull off this recipe from Wyeth Lynch, owner of Allston barbecue joint SoulFire, you’ll need to de-winterize your grill. It’ll be worth it.

1. Start on Friday night with a 7-to-10-pound bone-in pork shoulder. Cover it with your favorite dry rub and refrigerate overnight.

2. After Saturday brunch, get out the meat and fire up the grill. Grill-roast the shoulder, fat side up, at 250 degrees for four hours, then bring the temp down to 225. (If using a charcoal grill, you’ll need to add a few coals every half-hour or so to maintain the temperature.)

3. After four more hours, when you can no longer stand going outside to check on your prize, bring it inside and throw it on a roasting rack in a 200-degree oven. Leave it in there overnight.

4. Crash till about 10 a.m. on Sunday, then take the meat out of the oven and pull out the shoulder bone (it should slide out easily). Let it sit while you dig up a bottle of Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauce and mix it with half a cup of cider vinegar.

5. Pull the meat into shreds and douse it with the Stubb’s-and-vinegar concoction. Grab some rolls and about eight friends and dig in for Sunday dinner.

7. Become an armchair athlete.

You made the commitment and renewed your gym membership—and then were reminded how much harder it is to keep fitness resolutions amid subzero wind chills. Now you’re back to watching your cat watch Seinfeld reruns. It’s time to get back on the wagon with these flab-busters—all of which barely require leaving your couch—from local workout pros.

illustration by jameson simpson

The expert: Kimberly Welby,Exhale, Boston
The move: Commercial-Break Core Fusion Curl
The target: Midsection

When your show hits a commercial, hit the floor. Start on your back: propped up on elbows, knees bent, feet flat on floor. Tighten core, pulling in abdominal wall and tucking pelvis under. Slide hands to outer thighs and hold the tension in your abs, keeping shoulders and upper back lifted off the floor. Maintain alignment while releasing one hand for 30 seconds, then return it to holding your thigh. Repeat on other side. Try releasing both hands, then return to thighs for another 30 seconds. Relax back onto elbows. Repeat five times—or until Friday Night Lights comes back on.

The expert: Gregg D’Andrea, Gstarfit, Needham
The move: Cleaning Bucket Blast
The target: Arms and shoulders

Fill two plastic cleaning buckets with magazines. Grabbing handles, raise them laterally from your sides to a 90-degree angle. Lower, and repeat 15 times. Locking arms straight, raise buckets one at a time in front of you to shoulder height for 20 reps. Finally, bend elbows and bring buckets toward shoulders, hands positioned as if holding a broomstick horizontally. Raise buckets above head, extending arms, then bend elbows and lower buckets for 15 reps. Note: Don’t release elbows past a 90-degree angle when lowering.

The expert: Helena Collins, Life in Synergy, Boston
The move: Couch Pillow–Assisted Leg Lift
The target: Hips, thighs, and butt

Lie on side with legs extended at a 45-degree angle. Put couch pillow beneath head for support, slightly arching your back. Flex top foot and rotate hip inward, toes pointing slightly down. Raise and lower leg for 30 reps. Then do 30 small presses, lowering leg halfway. Last, circle leg clockwise and counterclockwise for 15 reps each.