Cold weather doesn’t have to mean staying inside until the snow melts. Winter recreational opportunities abound in the Ames area and all are accessible to students for a relatively low cost.Downhill skiers of all levels need to go only as far as Seven Oaks Recreation, four miles west of Boone off Highway 30.”Conditions are awesome right now,” Shift Manager Joel Bryan said. “We’re running a 24- to 48-inch base right now on 100 percent of the runs.”Bryan said the ski area has specials every weekday, including two-for-one lift tickets on Tuesdays and student nights on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.By showing a student ID, students can buy lift tickets for $8 and rent skis for $2. Normal weekend rates are $20 for a lift ticket and $10 for ski rental.Bryan said snowboarding equipment is also available to rent. Boards and boots are $20 for the day, plus the lift ticket.Bryan said many areas are 10- to 15-feet deep. “We’ve never had this much snow before,” he said.Cross-country skiers also have several places to choose from.Lori Miner, office assistant at Story County Conservation Center, said many people enjoy skiing in East River Valley Park, 725 E. 13th St., and McFarland Park northeast of Ames.Trail maps of East River Valley Park are available at the Ames Parks and Recreation Administrative Office, 1500 Gateway Hills Park Dr., and the City Hall Community Center, 515 Clark Ave.Cross-country skiing is also possible at Ledges State Park near Madrid, 12 miles west of Ames and six miles south of Boone.Greg VanFossen, area superintendent, said skiing on designated trails is permissible, but the trails are not groomed, so skiers do so at their own risk.VanFossen said trail maps are available in the park office during operating hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or on the brochure rack outside the main gate.He also said park employees are available to answer questions about trails by telephone at (515) 432-1852.Arlene Lee, sophomore in agricultural biochemistry, said her favorite place to cross-country ski is Carr Park, 1704 Meadowlane Ave.”It’s a really, really good place,” she said. “Especially for beginning skiers. They have tracks your skis fit into.”Lee said she’s also seen more advanced skiers take advantage of Carr Park.”There’s something for everyone,” she said.Lee said skiers have their choice of a track or wooded trails, which are groomed daily. Skiers must bring their own equipment for all trails, but cross-country skis can be rented for $15 per day from Ames Outdoor Gear, 4723 W. Lincoln Way.Ice skating is another winter activity enjoyed by many students.The Ames/ISU Ice Arena, 1505 Gateway Hills Park Dr., has open-skate hours every day of the week.”The ice arena is very unique,” rink manager Fred Sylvia said. “We’re open about 22 hours a day, but most of that is private rental from hockey and figure-skating clubs and ISU Intramurals.”Still, Sylvia said, the ice is available to everyone from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost during the noon skate is $2.50 for admission and $1.50 for skate rental.Public skates go from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with admission at $3.50 and skate rental for $2.Sylvia said more public skates are occasionally added, but times vary depending on when the ice is free.Not being able to skate shouldn’t deter anyone from going to the rink for activities, Sylvia said.”After all, there’s always a hockey game to come and watch,” he said.