Next month Vancouver will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, so find your skis and dust off your bobsleigh – if you have one – and get ready for the snowiest event of the year. Here in Shanghai there's a surprisingly large community of people involved in winter sports, from ice hockey to skating and skiing – we've got it all.

Perhaps the easiest way to enjoy one of the sports involved in the Winter Olympics in Shanghai is to put on a pair of ice skates and go to one of the cities many rinks. One the best is in the Super Brand Mall. The ominous sounding ‘Super Rink’ is the first indoor rink in Pudong, and one of the largest in Shanghai.

Karl Jones is one of its patrons: “I come from New York, and every year around Christmas I used to go skating at Rockefeller Center, so it’s nice to be able to continue the tradition while I’m studying in Shanghai,” he says.

“I’m not really into Winter Olympics, but as always I’m sure I’ll get caught up in the event and end up spending loads of RMB on figure skating lessons and gear if the US wins a medal.”

Unfortunately for Jones, the rink doesn’t offer figure skating lessons but it does provide basic skating lessons for those interested in improving their skills.

Skiing is an activity that usually takes place on the slopes of snowy mountains far from the city, but only 40 minutes outside of Shanghai there's an indoor ski slope to satisfy your snowy needs. The Yinqixing Indoor Skiing Site is 380 metres long and 80 metres wide and is the only place around Shanghai where you can ski and snowboard without the aid of an Xbox or Playstation.

“I’m not really into Winter Olympics, but as always I’m sure I’ll get caught up in the event and end up spending loads of RMB on figure skating lessons and gear if the US wins a medal.”

Xu Wen Jing works at the slope and says there are plenty of services on offer. “We provide all the equipment you need to get going: Skis, boots, jackets, gloves, the whole lot. We can also provide instructors for those interested in learning to be better.” With between 70 and 80 instructors, some of whom speak English, the slope is an ideal place for beginners and seasoned skiers alike.

Alpine enthusiast Paul Willinger says the slope is ideal for him and his family. “The slope here is great. I can ski to my heart’s content without having to get on a plane or bus and leave the city,” he says. “It really couldn’t be more convenient and doesn’t cost a fortune.”

But if ice skating and skiing aren’t your cup of tea and you crave a wintery team sport, why not have a shot at Canada’s favourite pastime – ice hockey. While opportunities to play this sport in Shanghai are few and far between, there are places where the keen amateur or wannabe NHL star can get his or her fix.

Adam Cameron is a member of the Shanghai Red Guard and part of what he describes as a very active ice hockey scene in Shanghai. “There are around 100 players in our league, all of different abilities,” he says. “We play competitive matches over the weekend and practice during the week.”

According to Cameron, the league has something for everyone. “You can come and play shinny [practice] every Tuesday and Thursday, or if you want to you can sign up for the league and take part in it,” he says. “Everyone gets picked regardless of skill ... The focus of the league is fun.”

And you don’t necessarily have to have a lot of experience. “We plan to start providing lessons for those who want to improve their skills, or just learn how to play the game,” Cameron adds.

With the Winter Olympics around the corner there has never been a better time to get involved with winter sports and while the climate in Shanghai is best suited to these past times there are opportunities to get involved.

Super Rink: 1F Super Brand Mall, 168 Lujiazui Xi Lu, near Lujiazui Huan Lu. Tel: 5047 1711

Yinqxing Indoor Ski Site: 1835 Qixin Lu, near Gudai Lu. Tel: 6478 8666

Shanghai Hockey Club: web: www.icehockeyshanghai.com