If there aren’t inches upon inches of snow being dumped on Wis., there is a windchill so cold that the weathermen and women advise us not to go outside, making outdoor exercise less than enjoyable.

But tucked less than two miles from upper campus stands the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center, a place to exercise while the outdoors is not cooperating. The facility holds a turfed field as well as a hardwood court: Both can be used for a wide variety of
activities.

Executive Director Amy Peterson said it is a great place for students who are cooped up by the weather.

“If college kids are looking for different scenery or a fun environment to be in, I think it’s a perfect place for that,” Peterson said.

The facility can play host to many different sports, as they have suitable set ups for indoor soccer, flag football, basketball, volleyball, roller hockey and more.

UW-Eau Claire club baseball President Dan Wickman enjoys bringing his team to practice in the facility during the winter months and is very impressed by everything inside.

“They have quite a variety of uses,” Wickman said. “It’s a great alternative if you don’t want to hassle with trying to get a workout in McPhee.”

They offer leagues for people that are looking to let out their inner LeBron James, David Beckham or Aaron Rodgers. One unique feature about the different league sign-ups is that people can sign up and coordinators will simply place individuals on a team.

Peterson said memberships for open gym are not required and at five dollars the price of admission for an open gym is very cost efficient for a college student.

The Indoor Sports Center also plays host to different events like fishing and hunting shows as well as having a dance studio inside.

“Everyone in the community seems to get some purpose and use out of it,” Peterson said.  “That’s pretty cool to see.”

Club baseball player Matt Kruger likes to go to the Indoor Sports Center for baseball because he can use a pitching mound, would both recommend the facility to students on campus who have not yet been to the facility.

“There’s just a lot of different uses for it that kids should really look into,” Kruger said.

Wickman agreed, saying the variety of activities as well as large spaces are reasons to check out the facility.

Even a winter lover would admit that Mother Nature has not been kind to us as of late and discouraged any kind of exercising outside.

However, students have the opportunity to kick her back, as an escape from the bitter cold, icy sidewalks and sloshy puddles scattered in the most inconvenient places awaits at the versatile and cost-efficient Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center.