Winter sports
Cross-country skiing
Even though the flatland doesn't offer many such days, on those occasions when enough snow falls cross-country skiing trails are quickly established and many local people take advantage of them. The preferred trails lead through the parks, the floodplain woods and along the waterways.
In the winter of 2010 a cross-country skiing trail was for the first time mechanically created. It was connected to the north shore of the Cospudener See and took skiers round the Zwenkauer See. The project was initiated by the City of Zwenkau and the "Neue Harth" association, with support from LMBV mbH and Sächsischen Seebad mbH & Co. KG.
Ice skating and ice hockey
Ice skating and playing ice hockey on natural bodies of water can be very dangerous, because it is difficult to assess the strength and load-bearing capacity of the ice.
Police regulations state that people may only venture on an area of ice after it has been expressly approved by the district police authority, and always do so at their own risk. Safety regulations should always be complied with, which includes never venturing onto the ice without rescue equipment. The authorities accept no liability for damage to life and limb or for the availability of rescue services. In contrast, the use of artificial skating rinks is safe.
Sledge rides
In and around the city there are a number of hills and slopes which are suitable for sledge rides. Popular locations are the "Warze" (wart) in Clara Zetkin Park, the former pit heaps to the north and west of the Grünau district, the Fockeberg in the Südvorstadt suburb, the former pit heap in Großzschocher and the shores of the Cospuden and Kulkwitz lakes.