Skiing and snowboarding are two activities for the brave-at-heart. While so many people dread being outside during the cold winter months, many of us have not forgotten all of the wonderful benefits that we gain from the crisp, fresh air and the heart-pounding nature of outdoor activities. Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most invigorating and challenging activities that come to mind.
There are challenges associated with both winter sports. Those challenges are getting to the mountain, fighting what could be less-than-optimal-weather conditions, and/or trying to get down unseen dangerous terrain. Fortunately, the rewards reaped from a day on the slopes –especially a sunny day with fresh snow– make all the challenges go beyond the pale in comparison. Winter sports can help adults and children achieve health and fitness, and snow sports, specifically, are an excellent way to maintain a fitness program during these frigid months, because they help develop aerobic capacity and muscle strength—and that doesn’t even include the benefit of burning calories. Plus, skiing and boarding appeal to a lot of families because they are activities the family can do together, whether for winter weekends or a week’s vacation.
According to Winter Feels Good.org, downhill skiing improves muscle tone for the whole body; it also increases balance and endurance (Winterfeelsgood.org). Other interesting fitness facts about skiing include the following:
Also, according to Winterfeelsgood.org:
And ultimately, the better your fitness level before you arrive at the mountain, the better you are likely to perform overall.
So, get out of your comfort zone and stop clinging to a singular workout regimen! Stepping on the stairmaster two hours a day will keep your cardiovascular system in shape, but sticking to only one workout mode employs the same muscle groups, over and over again.
The mountain will likely call for more.
To help get muscles ready for skiing or riding, vary your physical activities to stimulate different muscle groups. If you don’t know how, call Horizon Personal Training today. None of us can argue with a recently-released Harvard study that showed the top seven U.S. counties with the greatest average life expectancy (81.3 years) are all in Colorado. Coincidentally, the mountain communities there are also home to 10 ski resorts—further proof that skiing and snowboarding help people live long, healthy lives.
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