When most people think of winter sports things like skiing and snowboarding come to mind. They are fun activities that allow you to hit the slows and tear down a mountain at fast speeds.
It is fun, exhilarating, and the added bonus is that the activity also counts as exercise. The only problem with these two activities is how expensive they are.
The price of a season pass at a good resort is about the same price as buying a new Mac computer that will last you years! But for athletes who love the snow and ice, there is another activity that provides you fun, excitement, and even calories burned.
Ice skating is a great sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. You can go with a group, by yourself, or on a date.
Ice skating is not just gliding around in a circle (though that’s just fine too); but you can play hockey, limbo, tag, and do some crazy stunts in the middle of the ice. The best time of year is when your local pond completely freezes over and you can skate of fresh ice.
Some people even spray water on their streets and let it freeze over night so they can slide around in the morning. You do not need a ton of snow to push into hills, you just need some water and below freezing temperatures.
When you think winter activities, snowboarding and skiing probably come to mind. There is however another snow sport that is often just thought about for kids.
Sledding is an adventurous activity that actually requires you to work pretty hard. When you go sledding, you do not have the luxury of riding a ski lift back up to the top.
Instead you have to hike your way back up the hill, over and over and over again. This uphill climb is actually a cardio workout because your heart rate is increasing and your body is working hard to get back to the top.
The intensity, of course, depends on how steep the hill is, how far you have to climb to sled back down, and how long you are out there for. In addition, sledding is something that the whole family can do, no matter their age.
With skiing and snowboarding, kids have to be a certain age to be able to control their board or skis, and even then you have to keep a close eye on them just in can they fall and other riders are coming down the mountain.
With sledding you can ride alone, or with others. You can race and fall and not have to worry too much about injury.
It is also significantly less expensive than hitting the slopes. You do not have to buy lift tickets, boards, bindings, helmets, and everything else that comes with skiing and snowboarding. The only equipment you need is a sled and warm clothes.
Mountain biking is a great way to get some exercise in the great outdoors. Biking on trails is an extreme sport that can be enjoyed by people of varying skill levels.
There are easier trails for beginners, and tough terrain for pros looking to conquer new challenges. Biking is a fun way to to explore and enjoy nature while getting a vigorous workout.
The great thing is this can be done alone on a trail, or you can go with your friends to challenge each other to try out new trails and new maneuvers. This get the blood pumping and the endorphins going.
You can tear down hills going 20+ miles per hour, dodging trees and boulders and flying over tree roots. There is really no end to the adventures you can have on your bike, and the great thing is that this is all for free.
Anyone can take their bike to a trail in the mountains, and some people even opt to go off the trails. As long as the non-trail areas are not marked off-limits, you can take your wheels to the thick of the forest and battle your way through nature and back to your car.
Though the forest may not be the best idea for kids, you can take the little ones out on trails so they can learn early the joys of mountain biking. This can be a great family that everyone can enjoy together.
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