Benefits of Skiing and Snowboarding

skiiworld Feb 28, 2024

If you're a skier or snowboarder, you know that there's no better way to spend time in nature than breathing in the fresh mountain air while gliding along fresh corduroy or on a beautiful Take deep powder turns on forest trails. Whether you are a new skier or an experienced pass holder, the benefits of skiing and snowboarding are immeasurable.

This is a great exercise that can provide many benefits to your health, mental health, and quality of life. In fact, spending time outdoors in general is good for you, as evidenced by the emerging field of ecotherapy, in which psychologists incorporate nature-based treatments into their practices. It turns out that "NatureRx" is one of the best medications out there, and the added bonus is that you don't need a doctor's order to spend more time outdoors.

Here are a few of the key benefits we discussed.
A skier wearing a blue jacket and pants is skiing down a powder slope.
1. Improve your balance
Staying upright while descending a mountain with skis or snowboards requires a lot of concentration, not to mention balance skills. It also makes the body more flexible and helps prevent muscle strains and sprains.“From the core muscles to the large and small muscle groups of the calves, the dynamic movements our bodies experience while skiing can improve balance and stability, both of which are important factors in our daily lives,” explains Cohen.

2. It strengthens your muscles
Skiing and snowboarding work a lot of muscles. Both of these snow sports are great core exercises, and they also rigorously work your legs and lower body. Because you're squatting for so long, the isometric position keeps your quads engaged and your glutes, calves, and hamstrings getting stronger. Shifting your body weight when skiing or snowboarding is crucial; therefore, you need to use your core muscles, especially your obliques, to rotate your torso and support your lower body.

3. It burns a lot of calories
While there is a lot of variation in how many calories you burn while skiing or snowboarding, a lot depends on the effort you put in, the difficulty of the ski, the depth of the snow, the weight of the snow, and whether it's groomed. , etc. Generally speaking, you can burn 300 to 500 calories per hour,
As for which is better, skiing or snowboarding, it's a serious debate best discussed over your next post-ski drink. The Physical Activity Compendium, a database that calculates the energy expenditure of sports and activities, rates both snow sports equally for their calorie expenditure. Cohen points out that this is ultimately a positive for your health: "Skiing and snowboarding work your lower muscle groups, no matter what type of ride you do."

4. It can extend lifespan
According to a study published in Frontiers in Physiology: "Downhill skiing, especially when performed regularly, may contribute to healthy aging because it is associated with a healthier lifestyle, including higher levels of Physical activity.”Skiing is also an activity that you can do regularly into old age. It’s an adaptable sport and you can control how fast you want to go, how hard you want to go and how much impact you want to make.

5. It can boost your mental health
Cohen says being outside in the fresh air does have benefits for your mental health, but it's hard to say given that not all benefits can be measured. “Skiing provides me with a place and activity that keeps me grounded, keeps me mentally stable, and allows me to be active with friends and family.” Some benefits include relieving stress and anxiety, plus exercise can improve sleep quality and Increase energy levels.