5 Reasons to Live the Life of a Skier

Thursday, April 9th, 2009
by AntonO

Skateboarding may have been the cool thing to do 90’s, but new-school skiing is taking a turn into mainstream. Snowboarding has in many ways sold out and transformed from a lifestyle to a symbol of popularity. Staying under the radar, skiing has maintained its individual appeal while becoming publicly accessible. One thing to remember is that skiing can be enjoyed for much longer than most care to realize. There may be no snow in your backyard, but it’s most than likely your local mountain has plenty. Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, MA for example, has been open from mid November and currently plans to close on Apirl 5. That’s just under 5 months of full trail coverage skiing despite the up and down weather conditions in the North East.

1. Escape
Everyone has their “feel good” activity. For some it’s reading, for others it may be video games. Why not add skiing? Nothing compares to the exhilarating rush of carving down the slopes, especially during an under-the-lights evening ski session. Just you and the mountain, hand in hand, a constant battle between your body and mother nature floods any stress right out. Whether your upset, angry, or even too happy to explain in words, skiing provides an environment accepting of all emotions.

2. Fun
We all strive to succeed. Finally solving a problem you’ve been working on for hours is not only relieving, but also rewarding. The same applies to skiing. Tackling the black diamond you’ve been too scared to look down, learning that new trick in the park, or just getting down the mountain without falling a single time is nothing short of fun. Progression keeps us all going, and with skiing, as long as you push yourself, you’ll leave the mountain feeling satisfied and successful.

3. Bonding
Lets face it, spending “family time” is often a chore. Going out to dinner, a movie, or a game of bowling are getting old. Skiing on the other hand provides a hobby for the whole family to enjoy. There is ample time to bond on the chairlift or to just sit and relax. On the slopes, everyone is facing their own challenges ridding their minds of the stereotypical idea that family time is boring time.

4. Time
What do you do after work or school? I think it would be safe to say the majority of us come home, eat dinner, then lay on the couch watching T.V. only to yield another late-night into a difficult and exhausting morning wake up. Just a couple hours is enough to enjoy skiing at your local mountain or hill. Not only does skiing provide a great alternative to most popular at-home activities, skiing provides the same benefits as most after-school sports: a structured schedule. Being busy is not a bad thing, in fact it will often keep us more focused, get us to bed sooner, and better prepare us for both the following day and the later future.

5. Active & Fit
As foods get less and less healthy and obesity rates seem to increase exponentially, we’re all looking for a way to get out and be active in a world consumed by computers and technology. While it may come as a surprise, downhill skiing burns more calories than a wide variety of sports. Taken from Healthstatus.com, 1 hour of skiing burns 594 calories. Compare that to 414 calories in an hour of a singles tennis match, 306 calories from an hour of shooting baskets, and 207 calories in an hour of bowling. For those of us looking to stay fit during the winter months – a season during which most choose to seemingly hibernate and stay in – skiing serves as a viable and healthy addition.

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