Obsession #6 - Skiing

Hey guys!

If you live in places where winters are cold and snowy, you can feel pretty trapped within your house. The longer the season lasts, the more cabin fever you get, and the less active you become.

Wanna get out and get an awesome workout? Try downhill skiing.

It's not the cheapest sport, but once you get into it and buy your own equipment, the costs will lessen and the fun will increase.

When you originally head to a mountain, you'll have to rent equipment, buy a pass, and stick to the bunny hill. It will be cold out. You may not have the desire to spend money just to slide down a practically nonexistent slope in the cold.

Try it. Please. Two years ago I hated the concept of skiing, and now I ski black diamonds weekly. Not everyone gets into it, but you just might get hooked, so try it even if it seems unpleasant at first.

I suggest taking at least one lesson to start. I only took one and I'm doing fine right now, but it know others who took long-term regular lessons and are doing great too. It's kind of your learning style. Try one and see if it helps.

Once you're into skiing, the more difficult trails you try the more fun it can become. Go on trails you feel safe on - safety is the primary concern. Always wear a helmet. That's more than just a useless safety precaution. My friend got a concussion with a helmet on - we're lucky it wasn't worse. If you take it slow and wear a helmet, you're much safer than if you're speeding down the slopes with just a hat on.

Let's get to why you should ski: 

- great exercise - skiing can burn 500 calories in one hour! It works core and leg muscles, and your cardiovascular system.

- fun - if you like sliding down the slopes, then it's a FUN way to get exercise!

- friends - once you're a steady skier, hitting the slopes with a group of friends totally improves the experience. Riding the lifts with a buddy, not a stranger, is much better!

If you live somewhere where winter is freezing and snowy, check out skiing. It's not for everyone, but if you haven't given it a try yet, do it now - any age is a great age to start skiing!

~CCG