Finally! It's snowing! Are you that person that everyone loves to hate? The one who actually gets excited when it starts snowing? If this sounds like you, then you know winter time just means more fun things to do outside that you haven't been able to do in months! Here are some outdoor winter activities we think you will absolutely love!
Outdoor Winter Fitness Ideas
1. Snow Shoeing – Anyone who has ever gone snowshoeing knows it can be quite a workout! They also know there is nothing else quite like it. With snow shoes, the entire outdoors is yours to explore! There is no where you can't go! And the way you have to march through the snow with those big shoes makes it a much higher intensity workout than just plain walking.
2. Hiking – When there is less snow or adequately groomed trails, you won't need snow shoes to go hiking. Hiking is a great activity any time of year, but if you love the snow, the winter months are the best time of year to take a hike!
3. Cross-Country Skiing – If you want to take in as much of the beautiful, snowy scenery as possible and snow shoeing and hiking just aren't fast enough for you, then cross-country skiing is for you! Gliding across the deep snow while blazing trails through fresh powder. All the while getting a total body workout that is second to none!
4. Downhill Skiing – Whether you are hitting the bunny slopes or the double black diamonds, downhill skiing is one of the most fun and most thrilling activities you can do in the winter! If you've never been skiing, or you haven't been in a while, after a day of skiing, you are going to feel it in the morning! What a workout!
5. Snowboarding- Another high intensity winter workout, snowboarding is every bit as thrilling as downhill skiing! For avid snowboarders, winter can't come soon enough!
6. Running- Just because it's cold and snowy outside doesn't mean you have to give it up for winter. Get out there and run! Just be sure to wear extra socks to stay warm! You can up the intensity cross training in the snow by running or doing lunges or long jumps in the deep stuff for an added challenge!
7. Enter a Race– Speaking of running, there are lots of charity 5K races around the holidays, as well as other distance races. Entering a race to run and raise money for a charity of your choosing will make you feel good in more ways than one!
8. Ice Skating/Figure Skating- Sure, you can ice skate at an indoor rink any time of year, but there is just something magical about skating outdoors this time of year! If you're already a pretty good skater and want to get much more of a workout into skating, give figure skating a try! Sure, the pros make it look easy, but it's much harder than it looks!
9. Ice Hockey – Whether on a pond or a lake, in your backyard or a park, hockey fans know that outdoor hockey is the best hockey! Join a league or join some friends and enjoy some good old-fashioned outdoor hockey!
10. Ice Biking – If you are into extreme sports, give ice biking a try! It's basically just mountain biking, usually on snow mobile trails, with the added challenge of biking through snow and ice! And for really tough terrain, they make snow tires for bikes! If you are new to the sport, consult with your local bike shop or a more experienced ice biker about where to ride and what equipment to use. As with any of these activities, be sure to wear the right clothes for the weather and the right safety equipment.