Why skiing is good for your health and what better skiing or snowboarding

1. Since ancient times, mankind has used skis. Their homeland consider Scandinavia. It was there that rock paintings were found people on these vehicles made back in stone century, that is, about 4 thousand years ago.
2. In the mythology of the countries of Scandinavia, this topic is also given attention. There are even mythical characters – the god Ull and the goddess Skade, who hunted skis, and just rode them.
3. The age of the oldest mobility devices in history man on the surface of the snow totals 2300 years. These are two boards, the ends of which are bent up.
4. If you think that the old devices were exactly the same same as modern alpine skiing, you are mistaken. Boards were of different sizes. The one on which the person moved was long: up to three meters long. Another, sheathed in skins animals – short. It was used only for repulsion from snow. There was only one stick – for balancing.
5. Skis at that time were used solely to it was more convenient to move around the snowy territories. If consider, that the harsh and snowy winter lasted up to eight months a year, they were simply irreplaceable equipment for hunters and fishers.
6. The idea to make baseboards of the same length arose only in XVIII century. However, only one was still used. Riding such devices was time consuming and not too high-speed. However, an alternative way of moving around there was no deep snow.
7. Later, fast cross-country skiing took notice military. Soldiers equipped with such a vehicle received significant benefits in winter if the need to overcome long distances.
8. The program of the Winter Olympic Games, which were held in France in 1924, skiing was first included. Not surprisingly, almost all medals in these disciplines went to athletes from Norway.
9. Downhill skiing is one of the modern skiing sports. On the during the descent, athletes develop incredible speed, exceeding 200 km / h. Recall that the speed of gravity parachutist is 193 km / h.
10. But even this barrier of 200 km / h managed to overcome 328 skiers. These are only officially registered achievements. But The world record set in 2006 belongs to France. is he amounted to 251.4 km / h. And this shocking figure is amazing not only sports lovers, but also professionals!

• 8 health benefits of skiing
  • Trained legs – no gym workouts
  • Core muscle training
  • Cardiovascular health
  • You will have a wonderful time … literally!
  • Strengthening relationships with family and friends
  • Deep sleep
  • You do not have to remind yourself of the H20
  • Proper nutrition
• What is more effective: skiing or snowboarding?

8 health benefits of skiing

Often in winter we fall into the so-called hibernation, enjoy delicious food and do not go outside. Instead of being afraid cold season, take your skis and you will see how the winter blues disappears forever. Skiing not only improves your physical form, but also positively affects mood, sleep and eating habits. So get ready to learn all the benefits of skiing. sports for health!

Trained legs – no gym workouts

Sometimes it’s difficult to force yourself to go to the gym if instead of this you can wrap yourself in a blanket by the fireplace. Fortunately do legs are strong and attractive without numerous squats. Skiing involves a half-sitting position; it affects the external and internal muscles of the thighs, hamstrings, quadriceps and buttocks. You can admire the nature around or to focus on the upcoming descent – it doesn’t matter, we promise that you will definitely feel the result the very next day.

Skis will strengthen your knees and joints, prevent damage knee joint and osteoporosis. To avoid injury and increase The result is very important to stretch before and after exercise.

Core muscle training

Since you are constantly trying to maintain balance, your muscles work throughout the ride. Plus, skiing will require you agility and balance, help to avoid falls and slippage in the future.

Cardiovascular health

The combination of high altitude and increased heart rate will strengthen cardiovascular system. With increased heart rate blood circulation increases, which delivers more blood and oxygen to muscles, allowing them to burn more calories with more high speed. On average, skis burn more than 400 calories per hour. After that, you can allow yourself to warm up with a cup. hot cocoa!

You will have a wonderful time … literally!

While skiing, the mood improves. After spending a day on snowy slope, in the middle of nature, you will forget about all the problems daily life and recharge yourself with vitamin D, which will save you from winter depression. For example, over the mountains of Colorado 300 days in the year the sun shines, summer is there almost all year round. Therefore when in the gym becomes uncomfortable, you can go to the mountains and get maximum health benefits.

Strengthening relationships with family and friends

The impact of skiing on human health does not end physical, this is a team lesson than an individual one. You are together go up and down the cable car, shoot together shoes during lunch and order drinks, have fun time on the mountain peaks and fly towards adventures. All this will be your common memory that will remain for the whole a life.

Deep sleep

Nothing helps to fall asleep as intense as training day, even if the clock is only 7 pm. Having experienced a new look sports (which uses all the muscles of your body), you will Feel pleasant tiredness. We guarantee that after conquering downhill you don’t want to flip through pages at bedtime Internet or not to sleep until morning – you will fall on a pillow and enjoy the best sleep of your life.

You do not have to remind yourself of the H20

The higher you go, the harder it becomes to breathe. Getting to the mountain peaks is not difficult, but in order to to stay there you need to drink about three times more water than usually. And thanks to this, it will be much easier for you to keep this healthy habit and after travel.

Proper nutrition

In the morning, before a busy day of skiing, you need a good refuel, at lunchtime – recharge, and eat for dinner something nutritious. So you will start more carefully choose food: more protein, healthy fats, less sugar, more fruits and vegetables, etc. Like the previous paragraph, there is a habit wholesome food will remain after the end of the trip.

What is more effective: skiing or snowboarding?

My friend and I argued. He claims that snowboarding helps burn more calories, I – for skiing. Which of us is right than skiing better than snowboarding or vice versa?

There is no exact and only true answer to your question. All depends on the circumstances.

Alpine skiing burns about 500 calories per hour, a little snowboarding behind – 450 calories. Data does not include time spent. to climb back. But these are just numbers, because on this subject there is no research. The specialists we talked to believe that in fact the numbers are subject to change.

“The level of preparation, the complexity of the route, your technique – all this affects muscle and calories burned, ”says Kevin Jordan, Ski and Skateboarding Instructor ski resort.

“If you have enough experience, you can drive down the track without putting a lot of effort and using only those muscles that you needed to maintain balance, ”he says.“ But you can to work on jumps, various maneuvers and equipment – all depends on the individual. ”

A compendium of physical activity (a database that measures the amount of energy spent on any type of activity) – equalizes these two sports in terms of calorie burning. They are achieve a metabolic equivalent corresponding to 4.3 for light load and 5.3 for moderate load. It means that a person who weighs about 70 kg can spend 293 and 361 kilocalories per hour.

The increased load corresponds to 8.0, and this is 545 burned calories per hour. It is worth noting that in the latest report in 2011 in this database the category “increased load” was not specified snowboard.

It’s easier for beginners to ski – they fall less – accordingly, they spend less energy, because they don’t need to get up again and again. Snowboarders spend much more “on the ground” time than skiers, and no matter how long they do. Them you have to bend more to fasten your belts. It helps train your upper body. “At least once you are sure do push-ups, “says Jordan.” “Skiers have this there is no possibility. ”

Snowboarders train more on flat sections of the track, the intensity depends on various factors, for example, buttoned the belt is fully or fastened one leg. Skiers in their turn, on any section of the track help themselves with ski poles. Thus, the upper torso, abs and legs.

“A simple climb uphill in itself is difficult,” says Jordan, “Newbies more often complain about something they didn’t expect, that they’ll have to ski so fastened at their feet. ” According to him, snowboarders often unfasten the board and simply carry her.

Professional skier and snowboarder Tom Canalicho says that engages in both sports equally and notices that they act on different muscles. “Skiing can lead to pain in the external muscles of the thigh and buttocks due to the position of the skier, when you need to push off your legs and turn from side to side. ”

“The balance that snowboarding requires affects quadriceps and calf muscles, as well as the muscles of the lower abdomen, lumbar muscles, ”he adds.“ Snowboard helps to achieve inflated, flat abs, and the skis swing and make the butt strong and hips. ”

Those who want to go in for winter sports as fitness training Tim advises you to go skiing and snowboarding. “Pursuing the first, you will achieve results in second. You will not be disturbed by a bad mood, weather, quantity snow. ”

Both sports can be very aerobic, especially on advanced level, therefore it is important to monitor cardiovascular system. Tom says high-intensity interval workouts including squats with jumping, lunges with a jump, burpie and jumping on the pedestal helped him work out his muscles perfectly the press and buttocks. “This load resembles skiing and snowboarding, “he says,” and it’s very important for muscle. “Jordan agrees with this, adding that any workout should include weight squats, work on the press, frequent Bosu squats and stretching ankles and calves the muscles. “Thus, fatigue will not come immediately, but the next your muscles will not hurt so much. ”

Conclusion: skiing and snowboarding can burn 300-600 calories per hour, but it all depends on how hard you work. There is one Proven way to achieve this: do not use the lift and climb the mountain yourself.