ExerciseExplorer

Categories / Winter sports

Winter sports

Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing and curling. Winter air, great for fitness, but falls cause most injuries, so prepare and take lessons.

Winter sports are a fun, fresh-air way to build leg strength, balance and fitness. Our 6 winter exercises include skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, curling and cross-country skiing, with indoor ice rinks for trying skating all year round.

Falls cause most injuries in winter sports, so lessons and protective kit are well worth it. Each guide explains how to start, how to prepare your body beforehand and what to watch for. Compare the options to find a snow or ice activity that suits you.

Which winter sport option suits you?

Answer what you can. We pick the best match from the 6 below. Your answers are saved on this device only, so the rest of the site can use them.

Where can you get out? (tick all that apply)
Anything we should allow for? (optional)

6 regimes

Winter sports

Skiing (Alpine)

Downhill skiing on slopes.

240 min × 1/wkEffort ●●●○○High cost
Winter sports

Snowboarding

Downhill riding on a board.

240 min × 1/wkEffort ●●●○○High cost
Winter sports

Cross-Country Skiing

Skiing on flat or rolling terrain, full-body cardio.

90 min × 1/wkEffort ●●●●○Moderate cost
Winter sports

Ice Skating

Gliding on ice, rink or outdoor.

60 min × 1/wkEffort ●●○○○Low cost
Winter sports

Snowshoeing

Walking over snow using snowshoes.

90 min × 1/wkEffort ●●○○○Low cost
Winter sports

Curling

Stone-sliding team game on ice.

120 min × 1/wkEffort ●○○○○Low cost

Winter sports: pros and cons

What to like and what to watch for, so you can decide whether this type of exercise is right for you.

Best for: People who love the cold, mountains and ice, and can plan for travel and lessons.

Pros

  • Great fresh-air fitness for the legs, core and balance
  • Exciting and memorable, so motivation is easy
  • Indoor ice rinks make skating available all year
  • Good for family trips and holidays

Cons

  • Often expensive, with travel, passes, lessons and kit
  • Falls cause most of the injuries, so take lessons and wear protection
  • Seasonal and tied to location, so it is hard to do weekly
Compare with the other 18 categories →