There’s nothing like feeling the crisp air hitting your face as you race down a steep hill of fluffy snow. Hearing the swoosh of your ski blades as they cut across that white powder is an amazing experience.

As I unpacked my skis yesterday, I started to get excited about our upcoming ski day. I love downhill skiing at Ellicottville (in the US) or even Blue Mountain (through the week only, as the line-ups are crazy on weekends!). Did you know that you can burn close to a whopping 500 calories during one hour of downhill skiing!?!

Skiing is an effective calorie burning activity that improves your strength and balance and it gets you outside into the crisp air.

Here are 4 more benefits downhill skiing provides you with:

Build up your total body strength.

I love the leg burn I feel halfway through a ski day. Your complete lower body including quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves, inner and outer thigh are working constantly to stabilize you and help you steer. Not only does skiing provide you with a leg workout on steroids, it’s also great exercise for your abs and back which must be activated to help you stay upright.

Practice and improve your balance.

You have to work your balance to stay upright and follow the desired path you’ve laid out for yourself. Balance will also help you avoid running into the beginners who fall or cut right in front of you.

Breathe in that fresh air.

Skiing gets us out of the office, and into nature. Adults spend way too much time inside, it’s nice to have an excuse to get outside for the whole day. Fresh air is energizing, stress reducing, mood enhancing and great for the immune system.

Uninterrupted chairlift visits with friends.

It’s so stress-free riding the chair lifts and catching up with loved ones. It’s often too cold or too risky to pull out your cellphone, so you are forced to spend time talking each time you ride up the lifts. These mood-boosting days are filled with quality time like no others!

Skiing is an effective calorie burning activity that improves your strength and balance and it gets you outside into the crisp air.

3 Tips to burn even more calories on skis:

1. Don’t forget about the Green Circle (Easy) Hills even if you’re an expert.

If you’re an advanced skier who usually sticks to the Black Diamond Hills (most difficult), try skiing a few easier routes throughout your day. The easier routes are usually lengthier and flatter. They’ll force you to work you muscles longer and harder, especially if you want to keep up some speed.

2. Put your skis on as far away from the chairlift as possible.

Those few hundred yards of cross country skiing you’ll be forced to do before you reach the chairlift are a great warm-up. They’ll also help you burn a few extra calories in the process.

Put your skis on a distance from the chair lifts to warm-up and to burn a few extra calories.

3. Pack your lunch and park far away from the chalet.

Walking to your car and back for your packed lunch partway through the day (with your heavy, awkward ski boots on of course), will really help you feel an extra burn in your leg muscles. Be sure to fill your bagged lunch with veggies and protein to keep your energy levels ramped up for the whole afternoon!

In summary, skiing is an effective calorie burning activity that improves your strength and balance. It also boosts your mood, immune system and relationships with friends. I’m always sure to enjoy this exciting outdoor activity at least once each winter. Get out there and make the most of winter with a strength enhancing, fun, calorie burning, outdoor winter sport!