You’ve made up your mind. You’ve resolved (maybe again) to get
more exercise. All that’s left is deciding what to choose. What
if you wanted something you can do either indoors or outdoors,
in any season, at nearly any time, and provides an all-over
“workout” without feeling like you’ve done any work?

Think a minute: This easily describes several of the different
types of the surprisingly varied world of snow skiing. The image
most people think of is standard: You get on a chairlift, drop
off easily, and ski down the slopes. You’re wearing heavy,
cold-weather gear and usually topple over once or twice on the
way down, skis askew in the air, the biting chill of the wind
hitting your face.

Thankfully, the world of snow skiing has broadened widely and
has become a year-round enjoyment for millions — while also
providing an excellent source of cardiovascular exercise.

Downhill, or classical, skiing, is the picture-postcard most of
us think of when we hear the word “skiing.” It usually involves
places like The Alps, Aspen, Telluride, or just about anywhere
most jet-setters and celebrities frequent.

This is the one that involves a chairlift, and skiing down
often-steep slopes. There is either real snow or manufactured
snow, and you will get cold, but you’ll warm up once you get
going.

The sport is not too difficult once you get the hang of it, but
it definitely will not be easy the first day you try. Actually,
you can expect to fall down many times. Lessons are usually a
good idea, and this type is skiing is going to be expensive.
Lift ticket prices, travel to and from ski sites, ski rentals or
purchase, and appro-priate wear, including sunglasses, are going
to cost you more financially, but the results can be
exhilarating and quite fun — again, once you catch on.

Next, there’s cross-country skiing. Admittedly, this is going to
be physically challenging to most people. Here’s where you do
all the work yourself. There are no chairlifts to bring you up
the hills, and you must ski up on your own. But, on the flip
side, you won’t careen down mountains near as steep as the ones
in downhill skiing, and it’s much more affordable than downhill
ski-ing. Trail passes and ski rentals are relatively
inex-pensive, and you probably can teach yourself — hence, no
lessons!

“Skate” cross-country skiing is another form of cross-country
skiing that requires slightly different skis. You can actually
“skate” with regular, classical skates, but skis do make it
easier. You can pick up speed by simu-lating the physical
motions of ice skating. It’s not too difficult to pick up skate
cross-country, but it is harder than classical cross country
skiing, and requires more physical endurance. It is also helpful
to have clear and wider trails for this to be truly enjoyable.

If you’re really the adventurous type, the ski jump, in which
you leap from specially prepared jump slopes, will definitely
test your stamina and maneuverability. Note that this will also
test your checkbook balance, as well as alpine skiing, which has
fewer twisted courses that permit much faster speeds, but again,
it will have a more pronounced affect on your bank balance than
the other types of snow skiing.

Snowboarding involves a single wide ski, or snowboard, no poles,
and is similar to surfing. Ski experts have also now come up
with ski boarding, which employs shorter and wider skis that are
generally used without poles. Ski boarding also offers the skier
some of the sensa-tions of ice skating or in-line roller
skating. It is usually easier to learn than classical skiing,
largely because ski boards are simply more “handle-friendly.”

With the comprehensive, attractive array of skiing methods out
there today, there’s something in it for everyone. Can’t stand
the cold? Try cross-country. Love the idea of bounding from a
slope onto hard, impacted snow and hitting the ground hard and
fast? Simple. Take up ski jumping. But please — take lessons
first!

About the author:
Sandy Knoll is the webmaster for http://www.fxsnow.com which is
a great resource for all things related to snow and snow
activities. Please be sure to visit the site at

http://www.fxsnow.com