Cross-Country and Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing.
“Warm is bad, cold is good. Sun is bad, snow is good.” This chant echoed across the snow as Professor of Recreation and Physical Education Thomas Kettlecamp’s cross-country skiing class began their first day of swishing through the snow on slick runners.
During a winter in which temperatures plummeted and remained at the bone-chilling -30 degrees, the opportunity to catch a little fresh air without freezing your lungs seems like a distant memory. Though this winter has been record-breakingly cold with frigid temperatures that froze boogers in between classes and paralyzed productivity, activity on the trails and at the ski hill has been bustling. For skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers alike this winter has been ideal. The cross-country and downhill skiing classes did not get canceled once, a new record according to Kettlecamp.
Participating in outdoor activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, or snowboarding provides an opportunity to stretch out the legs and unflatten the behind. Skiing is one of the most beneficial activities to participate in, since it targets muscles all over the body much like swimming. It is also a physical activity that can continue into older age as other exercises become more difficult or too damaging to the body. While snowboarding or snowshoeing may not provide as complete of a workout or may take a larger toll on the body, they are nevertheless popular sports that provide a refreshing break from what can become the dreary days of winter.
As we lift our heads to the wind to sniff long anticipated signs of spring, do not forget to catch the last few days on the slopes before the snow melts! Send out winter with a wave and the mantra that all Kettlecamp’s classes do: “Cold is bad, warm is good. Snow is bad, sun is good.”