Winter Sports Your Family Will Love

Winter Sports Your Family Will Love

"Me? On ice skates? No way!"

Is that your response to an iceskating invitation? If so, consider the benefits to being a novice at skating, or any winter sport: You'll see results much faster than if you were already an expert. You'll be laughing so hard you'll forget you're exercising, and, participating in winter sports is a great way to spend time with your family.

Ricki, a New Yorkbased lawyer, and her family have spent the holidays together in Vermont every year since she was three. Not only does the family reap the benefits of downhill skiing (a great workout that also builds muscles in your legs and torso), but family members also spend quality time together.

Mark, a vice president at an investment company, heads to Killington, Vermont, several times each winter with his wife and inlaws. "Skiing is a common interest with us, and it brings everyone together," Mark says. "Family members who may not spend a lot of time together at home may end up skiing together because they're at the same level."

Skiing is just one of several winter activities that Mark's family enjoys. He and his wife, Rosaleen, occasionally ice skate near Lake Placid, holding hands and getting romantic. Cunningham. "Everything's movingyour legs, arms, torso and back. It's a hardcore calorie burner. You sweat a lot, though, so be careful not to overdressand when beginning, choose only level terrain."

Ice Skating

Skating improves your balance and agility and the muscle tone in your legs. With a few lessons, maybe you can even learn to do some tricks!Making "Snow Angels"

This activity is not just for kids, and it's more aerobic than you might think. To make a snow angel, lie on your back in the snow. Keeping your elbows and knees straight, sweep your arms up and down and your legs in and out through their full range of motion several times, then get up carefully. Now find a field with deep snow, and see if you're up for this vigorous workout: "Stand up, fall down, make your angel, then quickly stand up and drop again," Cunningham says. Take your kids along, and try to fill the entire field with snow angels. It's a blast.