As you navigate mountainous, snow-covered terrain like what’s found in the Mammoth area, you’ll be relying on your body’s strength and your ability to use the force of gravity to your advantage when cross-country skiing. What’s more, you’ll be enjoying the many appealing benefits this particular activity has to offer, some of which can continue when you’re back on solid ground sans skis. Keep reading to discover five of the top benefits of cross-country skiing, brought to you by the snow sports experts at ASO Mammoth, the premier place for gear, equipment repair, and ski rental in Mammoth.
1. Cross-Country Skiing Provides an Excellent Full-Body Workout
With cross-country skiing, you’re pushing and pulling various parts of your lower and upper body at the same time. What this does is stimulate several different muscle groups in a way that increases strength and flexibility. Even some of the muscles not directly targeted by the motions of skiing play a role to some extent in maintaining optimal balance and coordination. The result is a full-body workout that has the potential to minimize the risk of developing joint and muscle pain and reduce other possible health risks.
2. It’s a Great Calorie Burner
The vigorous nature of cross-country skiing involves burning a lot of calories. In fact, Healthfitnessrevolution.com notes this activity has the potential to burn more than 1,100 calories per hour, which is much more than what’s commonly burned during many other popular outdoor activities.
3. Cross-Country Skiing Is Good for Your Heart
According to the Heart Foundation, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but it’s often preventable. One way to stave off heart disease is to enjoy activities that get your blood circulating more effectively to help your heart function better. Fortunately, cross-country skiing is one of the activities that achieve this goal. Because it’s possible to safely sustain this activity for many hours, you can keep your heart rate elevated, which improves this vital organ’s ability to pump blood while also strengthening the heart muscle itself.
4. It Gives You a Mental Health Boost
Cross-country skiing is also an activity that can boost your mental health. Olympic cross-country skier Rosie Brennan certainly feels this way. Brennan told Shape.com she finds her preferred wintertime sport to be “a release from the hecticness of everyday life.” The constant movement and focus also help with mental clarity while creating a sense of relaxation and calm.
5. Cross-Country Skiing Provides an Incentive to Try Other Outdoor Activities
Another thing cross-country skiing can do is give you an added incentive to try some other outdoor activities. A natural jumping-off point, so to speak, from skiing is snowboarding. Plus, you’ll be more likely to be able to pick up snowboarding basics if you’ve already gotten the essentials of skiing down. You’re also welcome to get a similar invigorating workout in beautiful natural settings with hiking, biking, swimming, and similar things you can do outdoors during other times of the year.
No matter what type of skiing you choose, you’ll get a great workout. The best way to try out the sport is to rent high-quality equipment and get some tips from experienced pros. When you come to Mammoth, ski rentals, boots, poles—everything you need to enjoy the sport—are right here at ASO Mammoth, your one-stop shop for all the gear and services you need to have a blast on the mountain. Drop by our shop or give us a call at 760-965-3444.