Recent Galleries

View All »

Last shred of the year by Kevin Arnold
5/01/2012 12:58 AM

29 views

April Snow Showers by Beth Hartman
4/15/2012 11:49 PM

29 views

Moustache March in Breck by Lisa Pogue
4/08/2012 3:41 PM

18 views

Recent Dispatches

Best tools for tracking your summer mountain activity

Posted 1 day ago

by Devin Reams
Vail Summer Lodging

Posted 2 days ago

by Rachel Walker
The science of sweat: hydrating during exercise at altitude

Posted 15 days ago

by Kate Bongiovanni
Road trip time

Posted 16 days ago

by Kevin Arnold
Top five stories from the 2011-2012 ski season

Posted 17 days ago

by Beth Hartman

Snow sports that don't require a lift ticket

Kate Bongiovanni

2/01/2011 2:33 PM

Above: Beaver Creek's McCoy Park, photo by Beaver Creek Resort and courtesy of Visit Colorado

When I go to ski country, I’m there to ski. I’d ski 24/7 if I could, but I settle for lifts open to lifts closed every day the snow is at my disposal. As for the rest of my family, they think I’m nuts—it’s a common trend for the sports I pursue—and don’t share quite the same passion. But that doesn’t mean they—or you—have to sit back at the lodge waiting for skiers like me to quit for the day. Instead, try some of the following activities that will keep you on the snow and ice, burning that inner engine, but off your skis and boards.

Ice skating
No matter which resort you plan to visit, you’ll find opportunities to lace up those skates and practice your figure eights, hockey stops and crossovers.
Calories burned per hour: 476

Snow tubing
On-mountain accessibility makes this sledding-like adventure an easy way for skiers and riders to meet up with their non-skiing friends. And it’s a spot where egos and ability levels are tossed to the curb.
Calories burned per hour: 476, but that’s under the assumption you’re not riding the magic carpet to the top

Cross-country skiing
Known as a top cardio-blaster, cross-country boasts a quick solution to increasing blood flow

and torching calories. With the fresh air and scenic vistas—especially if you’re up at Beaver Creek’s McCoy Park—how can you pass up a sport that allows you more reason to splurge at dinner?
Calories burned per hour: 476 to 952, depending on the intensity

Snowshoeing
I’ve spotted plenty of snowshoe-clad hikers heading uphill from Vail's Lionshead base, but you can also float across the snow at the Nordic centers with a collection of snowshoe-friendly trails and events, like the full moon hike.
Calories burned per hour: 544

Bungy trampoline
Not exactly a workout equal to the mini-tramp you could jog on in your living room, this experience far surpasses the indoor activity in scenery—looking out over the Vail Valley from the top of Adventure Ridge—and thrill factor.
Calories burned per hour: 222

Biathlon
Unique to Northstar-at-Tahoe, you can embrace this strenuous yet sharp-shooting Olympic sport during one of the open range days, clinics or private lessons at the resort’s Cross-Country, Telemark and Snowshoe Center.
Calories burned per hour: 170 for an hour of shooting, 612 for an hour of vigorous cross-country skiing

Build a snowman—or snow fort
Keystone’s Kidtopia has already been built, but you can always construct a Frosty rendition or igloo by rolling some snowballs if you’re staying a spot with wide-open terrain. And you’ll be sneaking in exercise, too.
Calories burned per hour: 200

Although these calorie counts are only approximations—one hour of activity for a 150-pound person—they do prove that you won’t have to chain yourself to a treadmill if you’re not going to hit the snow with skis or a snowboard. Keep in mind that you may not need a lift ticket to play, but you could pay admission and rental rates. Check resort information at snow.com for more details.

--Kate Bongiovanni

Tags: fitness, Tips & Techniques, Lifestyle, Keystone, Breckenridge, Northstar, Beaver Creek, Heavenly, Travel