“In terms of working your heart research has shown that downhill skiing roughly equates to cycling or rowing workouts.” TIME Magazine
Great news for all us skiers. Turns out doing what we love is on par with cycling and rowing workouts. Obviously it depends on skill level, terrain, and how hard you push yourself but TIME Magazine’s article on the subject makes it clear that the benefits of skiing “far outweigh” the risks:
“Alpine skiing is a mix of endurance and resistance training. It has positive effects on the heart and circulation, as well as peripheral muscles—predominately the legs.” –Dr. Josef Niebauer
Conveniently the fitness trend of interval training is built into resort skiing with anywhere from 20 seconds to 15 minutes of high output during a run followed by a rest period during your chairlift ride back to the top. Evidence is piling up that suggests interval training can provide a range of benefits, from life extension and to improving your fitness levels. Sweet!
Moral of the story: Skiing is a great modality to a healthy lifestyle and you should get out on the hill as much as possible. Cheers!