Outdoor Activities in the Winter
One way to spend the winter months is to go on outdoor winter adventures. Staying active, having fun with friends, getting closer to nature, and reaping the benefits of the crisp air and the movement of the body – all of that is available to you if you choose to move away from the sofa and the screens.
We, the Norwegians, see the colder months as an amazing time of the year for outdoor sports, activities, building strength, and playfulness. The snow provides the perfect conditions for a wide range of winter sports and the cold weather can bring a lot of health benefits to our bodies. From skiing and snowboarding to ice skating and sledding, there are countless ways to enjoy the outdoors and have fun in the winter.
If you live in an area that has a winter climate, we wholeheartedly encourage you to layer up and experience the low temperatures outside outdoors more often.
Just like our nourishing, sustainably raised salmon, cold air has an incredible effect on your heart, brain, skin, and overall mental and physical health. So grab the opportunity to expose yourself to it!
To inspire you, we prepared a short list of some popular outdoor winter sports from around the world:
Skiing and Snowboarding: Of course we have to start with skiing and snowboarding. With origins from the Alps in Europe, these sports are thrilling and exhilarating ways to enjoy beautiful winter sceneries and to stay active during the cold weather. If you have never tried it, start with a skiing or snowboarding teacher and practice it in safe, beginner-friendly locations.
Ice Skating: Ice skating is another popular winter sport which not many people know that originated in Scandinavia. Activating the whole body and testing our speed and balance, ice skating can be practiced on deeply frozen natural surfaces such as rivers, lakes, and canals (the way the Dutch do it) or on ice skating rings.
Sledding and Tubing: When the first snow dumps turn towns and cities into winter wonderlands, sledding and tubing is a must not only for children, but adults as well! Such a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy the beauty of the winter season. Sledding and tubing can be done on a variety of slopes and surfaces with various sled-like alternatives. We have seen excited New Yorkers sled in Central Park with pool inflatables, trash bags, and even laundry baskets! Get creative, get some fresh air, and do some cardio while also having tons of fun.
Cross-country Skiing: Another sport that comes from Scandinavia is cross-country skiing – a popular winter activity that involves skiing across snow-covered terrain on skis. Cross-country skiing is a low-impact and aerobic activity that provides a full-body workout, it requires sports equipment, and it is a great way to explore the outdoors for longer and to ski across different winter routes.
But don’t forget that even a walk in the snow can have a health-boosting impact on your mood and body.
