How Many Calories does Skiing Burn?
A skiing holiday in the Alps is undoubtedly one of the greatest types of trips you can take.
From enjoying the spectacular mountain views to indulging in a bit of apres ski with friends, it really has it all.
But, did you know that skiing is also a great way to burn calories, keep fit and keep up with your exercise?
That’s right, due to the intense nature of the activity, a spot of skiing on the slopes is also a great way to keep healthy and burn some excess calories along the way.
While the team here at Alpine Fleet are usually found transporting visitors to the Alps on our shared and private transfers, we’ve also put together this handy article explaining just how many calories you can expect to burn when skiing.
So, whether you’re watching your waistline or just want to keep up with some exercise while on your skiing trip, read on to find out more.
Does skiing burn calories?
Yes, skiing is a great way to burn calories.
While we will all be familiar with the term calorie, before we explain exactly how skiing can help to burn them let’s first establish exactly what they are.
To be scientific for a moment, a calorie is technically known as a kilocalorie and this refers to the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree. On all foodstuffs you will see kcal on the ingredients label which denotes how many calories the food contains. Calories are a way of quantifying the amount of energy found in food and what then powers our body.
While it will slightly vary from person to person, it is recommended that the average man consumes 2,500 calories a day while the average woman needs 2,000.
When trying to lose weight, people often ‘calorie count’ which is a term that describes the process of keeping track of how many calories an individual has consumed during a day to try and stick within the recommended limits.
While there is some scientific debate regarding whether calorie counting is an effective weight loss technique, exercise is the best way to ‘burn’ calories, lose weight and remain healthy. Essentially, any activity that requires energy can burn calories.
With this in mind, skiing is a great way to burn calories.
This is because during skiing a person will use numerous muscle groups in their legs, arms and core. An all-round type of workout, this makes it particularly conducive to burning calories.
How many calories does skiing burn?
The exact amount of calories you can expect to burn will vary from person to person and will depend on several factors including their weight, strength, amount of time spent skiing, and intensity of the activity.
However, we can provide you with a rough outline of how many calories skiing will burn.
For intermediate skiers who are taking on red or blue runs, you can expect to burn around 300-600 calories per hour. Again, this will depend on how hard you are going at it and how much you weigh. If you weigh less, your muscles will not have to work so hard so the heavier you are, the more calories you’ll burn when skiing.
If you want to take things easy or are a beginner on the easier runs, then the amount you will burn is more likely to be in the region of 200-400 calories per hour.
The weather may also play a part because the colder it is, the more calories you are likely to burn as shivering can help you burn more – but you should still make sure you’re properly wrapped up!
Finally, it’s worth saying that while skiing is certainly an excellent exercise that can help with burning calories, unlike going to the gym or jumping on a treadmill, the primary reason for going skiing should always be for enjoyment and fun.
Other health benefits of skiing
Burning calories is not the only way that skiing can help with your health.
Other health benefits of the activity include:
It makes you stronger
Skiing is also a great way to build muscle as it is an activity that requires you to use your quads, hamstrings, calves, triceps and even your glutes.
Your core muscles will also receive a good workout and as they improve you will become better at balancing on the slopes and controlling movement. Overall, all of your muscles will strengthen as a result of skiing.
Hearts become more healthy
If you’re looking for ways to improve your cardiovascular health and increase your heart rate, then skiing is a great option for this, too.
Become more flexible
Skiing involves lots of dynamic movements that will help your joints become flexible and provide a range of motions. This is a great way to prevent joints from stiffening up as you age.
Boosts mental health
It’s not just physical wellbeing that skiing can help with, spending more time outdoors in the fresh air will also do wonders for your mental health.
Research has shown that people who spend more time outdoors tend to have better mental health than those who do not, and with the stunning alpine views to marvel at as you go, this can only be a benefit.
Heading Skiing This Season?
So now you know that skiing can help you burn calories and improve other health outcomes, why not go ahead and book that next trip? If you’re concerned about how to get to and from the slopes then don’t be, Alpine Fleet has you covered.
We provide leading shared and private transfers to and from some of the Alps best ski resorts, making the entire journey as seamless as possible. We operate from a range of nearby airports, including Geneva Airport, where our vehicles will drive you directly to your chosen resort.
This way, there is no need to worry about having to navigate the region’s challenging mountain roads yourself, simply sit back, relax and enjoy the journey. To find out more, contact Alpine Fleet today.
