Downhill skiing, also called alpine skiing, is a vigorous winter sport that provides a good outdoor workout. The challenge of exercising in the cold and the excitement of speeding down a snow-covered mountainside appeal to many who travel to ski resorts every year to partake in downhill skiing.
Calories
A person weighing 160 pounds burns 365 calories in an hour of downhill skiing, according to the Mayo Clinic. Someone who is 200 lbs. burns 455 calories, and a 240-lb. individual burns 545 calories in the same hour of downhill skiing.
Fitness
Downhill skiing incorporates both aerobic and anaerobic activity, research published in the journal "Sports Medicine" explains. It not only burns lots of calories, but also improves strength, flexibility, balance, endurance and agility. However, there is a high risk of injury in downhill skiing; pregnant women or people with underlying health conditions contraindicating intense exercise, such as heart disease, should avoid it.
Alternatives
Cross-country skiing is another type of skiing that burns even more calories than downhill skiing. The calorie burn during one hour of cross-country skiing is 511 calories for a 160-lb. individual, the Mayo Clinic calculates. Other winter activities that provide a high level of calorie burn include snowshoeing, ice skating and sledding.
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