Sports for all ages: skiing and snowboarding

There can’t be many sports that are suitable for people of all ages, including toddlers and retirees.Swimming could be one. Hiking might be another, but that hardly counts. But what about snow sports? Winter sports resorts can now offer snow activities for just about anyone, regardless of age.

With more and more families finding the appeal of a winter sports holiday irresistible, resorts now offer exactly the kind of facilities that younger children enjoy. From simple snow play areas to low-speed toboggan runs and gentle slopes for young skiers, Then there is a whole range of slopes and activity areas designed for skiers and snowboarders, from beginners to experts. Finally, there is the possibility of cross-country skiing for the older generations, for whom traditional skiing or snowboarding on the slopes would be too much of a physical challenge and could threaten the unpleasant prospect of a long recovery period even after a minor injury. Competitive cross-country skiing is considered to be one of the most physically challenging sports out there, but at a slower pace,

The Best Winter Sports for All Ages

Of course, all these winter activities are always based on one thing: snow. But even that is now changing, and there has been tremendous growth in the way these sports are accessible without the need for the white stuff.

Cross-country skiers have always resorted to roller skis in the summer months to continue their sport and build up their fitness for the winter challenges. The sport is one of the fastest growing in the UK, with several clubs across the country and some exciting new venues being made available. All it takes is a relatively smooth stretch of asphalt, free of too many pedestrians and with the ability to create a reasonable loop or track. City parks, especially in London, are places where roller skiers can often be seen, but more recently, the flat roads around boating lakes have been identified as perfect locations. Roller skiing is not an expensive sport either. Between £200 and £300 is enough to purchase a complete pack of skis, poles, boots, and bindings. Add some body padding to that if needed, and that’s all it takes. On ice, there are two variants of roller skiing; classic roller skis run parallel to each other and have a ratchet mechanism to prevent backward movement and allow the skier to push forward (on snow, the same end is achieved using grip wax on the underside of the air); skate roller skis don’t have the same ratchet, but the skier uses a skate action to propel themselves. It’s a great exercise, in fact, one of the best for cardiovascular fitness, and poses very little risk of injury or joint damage, unlike running. But the skier uses a skating action to propel itself. It’s a great exercise, in fact, one of the best for cardiovascular fitness, and offers very little risk of injury or joint damage, unlike running. But the skier uses a skating action to propel itself. It’s a great exercise, in fact, one of the best for cardiovascular fitness, and poses very little risk of injury or joint damage, unlike running.

Skiing and Snowboarding

For skiers and snowboarders, the summer alternatives have been either expensive trips to glacier resorts or doing nothing and waiting for winter to return, but that’s also changing. All over the world, advances in snow generation technology are being put to good use in indoor snow sports complexes. Location is no longer a limiting factor when it comes to participating in traditional winter sports. Even in the most unlikely places, such as Dubai in the Middle East, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy their favourite sport all year round. In Europe, the countries with the least access to mountain resorts are leading the way with indoor snow centers.

The UK’s newest centre is on the outskirts of London, giving the capital’s large population easy access to ski and snowboard facilities all year round. These indoor complexes generate their own snow using the same type of snowmaking system used by the mountain resorts themselves and offer indoor slopes long enough to challenge even the experts, while also providing an environment where beginners can learn the basics before heading out on a winter vacation. The indoor centres also provide the venues for entirely new areas of sports competition.

At every age, there is a snow-based sport suitable for everyone, and with new indoor snow complexes becoming more widely available, it really is a matter of winter sports for everyone, anytime, anywhere.

Richard Trueman is a commentator on health and sports-related matters. Read his reports on indoor snowboarding and indoor skiing facilities at this resource.