Skiing is a great sport for the whole family too, young and old. You can do cross country-skiing at any age provided you have the right equipment.

Many families love taking a ski holiday together for the change of scenery and the beauty of nature. Even walking in the snow, or snowshoeing, can give your legs a great workout.

A trip to the mountains may be sounding terrific just about now, but you need to take precautions and plan before you go. If you normally live closer to sea level, you’ll want to be aware of the danger of developing ski sickness, also called altitude sickness, if you are planning a trip into the mountains or higher altitudes over 5000 feet.

Symptoms of altitude sickness include having headaches, being nauseated, fatigued, not having an appetite, not being able to sleep, and vomiting. It is caused by climbing to an elevation without giving your body the opportunity to adjust. The quicker you ascend a mountain, the worse the symptoms may be. It’s best to take your time reaching your skiing destination, particularly if you’re new to the sport.

In addition, high altitudes can dehydrate the body very quickly, so drink plenty of fluids (not alcohol) and check the color of your urine to be sure it is not too yellow or dark, a sure sign of dehydration.

It doesn’t matter if you’re skiing the slopes or cross country skiing. Both activities will get you out of doors and help tone your entire body.
People who have had prior knee injuries may want to give cross country, or Nordic, skiing a try first. This is non-jarring and less taxing on the knees. The important thing to remember is that if you’ve never skied before, neither activity is one to rush into.

All of the benefits of skiing aren’t physical, although they are some of the most compelling. What about the benefit of being outdoors instead of cooped up indoors? Not to mention the psychological benefits of a lovely outdoor setting in the winter.

There is no reason anyone should have to stay indoors when the temperatures dip, so long as they take the right precautions. Bundle up, get the skis ready, go outside and enjoy the crisp clean air. Then hit the slopes or the cross country ski trail and enjoy the beauty of nature as you ski to keep fit.