Winters are often long, dreary, and, frankly, boring. It’s not uncommon for people to want to give in to the drowsiness that winter brings and stay indoors.

There is, however, so much that winter has to offer! From snowshoeing in the mountains, to cross country skiing on a groomed trail, to hitting the ice and playing ice hockey.

In this article, we’ll look at some great new activities that you can introduce into your winter routine.

High-Intensity Activities for Winter Sports

If you’re a bit of a thrill-seeker, you probably love the thrill of downhill skiing, snowboarding, and ice hockey. But if you’re looking for something a little different that you haven’t tried before, you might consider some of these high-intensity winter sports.

Snowshoeing

This is a great activity for anyone who loves the outdoors, fresh air, and a great workout.

A snowshoe is a fairly heavy piece of equipment that can be used for outdoor activities like hiking or backpacking, but it can also be used for some winter sports.

Snowshoeing requires you to be in good shape and to have a lot of stamina.

The combination of walking/running along with weight pushing your feet down on the ground causes significant strain on your legs and feet as well as other muscles in the body.

Skiing

There are many different types of skiing, and all you have to do is look at the Winter Olympics to see the number of styles that there are. The easiest way to split the array of disciplines is by specifying whether they are on the slopes or off-piste.

Alpine skiing, otherwise known as downhill skiing, is the type of skiing that you do when you’re at a ski resort, on groomed slopes (pistes) that are maintained so that they are even and smooth. The primed conditions of these runs mean that they are great for beginners to learn to ski.

Backcountry skiing is all about adventuring into the wilderness, exploring off-the-beaten-track and skiing lines nobody has hit before. Only well-equipped, strong skiers should head off-piste as the conditions are so different and can be unforgiving.

Check out this beginners guide to skiing to find out more about what you need to know.

Snowboarding

Snowboarding, in many ways, is very similar to skiing. You can go and do pretty much anything on a board that you can on skis, and in recent years it has boomed in popularity.

Ice Skating

If you want to do a sport that combines skill and thrill, try ice skating. There are different types of ice skating, including speed skating and figure skating.

Find your local ice rink if you want to try this sport this winter.

Curling

Curling is a winter sport on ice that combines both strategy and skill. It may look easy but it requires a lot of coordination and finesse.

You can play it individually, with your friends, or as part of a team. It’s also a great workout for your arms and lower back!

Snow Tubing

If you’re looking for a fun and productive way to spend your time during the winter months, try snow tubing. You can buy the necessary gear at most sporting goods stores and go on runs with friends or family members.

You may know it as snow tubing but it’s also known as snowmobiling, sledding, and tobogganing.