How many calories do you burn skiing?
As enjoyable, exhilarating, and challenging as skiing can be, one thing we can all agree on is that it can be quite tiring. It’s definitely a challenge trying to master skiing and it takes a lot of physical effort. However, this is what makes it so exciting and such good exercise. One thing we’re always asked here at Chill Factore is how many calories skiing burns. Well, we looked at the numbers and wanted to share them with you. If you’d like to find out how many calories you burn skiing, continue reading.
Calorie-burning workouts - how does skiing compare?
The best way of determining whether an activity is worthwhile for exercise or calorie control is to compare it to your energy usage at a state of rest. You can do this by measuring the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET). One MET is defined as one kcal per hour and is roughly equivalent to the energy cost of sitting quietly. So, a MET two activity expends twice the energy used by the body at rest.
Depending on the intensity of the run, downhill skiing has a MET of between four, for light exertion, or up to eight for a full-effort downhill race. For comparison, running a 12-minute mile has a rating of eight. With this in mind, does skiing burn more calories than running? Well, in terms of calorie-burning workouts, skiing is alongside long-distance running, but is arguably much more fun!
If you’re looking for a challenge to set yourself, cross-country skiing has a MET of between seven for light effort and 16 for uphill ski walking. That sounds like a challenge to us!
How many calories does skiing burn?
As we’ve determined that skiing is comparable to long-distance running in terms of exercise intensity, it would make sense that it would burn just as many calories. Long-distance running accounts for around 100 calories burnt per mile covered.
So, how many calories do you burn skiing? If we were to take a 75kg (11 stone) adult, you would expect them to burn around 350 calories per hour on a light downhill run. Of course, the number of calories burned during an hour session depends on the level of exertion put in by the person, and the type of skiing they’re taking part in. For example, during an intense cross-country skiing session, the number of calories burned per hour would actually climb to around 1300. That’s not bad for an hour’s work!
Is skiing good exercise?
Not only is skiing an exhilarating sport that raises your adrenaline levels, but it’s also good for the body and your well-being. Skiing is an aerobic activity which is a cardiovascular workout that requires the pumping of oxygenated blood to the body’s muscles.
It’s well-known in the sporting world that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is one of the most effective types of exercise. This type of training involves alternating cycles of high-intensity effort and low-intensity aerobic activity. During a recovery phase, the body burns fat to produce the energy that’s needed for recovery. However, during the high-intensity phase of activity, your body burns carbohydrates. Studies have shown that skiing may well be among the best interval training workouts you can take part in.
In terms of weight loss, interval training is excellent. It’s also ideal for the overall improvement of your health. So, if you’re planning to kick-start a new health regime, you should definitely consider taking up skiing as a hobby. Seeing as you’re new to the world of skiing, you should take advantage of our expert skiing lessons for beginners at Chill Factore.
Burn calories on the Chill Factore slope
If you’re looking for excellent calorie-burning workouts, you should look no further than the slope at Chill Factore. At 180 metres, our real indoor slope is the longest in the UK and is the perfect place to combine fun with exercise and skill-based learning. So, pick up a lift pass today and start burning those calories!
If you’d like to learn more about insider ski fitness tips and get inspiration on your snow workout, you can do so by reading the latest blogs at Chill Factore.
If there is anything else you’d like to know about Chill Factore, including private ski lessons, kids ski lessons, and snowboarding lessons, don’t hesitate to contact us.
