Whether your winter playground is some far-off mountain slope or your own chilly backyard, this is the primo time to shred, swoosh, or spin. From hiking into the wilderness to screaming through a wicked halfpipe, winter sports can leave you thrilled, pumped, and ready to go for it again and again. Read on to learn more about the coolest of sports and how to share them with your friends.

Beating the Winter Blahs
Ahh, winter! Shorter days. Frigid temperatures. Yucky weather. Face it, winter can be a drag. In fact, becoming a full-time winter couch potato sounds awfully good. But fight the temptation. "Take advantage of winter. Don't let climate run your life," says Robert Malina, PhD, director of the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University.

Winter sports can help you burn calories, increase your cardiovascular fitness, and strengthen muscles. "Weight-bearing activities like cross-country skiing or skating help build minerals in young bones," Dr. Malina says.

Being outdoors is also great for your mental health. Sunlight seems to help beat back the winter blues. So slap on some sunblock and soak up some rays! And if you need more convincing, remember this: staying in shape during the winter gets you physically ready for all those springtime sports like softball and soccer.

And Snow It Goes . . .
"Winter is a perfect time to try a whole new set of sports," Dr. Malina says. The trick is to find one that matches your interests and natural abilities. "If you like to walk, keep walking . . . on snowshoes. If you want to try an endurance sport, go for cross-country skiing. And snowboarding? It's just plain fun," he says.

Here's a news flash: the slopes aren't just for skiing any more. Ready for something totally awesome? Try skiboarding or snow-skating. Skiboards look like miniature skis (they're roughly the length of a yardstick) and come in a variety of shapes and models. Not only are they easy to maneuver, they're fun, fun, fun!

Snowboarding rules. Swoosh down a snow-covered mountain surfing an endless winter wave. Float effortlessly through fresh powder or launch yourself into the air for a body-spinning trick. Alpine (downhill) skiing also rocks, with lightweight, curved skis making any beginner feel like an Olympic champ. While skiing you control your speed and your body movements.

If low-tech cruising appeals to you, consider sledding. Use a wood-framed toboggan with steel runners or a plastic sled to head down a snowy hill. Or go for a slip-sliding adventure on cross-country skis. Not only can this slow-paced sport take you into the quiet of the country, but cross-country skiing is a great aerobic activity.

If you think ice is nice, try hockey or figure skating. Runners can also choose to train during the winter, although beware of wet or slippery roads. Or slip on a pair of snowshoes. One of the easiest sports around, snowshoeing can be excellent cold-weather cross-training for runners and cyclists.

Whatever sport you choose, don't rely on a friend for instruction. You wouldn't let an amateur perform brain surgery on you; why let one teach you to ski or skate? That's what instructors are for - to help newcomers start out right. Instructors can give you advice about equipment, techniques, safety, and dealing with injuries if they do arise.

It's tempting for an eager athlete to advance too quickly through learning the basics. Resist the temptation. If you want to progress, invest your time in learning the basics thoroughly. Like a pyramid, everything else you do as a skier, boarder, or skater will be built on these first skills.

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