1.
Close to Home-With the demands on family time for
work and play, parents are hesitant to spend the extra time
driving to the mountains, waking before the sun and returning
well after dark to enjoy a day on the slopes. The rising
price of gasoline is also rapidly becoming a factor in destination
decisions. Cross-country skiing is available on rolling
farmland, local parks and golf courses. A CCSAA member center
offering groomed trails, rentals and lessons, is within
a one-hour drive of most major metropolitan areas in the
northern U.S. and Canada.
2.
Time Together-After a week in school or day care,
there is no need to separate the family during play. Infants
can be carried in back packs, toddlers drawn in sleds and
kids as young as three can learn to cross-country ski or
snowshoe, gliding and walking on the same trails as their
parents. Even the family pet can get into the act at centers
that welcome dogs on the trails or have designated canine
loops. CCSAA centers provide rental equipment including
toddler sleds and even offer lessons for kids.
3.
Easy on the Pocketbook-Trail passes, rental equipment
and lessons are priced well below other winter recreation
fees. Many cross-country vacation resorts include the use
of the trails for free while staying at the resort. Several
resorts offer multi-day family packages that include lodging,
meals and skiing at prices that are easy on your pocketbook.
Visit XCski.org for destinations
and pricing.
4.
Develop a Healthy Lifestyle-According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity has moved up
close to tobacco as the number one health threat in the
United States. An estimated 64.5% of Americans are overweight
or obese. The percentage of overweight or obese children
stands at 37%. In Canada the numbers are 71% for adult males,
47% for adult females and 37% for children ages 2-11. Overweight
children tend to grow up to be overweight adults and are
at greater risk for developing illnesses like diabetes and
heart disease. A 150 lb. cross-country skier burns an average
of 572 calories per hour. The same weight downhill skier
would burn 429, ice skater 500, snowmobiler 250 or TV watcher
71. Cross-country skiing burns more calories because more
muscles are working. It floods the body with a feeling of
well-being, greatly improving one's mood. Snow is soft,
lessening impact on the joints. Cross-country skiing uses
natural movements. It does not require special skills to
get started and has a short learning curve.
5.
Fun for All- Cross-Country skiing is an activity
that energizes the body, spirit and mind. Breathe in the
crisp fresh air and surround yourself with the beauty of
nature. It is one of the only sports that the entire family
can do at its own pace-leisurely or vigorously, individually
as a family unit or socially with other families. Without
the use of motorized equipment and the force of gravity,
cross-country skiing and snowshoeing offer a safer environment
for families.