January is “Learn-A-Snow Sport” Month

WINTER Feels Good Web Site Lists Learning Programs in Several States to GET CHILDREN AND ADULTS ACTIVE IN WINTER 

McLean, VA. January 7, 2008…For adults and children looking for easy ways to get some exercise  during the winter, the 13^th annual Winter Trails Day (www.wintertrails.org) on Saturday, January 12, 2008, offers free learning opportunities for  cross country skiing or snowshoeing at approximately 100 locations in 24 states. Getting outdoors and burning off some unwanted calories is a top priority for many after the holidays and these two easy-to-learn sports can burn 45 percent more calories per hour than walking or running at the same speed. Winter Trails is part of Winter Feels Good, a national initiative to explain the health and fitness benefits of snow sports. Events are taking place at Nordic Centers, alpine resorts, National and state parks and on U.S. Forest Service lands.

The number of Winter Trails programs being offered this month prompted SnowSports Industries America (SIA) to declare January as “Learn a Snow Sport” Month. SIA is the national not-for-profit trade association for snow sports suppliers.

In addition to Winter Trails snowshoe and cross country ski events, several state resort associations, including Ski Utah, Vermont Ski Areas Association, Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association, Colorado Ski Country USA, New Hampshire, Ski Areas Association and others, are offering free or very affordable learning programs for alpine skiing and snowboarding. Many of these programs can be found at www.winterfeelsgood.com, a consumer-oriented web site that helps prepare children and adults for a snow sports experience. The programs show children and adults the basics of alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.

Presenters of Winter Trails include SIA, Cross Country Ski Areas Association, American Hiking Society, Alpina, Atlas Snow-Shoes, Atomic, Columbia, Exel, Fischer, Grabber, Kahtoola, Karhu, Mountain Safety Research (MSR), Nature Valley, PEPSICO, Redfeather, Rossignol, Salomon, Sorel, SWIX, Tubbs, Turtle Fur, Whitewoods, W.L. Gore and Associates, and Yukon Charlie’s with media partners Cross Country Skier magazine, OnTheSnow.com, Snowshoemagazine.com, SkiTrax and XCSkiresorts.com.