For many students the thought of dragging yourself to the gym when it’s cold outside is unbearable.
Megan Gibson, a first-year St. Thomas University student, is an advocate for bringing together the concepts of fun and exercise.
“I don’t really know if it’s necessarily a sport, but one of my favourite things to do in the winter is to go sledding,” Gibson said.
Gibson said you don’t even realize you’re exercising because you’re having so much fun. You get to exercise on your way up the hill and have fun on the way down.
“I think it’s a great way to stay active in the winter because it’s kind of embracing winter and it makes it feel not so long,” Gibson said.
Second-year student Jamie LeBlanc enjoys sledding as a way to stay fit.
“I always went sledding as a kid and then I started to go sledding this year,” LeBlanc said. “It’s kind of like drawing, normally only kids draw.”
Sarah Blaisdell, another first-year student, believes in making the most of the long winter.
Blaisdell has been competing in biathlons for six years. She’s skilled at shooting targets and cross-country skiing.
“It’s just always been something that I’ve found really enjoyable in the winter because I find there’s not much to do,” said Blaisdell.
Lindsay Haley embraces the winters by playing Canada’s favourite sport, and her own, hockey.
“It gets you going and makes you forget about everything. You just feel better after,” Haley said.
She said it’s easier to commit to the workout when it comes to a team sport rather than doing it on your own. With sports, you have a schedule that you must abide by or else you’ll let down the rest of your team.
“When you go to the gym, you don’t really have a set schedule,” said Haley. “Unless you have a personal trainer, but in university we’re all poor. We can’t afford that.”
Everyone has a different way of staying fit in the winter, but there are more options than just going to the gym or playing a sport.
Bailey Arango discovered a new way of staying fit. Arango goes to the gym every morning, but she said that snowshoeing is a new cardio option for her because she likes getting fresh air.
“I think it’s really good cardio. Whether it’s a 20-minute walk or an hour or two hike,” the first-year student said.
“At the gym, you just kind of go on the treadmill or you lift weights but you’re in the same environment. Meanwhile with snowshoeing, you can go places, you get fresh air and you have amazing views.”
