Learn to ski and snowboard: Not only is it lots of fun, it's good for you

To register for the Deseret News/KSL Newsradio Ski/Snowboard School, please download the following form (PDF format).

Skiing and snowboarding are fun activities. Or they can be fun, once right and left turns and stopping have been conquered.

But there are other reasons to learn to ski and snowboard, and they include:

Physical: Skiing and snowboarding improve muscle tone as well as improve balance and endurance.

Health: Skiing and snowboarding provide an excellent cardiovascular workout, which helps to strengthen the heart muscles.

Social: Skiing and snowboarding bring families and friends together for one common purpose — to slide on snow.

These are a few of the reasons behind the 62nd session of the Deseret News/KSL NewsRadio Ski and Snowboard School.

The school, which opens the first of three lessons on Nov. 21, is for first-time or never-ever skiers or snowboarders.

There are three lessons involved in this school. Instructors have found that after three lessons, students are typically able to go up on the mountain and have enough confidence to have fun.

One lesson doesn't do it. The first couple of hours require an effort people are not used to with respect to learning basic skills, so the fun factor is not high, said Julian Cordova, children's program supervisor for the Alta Ski School.

After three lessons — six hours of instruction — their skill level increases dramatically, and the fun factor, as well as the physical, health and social benefits, also come into play. At the end of the three classes, students are able to control the skis and snowboard and glide around the mountain. That's when it becomes fun.

As for the other benefits:

Among the physical benefits is the fact that the two sports require rotational movement brought on by rapid changes the slopes and the desire to turn. This leads to greater muscle efficiencies.

The best part is a skier or snowboarder can push as hard or controlled as he or she wishes by choosing terrain — easy or difficult — and by being able to stop and start at will.

Skiing and snowboarding are sometimes compared to running and swimming as a cardiovascular workout. It's simply a different form of exercise.

Activity on the slopes, in fact, improves blood flow to the body, which doctors say helps to prevent conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

And exercise allows the body to burn fat and get rid of bad cholesterol.

It can also be said that learning to ski and snowboard improve self-esteem and confidence, which is a benefit to good health.