Brr, it's cold outside! At least where I live, anyway. For me, this means a temporary halt on my daily walks and runs. Despite having grown up in Canada, I just can't stand the cold. Although I will sometimes put my feelings aside for a mountain of fresh powder on the ski hill ...

What about you? Last week, I asked you what your favourite winter outdoor sport is -- here's what you had to say:

• 27 percent of you choose to enjoy winter curled up by the fire with a warm drink. I'm with you.
  
• 23 percent of you love skiing and/or snowboarding.
• 11 percent of you get fit by cross-country skiing.
  
• 7 percent of you have fun ice skating.
• And 23 percent of you don't even live in a place where it snows.
  
  

Thanks for sharing!

Ever wonder why cross-country isn't an Olympic event? It was in 1904, 1912, 1920, and 1924, but it was dropped because it wasn't considered a summer sport -- huh? -- and because it was too tough to standardize.

Seems there's too much variety in course length and difficulty to establish across-the-board standards and records. So it's not likely cross-country will make an Olympic appearance anytime soon.

If you're a fan of the sport and want it to make a come-back, write to the International Olympic Committee, Chateau de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland.

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Skiing is a great way to enjoy the winter weather, a great way to socialize with friends, and a great way to burn calories. But, with the downhill version especially, it is also not something that you can just run out and do some weekend without any advance planning.

Skiing requires a lot more equipment than some other sports, like running or yoga. And you'll need to take a serious look at investing in a few lessons -- just to make sure you're safely able to stop and don't go careening down the hill like in some movie (only potentially without the happy ending). The author of this article also relates skiing to sprinting, in that the calorie burn is short-lived compared to the total time spent. It's probably best as a supplement to an already solid fitness routine, as opposed to your sole means of exercise.

Other pros? Skiing is a fast sport to learn (the basics at least), and you don't have to be a ripped fitness buff to enjoy it.

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What winter sports are you into? I used to be an avid skier but lack of time has taken its toll on that hobby. I ice skated when I was a kid but now am surprisingly wimpy once I get onto the ice. I've never snowshoed or cross-country skied, but I would like to, though if I can't get around to downhill skiing, I will probably not find the time for something new. So it seems like my favorite winter sport involves a fire, hot cocoa, a warm blanket and (hopefully) a foot rub. Yikes! No wonder I have trouble losing weight during this season.

Winter sports can burn a lot of calories, and it's they're a great way to fight the winter blues and get some much-needed fresh air. True, it can be cold, but you can change that by bundling up. So what are you waiting for? Get out and enjoy the snow.

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