I don't know what it's like where you live, but outside my window there's very little green to be seen. Everything is covered in a thick and frosty layer of white. But just because you don't see much green, doesn't mean you can't go green when it comes to winter sports. As an added perk ... you'll end up with more green in your wallet.

• Rent. If you hit the ski hill only once or twice a year, you really don't need to own your equipment.
  
• Buy used. Ebay, used sporting goods stores, and sites likes Craig's List and Freecycle are great places to search for sports equipment. Keep your eye out for skis, snowboards, skates, hockey gear, and other winter treasures.
• Equipment swap. Many ski clubs hold equipment swaps where you can bring in your unused gear and look for something new (to you, anyway). If you have a child on a hockey league or other winter sport, consider setting up an equipment swap with other parents.

If you've got old equipment that's really not fit for use anymore, try to find a new purpose for it and keep it out of a landfill. I unloaded a ridiculously old set of skis on Freecycle last fall; the person who picked them up is going to attach them to the bottom of a large crate so he can easily tow his gear across the ice on his way to his ice-fishing shanty. You just never know what use people can get out of old items.

Source

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hey Fitz, My name is Sarah and I'm almost 16. I have always been involved with sports including: hockey, basketball, soccer and you name it! Now that I am older, I have slowed down a bit and only play basketball for high school and travel. This is what is bothering me: I can't seem to run as long as I used to. I get tired easily and run out of breath. I'm not fat or anything, and I am even really fast. But by the time I run one length of the court I'm pretty much dead. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to change this? It seems like I get more out of breathe each season. Thanks, Sarah

A. Hi Sarah, Thanks for writing. I have two thoughts on what may be happening with you, the first being more probable than the last. Most likely, you've just become out of shape. That doesn't mean you're obese or in horrible shape, it just may mean you're not capable of doing as much as you were two years ago when you were involved in three sports! You take pride in the fact that you run fast. That's great! But, the fact that you like to go all out probably makes you more likely to suck wind at the end of one lap.

Source

The other day, I told you to how to turn fun games you played as a child into more adult-like exercise activities -- remember: if you liked four-square, try tennis or racquetball? -- and now I'm here to tell you to forget the grown-up spin on things -- just play the kid games. That's what some folks in Newport, New Hampshire are doing in an effort to get in shape while having the time of their lives.

Forget the treadmill and the gym. Old School P.E., a two-hour exercise program for adults only, is built around gym-class staples, and is anything but boring. Think Spastic Ball -- a blend of soccer and basketball -- and floor hockey with a dodgeball, or maybe some Ultmate Frisbee. Anything really, minus all the rules, and you've got the idea.

Sound like fun to you? Some say it allows you to be distracted while working out. And some women get really ripped in just six weeks -- OK, probably not a result of Duck, Duck, Goose, a game that may at least serve as a proper warm-up. Regardless, kid games are all the rage. Read more about them here.

Source

Pollution is a big deal for Olympians this year, mainly because there's just too much of it in Beijing. Athletes will need to worry about the effects of air quality on their performance, but not just in the way you think. Hockey players are concerned that the smog and haze will inhibit their ability to see the puck clearly. And so Britain's women's team is trying out an interesting technique -- red contact lenses.

The red lenses work like sunglasses and will help the women's eyes cut through the glare and focus more clearly. They'll also limit the amount of time the players spend squinting or frowning, which will help prevent headaches and tiring. But I think these contacts will have another effect on hockey -- intimidation. Can you imagine going face-to-face with an opponent whose eyes look like this? Creepy!

Source

A few months back I went to a place I like to call "Man Heaven" and wrote a few articles about it. Man Heaven is also known as ESPN: The Weekend at the Disney Hollywood Studios in Florida. The event was jam packed with dozens and dozens of your sports lovers' heroes from today and yesteryear. Football, basketball, baseball, tennis, hockey and golf stars flooded the theme park with ample opportunity for each Disney guest to get up close and personal with the athletic love of their life.

Of course, there were also a ton of female fans decked out in their team jerseys, but truly....this event was for boys. Young boys, elderly boys, and every boy in between. I saw big groups of men in coordinating jerseys riding the tram to the park, and then I saw tons of father/son duos shooting baskets with their favorite hoops star.

The event isn't until early next March, so you'll have plenty of time to book your air, hotel, and ticket reservations. He'll have lots of time to squirm with anticipation for the big event. Trust me.....if your guy loves sports, he will love ESPN: The Weekend and love you even more for sending him to it.

Source

Say goodbye to the Zamboni ... Mitsubishi plastics has developed a new rink without the ice. Japan has seen a growing interest in ice skating, yet -- due to the high costs -- not many ice rinks are operated. This new skating surface is made up of panels of resin-based plastic coated with a thick layer of special wax. The surface is nearly as slippery as real ice and be skated on using regular ice skates.

The plastic surface would allow more skating rinks to operate -- the reduced air conditioning and water costs can save rinks up to $190,000 each year.

One amateur skater who's tried out the surface stated that it was fine for turns and other basic figure skating moves, but more complicated moves would be better performed on real ice.

Source

Many people who establish fitness routines do it alone, and that's very commendable. But let's face it -- sometimes exercising alone can be a drag. Not only do you not have anyone to commiserate with and share your triumphs with, but when you're going at it alone, you have no one to be accountable too and unless your ultra-motivated, that can lead to laziness sometimes. Team sports are a great way to get active and not only that, but you'll meet new friends and have lots of fun in the meantime. Here's a list of some fun team sports. Ask around and you'll probably find a league you can join in you're area.

• Dragon boating: Dragon boating has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and most cities have an annual dragon boat festival in the summer. Dragon boating teams consist of 22 people, 20 of whom are responsible for rowing the team to victory, and while you might think you can slack off because there are so many people, think again. Dragon boating is hard work, and can burn up to 800 calories an hour. I first heard about it from a family friend who participates in races regularly. She is in her 70s and a cancer survivor, so I think that if she can do it, you can too.

Let's say your new to town and you don't know many people. But you want to make friends. What do you do? Head to the nearest bar and hope someone will strike up a conversation? Nah ... why don't you join a sports rec league? I saw this company being advertised on local TV this morning, and I think it's a great idea -- a way to meet people through team sports. Choose from beach volleyball, dodgeball, basketball, soccer, slow pitch, ultimate, floor hockey or football -- and there's only one rule: have fun!

I'm not one for team sports usually, but if the fun comes first, I think I can handle something like this. How about you?

Source

Nothing makes time fly like having fun, and what better 'time' to have time flying by than during your workout? Finding something you genuinely think is fun that also burns loads of calories will not only help you get fitter faster, but it will make it easier to motivate yourself to get started every day and stick with your exercise routine. Spring isn't officially over yet, so take advantage of the season of new beginnings and good weather and join a league or start playing a sport to burn some extra calories and rekindle your fitness regimen and motivation. Here are just a few sports that will do wonders for your physique, (among other things!):

• Soccer is obviously great for leg and glute muscles, plus all the running around is great cardio for your heart. But what you may not realize is that soccer also gives your core and arms a workout as they keep you balanced, and your hips, knees, and ankles get stronger as they work to keep you stabilized.

Source

If you're a hockey fan who also likes to contribute to worthy causes, then this piece of news may interest you. Some NHL players will be using pink sticks during games scheduled for March 16, 17, and 18. Post-game, the sticks will be autographed and sold on eBay to raise money for breast cancer research.

Four hundred sticks will be in play, but an additional 400 sticks will be available in stores. Last year's effort raised over $175,000 and hopes are high that this year will raise even more money.

You don't have to be a professional to enjoy the fitness benefits of hockey. If playing this sport inspires you to get out and get moving, call your local ice arena or winter sports park to see if they have a local league you can join. Watching hockey is great, but playing hockey lets you get in on the fun!

Source