Cross-country and downhill skiing are two of the best winter sports for overall fitness. Before you hit the slopes, it helps to know the difference and the benefits (in terms of overall fitness and calorie burning) of both so you can choose which type of skiing is right for you.

Do Downhill Skiing and Cross Country Skiing Provide a Good Workout?
Skiing is an effective cardiovascular and strength-building workout. It primarily exercises your lower body, but your core and upper body will benefit as well. Downhill skiing puts you in a semi-squat position most of the time which relies heavily on the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and gluteal muscles. Because of the lateral motion involved, the abductor and adductor muscles are also used. Cross-country skiing uses the lower body muscles too, but also emphasizes the shoulders, arms and back. Both rely on the core for significant balance and stability.

How Many Calories Will I Burn While Skiing?
Not only is skiing a great workout, you will burn calories while exercising. One hour of downhill skiing can burn 450 to 600 calories for an average 165-pound person, whereas cross-country can burn 600 to 675 calories (which is equivalent to running five miles or an hour of lap swimming). Both forms of skiing also build balance, coordination and flexibility.

What Is the Risk of Injury While Skiing?
While falling is pretty much a given during either type of skiing, downhill skiing is considered more dangerous. Treacherous snow, steep trails and ice can cause even the most experienced skier to get injured. Falls or collisions with trees or other skiers can lead to pulled muscles, broken bones and even head trauma. While helmets are not required, they are a good idea and can protect you from possible brain injury or even death. The dangers of cross-country skiing may not be high-impact like downhill, but falling over rocks, sliding on ice or becoming entangled with another skier are always possibilities. Both forms of skiing also offer the potential for frostbite and hypothermia.

What Equipment Will I Need for Skiing? How Expensive Is it?
Ski gear can seem complicated, but aside from warm winter clothing, there are just three pieces of equipment you need: boots, skis and goggles. Because the equipment is notoriously expensive, try renting it first. This will allow you to find what makes and models fit you best. Skis come in many different sizes. For downhill, generally the less experienced the skier, the shorter the ski length. Skip the poles if you are a beginner skiier -- many instructors now recommend that you learn the sport without poles, since these can become a "crutch." For cross-country, skis are typically lighter and narrower and poles are required. Skis can range from $300 to $3,000, depending on the quality, and boots average $250 to $500.

When's a Good Age to Start Skiing? What Fitness Level Is Required to Skii?
While skiers can begin at any age, it is helpful to be in good physical shape. Having strong, flexible muscles throughout the body will help you maintain proper form, stay in control on the snow and avoid injury. Strong lower body muscles will help support the forward movement of cross-country and the downward and side-to-side movements of downhill skiing. A strong core will help maintain balance, and a strong upper body will help cross-country skiers propel themselves forward.

More on Winter Sports for Fitness and to Burn Calories:

Skating Basics

Snowboarding for Beginners

Deborah Dunham is a competitive runner, 10-time marathoner, four-time Boston qualifier, triathlete, certified RRCA Running Coach and ACE Personal Trainer.

Snowboarding is an extreme sport that's been on the rise in popularity over the past few years. The sport's origin was inspired by combining the concepts of skateboarding, surfing and skiing. It officially became a winter sport at the Olympics in 1998. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), snowboarding first became to the United States in 1965 when Sherman Poppen bolted two skis together, and it became popular when commercial snowboards became available in the late 1970s and now snowboarding is the fastest growing winter sport in the United States.

Snowboarding for Beginners
Your legs should be in relatively good shape before you attempt this sport. A workout consisting of leg presses, lunges, calf raises and squats will isolate and build the leg muscles and hamstrings to prep you before you get on your snowboard. Plus, a snowboarder's body should be flexible in order to twist and turn without getting injuries. Stretching is key and practicing yoga is also helpful to limber up that body. Of course, walking, swimming and running will strengthen one's cardio abilities and endurance.

How Many Calories Does a Snowboarder Burn?
Approximately 10 minutes of snowboarding burns 88.9 calories for a 140-pound person. That's compared to 77.79 calories burned during a ski-machine workout.

What's My Risk of Injury in Snowboarding Versus Skiing?
Although people are susceptible to injuries in both skiing and snowboarding, knee injuries are most common with skiing as are broken bones, while snowboarding injuries are most common in the ankles, wrists and upper body, according to the AAFP. Ski helmets are commonly worn by skiers, while snowboarders shouldn't be without wrist guards in addition to helmets.

What Equipment Will I Need for Snowboarding? How Expensive Is it?
In addition to protective gear, (wrist guards for $8 and a snowboarding helmet for $50 to $60) a snowboarder should have boots (approximately $175 - $250), snowboards with bindings (approximately $300 - $400) and proper clothing such as a base layer, warm insulation, and waterproof outer layer. Plus, goggles (approximately $60 - $100) are essential on bright days to prevent snow blindness. Another option? Most snowboarding resorts offer rentals.

Are you worried that you'll get out of shape this winter? Don't be. Instead, follow these tips to avoid winter weight gain.

Skullcandy is a brand-name in music listening devices, including headphones, earbuds, MP3 players, hands-free devices and more. Founded in 2003, the highly-successful Skullcandy company was founded on the principle of creating portable audio equipment suited to an active, athletic lifestyle, with a particular emphasis on sports like snowboarding and skateboarding.

Skullcandy's products are aimed at action sport enthusiasts but have reached a much wider demographic -- appealing to sporty and non-sporty types alike.

Sold in over 40 countries worldwide, Skullcandy products are known for their unique, hip hop-inspired design and their versatility throughout a variety of activities.

Skullcandy headphones and ear buds are particularly popular, having been dubbed the "world's coolest ear bud" by CNN Money. Those who would like to purchase Skullcandy headphones have three options -- in ear, on ear and over ear to accommodate the listener's needs.

That's Fit has complete lists of gear to get you through your workout.

Maybe you're lucky enough to live where it's warm in February. Where I live, however, it feels like we're in the middle of a never-ending winter. I spent one day this past weekend at a sledding hill and plan to go back soon to try out the ice skating rinks and cross-country skiing trails. It's a pleasant change from my usual living-room based winter workout.

Whether you want to stay toasty indoors or you're ready to brave the cold, AOL Health has a list of fun winter workouts, including:

• Mall walking. Believe it or not, this can be a decent workout. Try circling the mall several times before slowing to a window-shopping pace. And be sure to check with your local mall; some have walking clubs and open the doors early for walkers.
• Dance. Whether you're just moving to some tunes in your living room, following a dance exercise DVD or hitting the club with some friends, dancing can be a great workout.
• Ski or snowboard. Both downhill and cross-country skiing are excellent sources of activity. And they're exhilarating, too!
  
• Snowshoe. It may look easy, but walking with snowshoes is an intense activity. Use poles for balance and cross over an open field or walk along a snow-covered path.

For more ideas, check out the full article on AOL Health.

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Skiing, skating, sledding ... whatever your winter passion, you don't have to give it up when the mercury drops into the "It's how cold?" zone.

Experts say that whatever your reason is for staying inside in the winter weather, the cold shouldn't be one of them. Exercising even in the coldest of winter weather is perfectly safe for most people. (Talk to your doc, of course, if you have a health condition like asthma or heart disease.)

Exercising in the cold might be safe, but that doesn't mean you don't have to adapt when ice, snow, and frigid temps strike. Forbes has several tips for avoiding wintertime injuries, including warming up, conditioning specifically for your sport, and knowing your limits.

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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.

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If you ski, you know that it feels like you're flying down those hills. But how fast are you really going? Twenty miles an hour? 40? 50 or 60 ... thousand miles per hour?

Now, I know there's a lot of gear involved in skiing, but if you're a speed demon, you should probably add the Silva S1 Speedometer to your list of necessities. Designed just for Nordic and alpine skiers and snowboarders, it measures ground speed as well as distance traveled.

"Utilizing advanced radar technology, the speedometer calculates your speed and distance and wirelessly transmits all the information to the versatile receiver which can be worn via a carabiner, wrist band, or lanyard." And that's not all.

Jack Nicholson has seen better days. Having slowly gone from hunk to chunk over the past few years, the former ladies man has been sporting a bit of a paunch over the last little while. But that doesn't mean he's become lazy -- the Hollywood superstar has been spending the holidays skiing in Aspen. And, at 71, he's certainly not letting age slow him down.

If he keeps it up, his paunch will be gone in no time -- a six-hour day of moderately-paced downhill skiing can burn nearly 2,500 calories, which more than makes up for the 200+ calorie Irish coffee you're sure to enjoy by the fire in the apres-ski lounge.

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Safety helmets have become standard gear for biking. So much so that people don't think twice about putting them on. But many still go zooming down the side of a slippery mountain without the protection of a helmet. It's ridiculous if you think about it. Even more ridiculous when you consider that there were more than 26,000 head injuries from winter sports in 2007, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Keep safe while sporting in the snow by following these tips:

• Wear a helmet approved for your specific sport.
• Protect your eyes with goggles.
• Wear appropriate clothing.
• Use additional safety gear when it is available (e.g. hockey pads).
  
• Don't drink before skiing or snowboarding, and don't participate when you're not feeling well.
  
• Avoid hazardous conditions such as ice-coated sledding hills.
• Use approved areas for ice skating, skiing, snowmobiling and sledding.

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Here at That's Fit, we're all about fitting in fitness during the holidays by finding ways to get the exercise we need -- even when time is short. It seems Kate Hudson is fanatical about fitness too -- she's spending her Christmas holidays hitting the slopes with her family.

According to Female First, Kate recently told reporters, "Every year we go to Colorado because we grew up there and we ski." Even her 4-year-old son is into the winter sport. Recalls Hudson, 29: "He [was] just zooming down the mountain and I started to cry. I grew up skiing, and then you see your kids ski and there's a freedom in it, it's beautiful." Good for Kate -- starting 'em young is a great way to get them fit for life.

Love skiing? Be glad you do -- five hours of skiing burns over 2,000 calories!

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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!

Here at That's Fit, we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

A few days ago, I asked you if you brave the cold weather to exercise outdoors. Many of you do, so today, I'm wondering how you exercise outdoors.

Do you have people in your life who just aren't satisfied with a jog around the neighborhood? You can foster your loved ones' adventurous spirits with holiday gifts that are as rugged as they are.

You can find adventure sport gear or accessories that fit any budget. Do keep in mind that certain items -- especially wearables such as helmets -- require a certain fit, so be sure to purchase items that can be easily exchanged if they don't fit correctly. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

For some people, the snow-covered ground is a reason to stay inside under a warm blanket. But for others, the white stuff is an invitation to be active and adventurous. If you like to backcountry ski, snow shoe, hike over a wintry trail, or go backwoods camping during winter, packing for your active adventure can be a challenge. Outside Online has some tips from the pros:

• Chris Figenshau is a photographer, but you won't find him in a comfy studio. Instead, Figenshau spends more than 100 days a year following elite skiers. Some of the things you'll find in his backpack are dark shades with side hoods, a pole with an ice ax to help when walking on icy snow, and he swears by the light and easy to maneuver Obsethed skis by K2.
• Victoria Jealouse, snowboarder, brings a quality thermos filled with hot tea or soup, lip balm with sunscreen, a first aid and repair kit, and a satellite phone. Though it may not be something most want to discuss, she also brings the Freshette, which allows her to go to the bathroom without exposing everything to the icy-cold wind.

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Feeling stuck about what to buy your sweetie this holiday season? Believe it or not, a fitness gift can be romantic. There's a fine line, however. Guys, if you buy your girlfriend a weight-loss fitness DVD, you are going to have hell to pay. But buy her a romantic weekend away at a ski resort, and you'll get a whole different response.

Fitness can be fun, and it's a great way to spend time together. So think about the different activities you enjoy and find a way you can do them together. Check out the gallery for some ideas.