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.

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.

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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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!

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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Do you spend your summer seeking outdoor adventures? Mountain biking on rugged trails or scaling the face of a rocky mountain? While opportunities for your favorite outdoor adventures may not be so numerous in winter, you can still get your adrenaline rush indoors.

Men's Health shares four amazing indoor adventure sports centers across the country. But you may be able to find something a little closer to home. For example, in my neck of the woods there's an awesome rock climbing wall at the community center, a rowing pool at a local rowing club, and an indoor skating/biking facility just a couple hours away.

And don't forget about all the incredible adventure sports -- such as snowboarding and skiing -- winter has to offer as well. AOL Health has 11 fun winter fitness activities to try.

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