While just getting outside in the winter is enough to take advantage of the fresh air, why not take a cold dip, do some backcountry snowboarding or grab some snow polo to boost endorphins and energy levels?
After years of pandemic lounging, many people are willing to not only get outside in the winter, but to stay there for a while. Resist the Swedish sense of hygge and embrace the Norwegian philosophy of ‘friluftsliv’: enjoying the outdoors, regardless of the season, the weather forecast, your age or physical condition.
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The phrase was coined in the 1850s by Henrik Ibsen, who used “friluftsliv” to describe the value of spending time in remote places for spiritual and physical well-being. Fast forward to today, when nine out of 10 Norwegians say they are interested in the “friluftsliv,” according to Bente Lier, the secretary general of Norsk Friluftsliv, a group of 18 Norwegian outdoor organizations.
Breathing in the great cold is a habit in many places. In snowy Finland, more children are spending time in forest schools to gain a better understanding of nature and increase their physical and mental well-being.
For those who would like to explore the icy nature, travel and equipment are not necessarily necessary: a walk through the snow in the forest, a winter picnic, a dip in cold water, a game of beach football or yoga in the park are some examples. of the possibilities.
Heartfelt exercisers gravitate toward snowshoeing, cold-water surfing, outdoor swimming, or skiing at resorts without ski lifts, like Bluebird Backcountry in Kremmling, Colorado. People rely on human power and walk their way to the top via preset skin tracks. Skiers and snowboarders can rent backcountry equipment and take lessons at the base. Instructors and guides are on hand for backcountry and avalanche education.
More intrepid skiers head to Tuckerman’s Ravine on the southeast side of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. The challenge is not only the difficult descent, but also the two-hour trek to reach the top. In Colorado, backcountry skiers can be found near Rabbit Ears Pass and Steamboat Springs, even under moonlight, or along the Berthoud Pass trails in the front range of the Rocky Mountains.
After a decline in interest due to COVID-19 and waning winters, Nordic Blowfish Alpine Adventures is seeing an increase in people looking to take cross-country skiing lessons and trips, said director of operations Keith Jenns, who attributed that more to lifestyle changes. Then something else.
China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has launched a two-year plan to encourage more than 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports. And around the world there are beaches that seem built for winter surfing, including Pichilemu, Chile; Thurso, Scotland; the Aleutian Islands in Alaska; The correct point of Ireland; Cornwall’s Polzeath Beach and Hoddevik, Norway. In the United States, the intrepid need not be so zealous and hit the waves by taking the subway to Far Rockaway, taking a dip along the New England coast or taking a road trip along California’s Highway 1.
The Saint Moritz Snow Polo World Cup started in 1985 and now attracts more than 25,000 spectators during the weekend-long event, held on the frozen lake from January 26 to 28. Attendance spiked after the pandemic, with many people eager to get outside and reconnect with friends.
The event, a major economic shock for Angeline, generates approximately CHF 22 million or almost $24.9 million for Saint Moritz and the rest of the Engadine Valley. Reservations for hotels in the area are already almost fully booked, especially the tonier destinations, since polo has become somewhat chic again, according to Katja Grauwiler, the event’s communications and media director. The pologala at Badrutt Palace is already sold out, she said. However, admission to the three-day event is free. Many visitors stretch out the day by walking on a frozen lake with friends or heading to Polo Village for a hot toddy or meal.
“The best players in the world come. It’s spectacular to watch. It can be very intense – rough and tough,” she said of the event. “The whole combination of the location and the excitement of the game attracts all guests – from locals to super VIPs.”
From a fashion point of view, there is plenty of low-key luxury in Saint Moritz from high-fashion brands and skiwear. Fur is no longer mainstream as younger generations emerge in luxury skiwear from Fendi, Armani and trendy brands like Mackage, which sponsors one of our teams, Grauwiler said. “What is special is that people still dress up in the evening, especially in the five-star hotels and good restaurants. You see a lot of beautiful jewelry, watches, evening wear and cocktail dresses.”
Cold is also trendy in the wellness space, according to cold weather specialist and founder of the Ice Cold Club, Lauren Schramm, who takes a daily three-minute cold dip.
Spending more time outside in the winter builds resilience in your mind, body and nervous system, she said. “Through purposeful stress, you can condition your nervous system to get out of that fight, flight or freeze state and into a more neutral state,” Schramm said, adding that such decompression skills can then be used in everyday life. , instead of overreacting to everyday annoyances or random encounters.
The Brooklynite, who is also a global Nike trainer, also leads cold diving workshops for 30 people. Even after three and a half years of cold diving, the experience is still not something she looks forward to, but the post-dive dopamine rush, blast of endorphins and general feeling of calm make it worth it, she said.
Schramm became hooked after taking a Wim Hof workshop with a coach she still works with, who ironically is from Miami. To broaden her base, the trainer is looking for a location in Brooklyn to offer more cold plunge pools and saunas.
Instead of shying away from going outside in the colder months, people just need adequate clothing, such as the right gloves and cozy socks, she said.
“Most of the things you do in the summer, you can do in the winter,” she said. “It’s important that you get started early in the season, do the things you like to do and play the sports you like, so that your body can acclimatize to that. You don’t want to start in the middle of January.”
Open water swimming, including in cold water (where temperatures can drop as low as 33.8 Fahrenheit) became very popular during the pandemic and “it’s here to stay,” said Borut Strel of Strel Swimming Adventures. He runs the swimming holiday company together with his father Martin, holder of the Guinness Book of World Records, the only man to have swum in the Amazon, Yangtze, Paraná, Mississippi and Danube rivers.
Strel-hosted swimmers cover three to three and a half miles every day, with Turkey, Croatia and Mexico being the most popular locations. There is also interest in trips to Slovenia, where the rivers can be fresher, Borut Strel said. “Most people live somewhere where they can try open water swimming. You have to be ready for an adventure. Every outdoor swim is different, even if you do it in the same place. It is important to be aware of safety factors such as weather, tides, boat traffic and marine life. Know your limits. Enjoy it recreationally and combine open water swimming with swimming exercises in the pool.”
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