Calories Burned While Snowboarding

Snowboarding provides a good way for you to stay active during the winter 1. You can enjoy the snow and fresh air while getting some exercise. The calories you burn while snowboarding will vary according to your weight and the intensity of your snowboarding.

Average Calories Burned

According to Winterfeelsgood.com, recreational snowboarding can burn 250 to 630 calories per hour for a 110-200 lb. adult. Competitive or rigorous snowboarding can burn 700 to 1,260 calories per hour for a 110-200 lb. adult. For adults in the same weight range, 30 minutes of recreational snowboarding would burn 125 to 315 calories per hour, and 30 minutes of competitive or rigorous snowboarding would burn 350 to 630 calories 1.

Variables

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Several variables will affect the number of calories you burn while snowboarding. The more you weigh, the more quickly you will burn calories. The number of calories you burn will also correspond to your level of effort and speed. The harder you work, the more calories you burn. The above calorie averages represent calories burned during an hour or half-hour of uninterrupted snowboarding. If you stop to take breaks or wait in line for a chairlift, you won’t be burning calories.

Comparison with Other Winter Sports

The calories you burn while snowboarding are comparable to what you might burn with Nordic skiing, alpine skiing or snowshoeing. According to Winterfeelsgood.com, light to vigorous alpine skiing burns 352-563 calories per hour for a 155-lb. adult, and snowshoeing burns an average of 563 calories per hour for an adult of the same weight. Nordic skiing can burn more calories than other winter sports. While light Nordic skiing burns only about 493 calories per hour for a 155-lb. adult, vigorous or competitive Nordic skiing can burn about 985 calories per hour for an adult of the same weight.

Muscles Used in Snowboarding

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Snowboarding works a variety of muscle groups. You use your hamstrings and quadriceps to start the board moving, and your hamstrings, quadriceps and calf muscles to guide the board and make turns. Your core muscles, ankle muscles and foot muscles work to maintain your body’s balance on the board.

Off-Season Training

Work on your lower body and core muscle strength during the off-season. Include squats, lunges and heel races in your workout routine, as well as core-strengthening exercises such as sit-ups and crunches with weight and rotations. Stay in shape with warm-weather sports such as biking, hiking and running.