If the sun disappearing behind the horizon earlier each night has you feeling blue, don’t despair. Winter doesn’t have to be six months of being holed up in the house. In a country that spends a good chunk of the year under snow, it makes sense to embrace winter rather than fight it.

Consider skiing or boarding, for instance. Good for the whole family, these snow sports are great ways to keep fit through the winter and get some cold, fresh air.

“Our winters are so long and severe – so you’ve got to do something,” says Edmonton ski shop owner Jim Hillman. “You could hole up inside, but that’s just craziness to me!”

Hillman understands the allure of skiing and riding. After being hooked on the sport for years, he and Alex Messinis took over Sundance Ski and Snowboard in 2009.

Since taking over the store, the pair have added big mountain skis, additional clothing, cross country and touring product.

Messinis’s love of road trips and the mountains sealed the ski deal for her in her adolescence. “Once you get into it you don’t really get out,” she says.

They both assert that skiing is a life sport. And that’s the way it is for me. Growing up, I looked forward to family ski trips to the mountains. Now my husband, Mike, and I are sharing our love of the sport with our two kids, who started at age 2 and who are now in a racing program

Hillman points out some tiny skis on the wall and notes that customers range from 2 to 95.

Even when my daughter was just four months old, I was able to do a few runs. We’ve found that it’s a lifelong sport we can do together. It gets us outside in the season’s darkest, coldest months, binds us together as a family, and connects to the wintry world.

Getting the family ready

Equipment: If you have kids, now’s a good time to head to stores for used gear.

Tune-ups: Have skis waxed, edges sharpened, and bindings checked. This will help your gear work the way it’s meant to and will prevent frustration.

Binding adjustments. If kids have new boots but are keeping the same skis, be sure to have the bindings adjusted and checked so that they will release the way they are meant to. Also, if kids have grown a ton, adjustments to the bindings might need to be made based on weight and height.

Outerwear: Be sure to get kids outfitted with warm, comfortable gear and outerwear. Nothing shuts down a ski day faster than cold, crabby kids. For specific outerwear needs, like bib pants, act fast as these specialty items sell out quickly.

Helmets: The Canadian Ski Council reports helmet usage by skiers and riders has increased for the last four seasons. An annual survey conducted by the council showed usage increased from 67 per cent of all skiers and riders in 2006 to 71 per cent in 2010.

The right gear: Each skier has different requirements, and the right gear makes all the difference in the enjoyment of the sport and the learning curve at any level.

Lessons: Messinis and Hillman recommend taking lessons, believing beginners learn better in a student-teacher environment. And there’s the harmony factor, in a family, couple, or between friends. Qualified teachers are also up-to-date on the gear and how it works on the mountain. All this sets students up for success.

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