By: Josh Pick, NCC News, Syracuse, NYPOPULARITY
During the long upstate winters, a new generation of people are discovering the outdoors...on snowshoes...dating back some 6,000 years, it's a winter sport that now rivals cross country skiing in popularity: "It's a lot like play--getting out and kicking up fresh powder," said Mort Nace, the director of a recent snowshoe race in Rochester. Justin Pedersen is a runner from Gilbertsville, NY who sees snowshoeing as a release: "Just getting out here--the peace and quiet--a nice escape from life sometimes."
SALES
Matt Belknap is the owner of Action Sports in Cortland. He says in a good winter, he sells between eighty and one hundred pairs: "It's the most popular thing I sell in the winter, compared to cross-country skis. More people are doing snowshoeing--it's a little easier."
EASE
Outdoor industry surveys show nearly 6,000,000 people will take to the woods on snowshoes this year...nearly double the number from a decade ago...the appeal, some say, is the simplicity:
"Oh, it's very easy! It's like wearing big shoes. It's nothing that takes more than five minutes to get comfortable on," said Alex Huff of Binghamton. Belknap agrees: "If you know how to walk, you can snowshoe."
AFFORDABILITY
The older style snowshoes have now become obsolete. Newer models are lighter and more durable, but they remain affordable for customers like Pedersen: "Skiing gets a little expensive, but snowshoes--you pick up a decent pair, get a little snow, you're set."
HEALTH & FITNESS
Health and fitness are for many enthusiasts, the number one attraction. A University of Vermont study says snowshoeing burns between 400 and 1000 calories per hour...that's 45% more than if you were walking or running at the same speed: "The health benefits are--you know--just great on the snowshoes. It's taking like walking or running and just multiplying that," said Pedersen. But, it's not just burning calories that makes snowshoeing so good health-wise: "The great thing about snowshoeing is that it's such a low-impact sport. It's pretty similar to running, but the one difference is the impact--because you're on the snow, it's not as great," explains Abby McQueeney Penamonte, a registered dietitian at Rochester Athletic Club.
RACING
For those looking for a little more, snowshoe races like the Mountain Top 6K are an option. Zach Rivers, 17, is a high school Senior, a member of the U.S. Junior National Snowshoe Team, and winner of that race. He plans to run cross-country for Syracuse University next year: "It works your legs a lot harder, works your lungs a lot harder. It's just much better than running."
When you add the health benefits to the affordability and relative ease of snowshoeing, you can see why it's becoming so popular.
Outdoor industry surveys show nearly 6,000,000 people will take to the woods on snowshoes this year...nearly double the number from a decade ago...the appeal, some say, is the simplicity:
"Oh, it's very easy! It's like wearing big shoes. It's nothing that takes more than five minutes to get comfortable on," said Alex Huff of Binghamton. Belknap agrees: "If you know how to walk, you can snowshoe."
AFFORDABILITY
The older style snowshoes have now become obsolete. Newer models are lighter and more durable, but they remain affordable for customers like Pedersen: "Skiing gets a little expensive, but snowshoes--you pick up a decent pair, get a little snow, you're set."
HEALTH & FITNESS
Health and fitness are for many enthusiasts, the number one attraction. A University of Vermont study says snowshoeing burns between 400 and 1000 calories per hour...that's 45% more than if you were walking or running at the same speed: "The health benefits are--you know--just great on the snowshoes. It's taking like walking or running and just multiplying that," said Pedersen. But, it's not just burning calories that makes snowshoeing so good health-wise: "The great thing about snowshoeing is that it's such a low-impact sport. It's pretty similar to running, but the one difference is the impact--because you're on the snow, it's not as great," explains Abby McQueeney Penamonte, a registered dietitian at Rochester Athletic Club.
RACING
For those looking for a little more, snowshoe races like the Mountain Top 6K are an option. Zach Rivers, 17, is a high school Senior, a member of the U.S. Junior National Snowshoe Team, and winner of that race. He plans to run cross-country for Syracuse University next year: "It works your legs a lot harder, works your lungs a lot harder. It's just much better than running."
When you add the health benefits to the affordability and relative ease of snowshoeing, you can see why it's becoming so popular.
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