Where to Ski And Snowboard - Skiing makes you happy, it’s official

Skiing makes you happy, it’s official

3rd December 2013, by Abi Butcher

Researchers in South Korea have confirmed that skiing does make you happy

Skiing and snowboarding makes you happy and is good for you — it’s official. Taking time out on the snow boosts your wellbeing, say researchers at a university in Korea — with skiers getting more pleasure from their sport than snowboarders.

“Applied Research in Quality of Life”, a study conducted by a team at Yonsei Unversity in the Republic of Korea, has shown that skiing and snowboarding has a positive effect on satisfaction and wellbeing — so much so that it leads to positive affirmations in general life, which can increase a person’s overall health.

The researchers surveyed 279 visitors at three major ski resorts in South Korea, gauging the level of happiness and satisfaction felt by skiers and snowboarders by measuring their feelings of pleasure, level of flow or engagement in their sport and the sense of involvement and satisfaction they reported afterwards.

The individuals surveyed were committed to their sport — spending an average four and a half days skiing or boarding at a time, though more than 90 per cent went skiing up to five times in a season. The respondents were split into 126 skiers, 112 snowboarders and 41 individuals who did both winter sports.

Hyun-Woo Lee, a researcher on the study, said even one-off ski trips had a positive effect.

“Adult playfulness can influence people’s happiness, while activities and socially convening around a sporting activity such as skiing have positive psychological outcomes and contribute to overall well-being,” said Lee