Lose weight for spring: Ski, board and get fit at these five snow-country resorts - without freezing your butt off - Venture Out

Shape, March, 2002 by Carole Jacobs, Amy Goldhammer

So you're a cold-weather wimp? Forget about frozen digits and chattering teeth. You'll have a fat-burning blast at these five resorts - all with beginner ski and winter sports/activities aimed at helping you have a lowfat, relaxing spring skiing/spa getaway. You won't believe how warm-hearted winter can be - even on the slopes! From New Hampshire to British Columbia, these resorts offer snow-white workouts, high-tech health clubs, luxury spas, deluxe lodging, gourmet spa cuisine, even shopping villages. Imagine finally braving the chairlift, getting your kicks at "boarding school" or making fast tracks on cross-country skis. Or go dog sledding, tobogganing or ice-skating. No matter how you bond with the snow, you'll melt tons of calories. In fact, we've provided a chart so you can calculate your own snow-white burn!

Note: All lodging prices are per night, double occupancy unless otherwise noted. All instruction package prices are per person per day, unless otherwise noted.

1. Hyatt Regency Beaver Creek, Colorado

Beaver Creek, Colo., is the perfect winter wonderland for never-evers, whether you've never downhill skied before or swore - after skiing elsewhere - that you'd never do it again. Nestled in an evergreen valley ringed by the Rockies, the four-star spa resort is known for its ultra-tame terrain, excellent instructors and fabulous snow, which carpets the slopes November through April.

Beginners enjoy ego-boosting views and lots of gentle, slow-mo runs to get you to the bottom with your dignity (skis, poles) intact. For a cardio blast, try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Beaver Creek's full-service Cross Country Center, offering gear, ski instruction (skating and traditional) and guided treks for beginners ($49 for a half-day trek; $70 for a full-day trek).

Or twirl around the Olympic-sized outdoor ice-skating rink or head for the spectacular ski village. Lined with boutiques, restaurants, cafes, galleries and heated sidewalks, the village lets you power shop without getting frozen tootsies.

Indoors, enjoy a customized thaw at the health club (classes include yoga, kick-boxing, Spinning, etc.) or at Allegria, a stunning spa designed by fengshui experts to promote bliss and balance.

Info Hyatt Regency Beaver Creek (970) 949-1234 or beavercreek hyatt.com; from $320. Beginner packages: FirstTime Skier/Rider Series are $155 for a three-day training program with gear, group instruction and lift tickets. Beginner Nordic packages are $135, including gear, instruction and guided treks.

2. Cedar Breaks Lodge, Brian Head, Utah

Welcome to Brian Head, a sweet, one-slope resort located far from the madding boarders and fur-fringed fashionistas. From November through April, you can ski in your jeans and take your bumps in relative obscurity - what more could a timid beginner ask for?

The resort nestles in a beautiful box canyon overlooking Cedar Breaks National Monument, a red-rock wonderland stilled by snow. Novice cross-country skiers can take lessons at Brian Head Resort (details follow), then make tracks along the beautiful 15-mile Pioneer Cabins trail or follow the extensive trail network that loops through town, linking stores, restaurants and lodges.

Don't miss the tubing slope serviced by a rope tow - you'll feel like you're 10 again as you soar down the slopes on your Flexible Flyer.

Cedar Breaks Lodge, an elegant spa resort, seems to peek out from a canopy of snow. The lodge feels just like home the minute you walk in the door, except that at home you can't soak in a private in-room hot tub by a roaring fire or enjoy aromatherapy by candlelight in the deluxe spa. The resort also has a full-service day spa, small health club, heated pool, gourmet restaurant and espresso bar.

For a glide on the wild side, sign up for a trek with Inner Harmony, a yoga retreat/cross-country-ski center located in the wilderness ($75; 800-347-5633).

Info Cedar Breaks Lodge (888) AT-CEDAR or cedarbreaks lodge.com; from $89. Beginner Packages: Brian Head Resort's Learn to Ski or Snowboard, $69, includes gear, instruction and lift tickets; $119 for two days.

3. Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

With five spa resorts boasting high-tech fitness centers, and shops, galleries, restaurants, discos, a movie theater and a library, many visitors to Tremblant never get anywhere near the slopes. Thanks to the exchange rate, Americans can enjoy four-star luxury on a two-star budget with great snow November through April.

Tremblant Snow School's Magic Trax program will have you carving or gliding in no time. Or sign up for lessons in slaloming, mushing or ice-climbing, all available through the resort. Strap on your crampons for an adrenaline-packed day of ice-climbing, or try dog sledding, snowshoeing, deer-watching, sledding, tobogganing or ice-skating on outdoor rinks.

Stay at the Fairmont Tremblant, which hovers over the village like a storybook castle, or at the Hotel Club Tremblant, an old-fashioned lakefront ski lodge with antlers over the fireplace - and out the window. At twilight, herds of deer and elk mosey across the lake toward the lodge, as if they were expected for dinner. (Actually, they are on the menu.)