Too much pumpkin pie, too many chocolate treats and long hours lounging on the couch add up during the chilly winter months in the Northwest. More snow fell in the lowlands than has been seen in the past 15 years; that’s more than enough to discourage anyone from venturing outside. The cold, nasty weather can’t be great for your health.

Skiers and snowboarders, on the other hand, couldn’t be more pleased with the abundance of snow, although to everyone’s dismay it’s just another burden of unpredictable weather. Snow in the mountains can be intimidating to those who have never picked up skis or a snowboard, and getting to the IMA can seem like a workout in-and-of itself. But crawling off the couch to keep away the winter weight and brightening the winter blues is exactly what the doctor ordered.

For those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to keep themselves fit, the Husky Winter Sports club provides skiing and snowboarding lessons to students, adults and children. The club caters to everyone from those who have never hit the slopes to those at ease with black diamond runs.

For beginners, Husky Winter Sports requires participants to have their equipment before lessons start, but the option of renting at Snoqualmie is also available for experienced skiers and snowboarders.

“Poor equipment can cause one to have a much more challenging and frustrating experience,” said junior and club member Molly Barth. “Be open to trying new things that may seem scary at first. You will be successful.”

Along with lessons for beginners, Husky Winter Sports offers employment opportunities and training for students who wish to instruct.

Husky Winter Sports was established as an official club and ski school in 1937, although the club did not start offering snowboarding lessons until the mid-1990s. The school is located at Summit at Snoqualmie and is a program run by Ullr Snow Sports, which has been managing five local snow sports organizations for 51 years.

Downhill skiing and snowboarding lesson packages range from one single lesson to as long as six weeks. Starting the weekend of Jan. 24 and running until March 8, lessons take place Saturday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Group, private and private group lessons are available.

The price of lessons varies from $30 for a single lesson to $130 for a family private lesson, although lift ticket costs are not included in the price of lessons. The club offers custom and specialized lessons for an individual’s wants and needs.

The club also offers a RideShare program, which helps organize rides to Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain, Mount Baker and Snoqualmie Pass.

Barth first got involved with Husky Winter Sports as a freshman.

“My parents took me up to Tahoe as a child,” said Barth, who has approximately 16 years of skiing experience.

She said that the prospect of snow and continuing to ski was what drew her to Washington from her home in San Francisco.

“Skiing and snowboarding can be challenging to learn, but once you get going you’ll have discovered a whole new way to enjoy the outdoors,” she said. “You really work your whole body … while being in the beauty of nature.”

Barth explained that each day was a different experience when skiing because of the constantly changing conditions of the snow.

“One must adapt their skills to master a new type of snow,” she said.

Instead of making the long trek up to the mountains, students can head across Montlake and over to the IMA. With an extension of its Sunday hours — now open until 8:30 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m. — the IMA offers classes in practically everything from swimming to dance, along with the traditional fitness and the increasingly popular yoga. Moves that are straight from martial arts movies, such as tai chi and kung fu are offered in several classes. Lessons in tennis, golf and rock climbing are also popular options.

If your class isn’t available, the IMA also offers personal trainers.

Classes aren’t the only options near campus. The intramural sports program allows students to form their own teams; during the winter, students can choose from men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s, women’s and co-rec badminton and five-on-five co-rec soccer and co-rec inner tube basketball.

“The most popular sport this quarter is basketball,” wrote intramural coordinator Luis Bowden in an e-mail.

Soccer and volleyball are the second and third most popular intramural sports, respectively, during the winter. In the past, there have been more than 150 combined basketball teams, nearly 30 volleyball teams and almost 70 soccer teams.

Intramural sports push students “to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle and [are] an excellent way for them to release stress and develop friendships with peers,” Bowden said.

Reach reporter Ella Williams at features@dailyuw.com