For many people it is an annual ritual, albeit an expensive one.
But now skiiers and snowboarders have a valid excuse to book a holiday - it's officially good for their health. 
South Korean researchers claim the pleasure gained from a skiing holiday is enough to improve a person’s overall happiness - even if they only get to the mountains occasionally.
The researchers claim this happiness can also have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.
Hyun-Woo Lee and his colleagues from Yonsei University conducted a survey of 279 visitors at three major ski resorts in South Korea. 
The happiness and satisfaction of skiers and snowboarders were determined by assessing their sense of pleasure, their level of engagement in the activity, and the sense of satisfaction they reported after venturing out onto the slopes. 
Of the volunteers, 45 per cent skied, 40 per cent were snowboarders and 15 per cent participated in both activities.
Respondents spent an average of four and a half days at a resort, while more than 90 per cent visited ski resorts fewer than five times in a season.
The skiers who got the most benefits were those who became most involved in the skiing and who forgot everything else in their lives while they were on the slopes.
The researchers found that even a one off ski trip had a positive impact on participants.
Respondents spent an average of four and a half days at a resort, while more than 90 per cent visited ski resorts fewer than five times in a season.
The skiers who got the most benefits were those who became most involved in the skiing and who forgot everything else in their lives while they were on the slopes.
The researchers found that even a one off ski trip had a positive impact on participants.