I always thought that Alanis Morissette had the definition of “ironic” a bit wrong. ”A black fly in your chardonnay” or “rain on your wedding day” aren’t  really ironic, Alanis. I would categorise them as Just Plain Annoying.

What I do think is ironic is that one of the best ways to get a bikini body is in the snow…

This ground-breaking revelation came to me as I was watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. My husband and I have just got back from skiing in Austria and while we were there it was clear that – particularly with Olympic fever running through the ski town of St Anton - Europeans take their winter sports very seriously indeed. Here’s a travel tip for you: when travelling in Europe, don’t joke about the sport of Curling. Sweeping ice with a kitchen broom is serious business in that part of the world.  

And they're off! This is the start of a 30km classic cross country race at 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Curling aside, when it comes to Winter Olympic sports, none is treated with more reverence than cross country skiing.

Admittedly the European fascination with the sport is probably bestowed for very different reasons than my own. My German is particularly remedial which made deciphering what the Austrian commentators were saying difficult. I assume they were congratulating the cross country atheletes on their slick skiing style, their tremendous skill at staying upright, their fabulous fitness and their impressive power. I, on the other hand, was more interested in how they get their bods looking so smokin’ hot.

The commentators and I are all on the same page in one respect though. This sport, which involves very light skis and lots of Lycra, also requires a tonne of calorie burning.  We’re all very impressed at these cross country skiers’ ability to subject themselves to such obvious physical pain. Very. 

Cross country skiing is regarded as one of the best ways going to nuke calories, and cross country athletes are known to be amongst the fittest people in the world. Why? It’s simple maths; cross country skiing uses both the arms and legs at the same time. Throw a few hills and some tricky turns in there and the body goes into energy-burning overdrive.

Spend a vigorous hour on the langlaufing skis and you can burn around 1000 calories. That’s the equivalent of so many glasses of chardonnay, you won’t even able to see the fly, Alanis. 

And it got me thinking as wave after wave of enviously sublime bodies – both men and women’s – scooted past my television, that this really is the kind of sport a girl should do to get bikini ready. Not only does it give you near superhuman strength (read flat stomach, sculpted arms and a sexy back), it also goes a long way to smooth out those hard-to-tone thighs and bottom. 

15kms down and Marit Bjorgen is still smiling. Gold.

If you want some inspiration Google superstar Marit Bjoergen who won three gold, one silver and a bronze for Norway at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. That’s cross country royalty right there. 

So what I’m thinking is that this winter, instead of sitting on the couch and watching DVDs while we mindlessly scoff down Toblerone (who me?), we should all be getting onto the cross country skis and enjoying  a jump start on the beach look.

Want to give it a go? Mt Buller offers cross country skiing. Check it out here. So does Perisher Blue. See here.

Ok, it’s 30C outside, I know. Perfect chardy weather really. 

Sal xx