Would you like to discover a new sport during the colder months? Do you want to learn to practice new winter activities? We propose four that are super fun! Do you know them? Give them a try!
Winter activities you should know
Ski
It is the most popular sport in the cold season and also one of the most fun. Every year the ski slopes open their doors to welcome a large number of enthusiasts eager to cross dunes and snow slopes. Haven’t you practiced it yet? The time may have come, although we warn you that it can become addictive.
Modalities
This wonderful winter sport has some variations that make it even more fun. Some of the most common are:
- Mushing: it is a form of skiing or sledding that is practiced riding on a somewhat original means of transport. It is made up of a variable number of skis and a group of dogs that guide you through the snow. Mushing has a great variety of modalities depending on the elements used to practice it, the number of people or dogs. You must bear in mind that it requires a certain level and control in the world of skiing, so before practicing it we recommend that you practice traditional skiing.
- Biathlon: if you want to practice a more active type of skiing, biathlon may be what you are looking for. This strain is a super fun combination that combines cross-country skiing and archery . Its origin is in the hunting sessions that the primitive tribes carried out sliding through the snow. Interesting right?
- Bobsleigh : It is not skiing exactly, but it is very similar. It is a sport that is based on sledding . Its origin is in Switzerland, where it has become a very popular sport. In fact, bobsleigh brings together countless tourists year after year in this country.
Ice hockey: the most intense of winter activities
It is probably one of the most demanding winter sports. It requires a large dose of energy and involves considerable physical effort. Your players must use their full potential to snatch the puck from the opposing team. Ice hockey is one of the fastest and most intense winter sports around. Playing a game becomes an experience full of action and adrenaline. This sport is especially popular in northern countries such as Russia, the United States or Canada.
Cycling
Cycling is a sport that helps to exercise all the muscles of the body. Did you know that most athletes, especially skiers, practice cycling with some regularity? This is because its practice benefits especially the development and strengthening of the heart. In addition, it helps to strengthen the muscles of the lower half of the body. Cycling in winter through a natural environment can become a most pleasant experience. Cycling (as well as hiking) can become a perfect group activity to travel through snowy and high mountain landscapes.
Snowboard : the star option among winter activities
Snowboarding is one of the most popular sports. It is practiced in most cold climates precisely because it is practiced on snow. We could say, saving the distances, that it is the counterpart of surfing -star, for its part, of the coastal areas-.
Snowboarding consists of performing all kinds of stunts on the snow mounted on a board. To practice it, a table specifically designed for it is required. The ultimate goal is to acquire maximum control over it, developing the maximum ability to adhere to it. To achieve this requires great balance and considerable strengthening of the muscles.
His origins
The origins of this sport date back to the beginning of the 20th century. The inhabitants of the snow-covered mountain ranges needed to find their way down. It was then that they began to use rudimentary wooden boards. The slippery quality offered by the snow, especially on slopes, gave them an ultra-fast vehicle. To use it, they had to keep their feet attached to the board as much as possible.
However, the first official snowboard did not arrive until the 1960s. Its creator was Sherman Poppen and since then improvements have been made to his proposal. With the passage of time, it became a leisure activity and was gaining followers. Finally, in the eighties, the first official competitions in history were held.
Its modalities
Today there are different variants of Snowboarding, although three stand out:
- Freestyle: its purpose is more recreational than competitive. It focuses on practicing all the possibilities that a snowboard can put at our fingertips. Pirouettes, jumps, acrobatics …
- Big jump: the participants perform jumps from heights that exceed 20 meters. In their movements they execute variations and turns that should catch the eye of a jury.
- Circuits: it is practiced in facilities specifically designed for this, with tubular surfaces through which the participants circulate. Inside them, and using their curvature, they make surprising twists and turns.
