There’s no doubt that the Winter Olympics have caused a rise in interest for sports such as skiing, ice skating and the bobsleigh over the last few months. Many people enjoy hitting the slopes and even countries that you wouldn’t think of as winter sports venues, like Nigeria, have got involved in the Olympics.
Now the team at Crystal Ski have searched the internet far and wide to come up with some more obscure winter sports that may well pique your interest. Here are just a few of the fun things you can do on snow and ice if you’ve got the nerve.
Skijoring
In the first place, we’re not sure why this isn’t actually in the Olympics. If you think that skiing along the flat and uphill is hard work, you’re not far from the truth. In parts of Scandinavia, US and Canada, Skijoring puts you on your skis but uses a dog or horse to pull you along. While it’s a lot less difficult than other activities on the list, it also seems much more fun.
Snow Kayaking
If you don’t fancy the skis, then you can also jump into your kayak and head onto the snow. Competitors in Austria can hit the downhill ice and travel at 60kph and it’s a fun sport to do either on your own or as part of a group. Snow Kayaking is also popular in the US and Canada.
The kayak isn’t the only mode of transport you can use, of course. In Mexico, shovel racing is a lot more dangerous and not for the faint of heart. In Germany and Austria, they’ve found another use for that kitchen wok – yes, you’ve guessed it, the shape makes it the perfect as a sled.
Yukigassen
If you like simple and easy, this is basically a free for all snowball fight with two teams of seven members pitted against each other. Less of a sport and more organised mayhem, it’s popular across the world, everywhere from Japan to Finland and Alaska.
Ice Driving
Finally, for those with an addiction to high adrenalin levels, ice driving is popular in Italy. Routes cover about 4 km and speed is the name of the game. If you don’t want your car to end up in the ditch, however, it’s one to avoid. We also don’t know how much your insurance company is going to want to cover you.
