Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a popular winter sport that involves descending a snow-covered slope on a snowboard attached to the rider’s feet. It was first developed in the 1960s and 70s and gained popularity during the 1990s.
With a giant culture of riders, snowboarding has been an Olympic sport since 1998. Here are three of the most important things to know about this adrenaline-fueled sport:
- Equipment: Snowboarders usually have a board, bindings, boots, and winter wear. One of the most idiosyncratic aspects of snowboarding is the stance that the rider adopts. There are two main types of stance that are known as “goofy” and “regular.” Goofy footers ride with their right foot forward, while regular riders lead with their left foot.
- Styles and Tricks: Riders use a variety of styles and techniques during competition and in freestyle riding, but the most common types are freeride, freestyle, and alpine snowboarding. Freeride snowboarders take on challenging mountain terrain, while freestyle boarders ride on courses with jumps, rails, and other obstacles. Alpine snowboarding usually follows a racecourse with large gates to slalom through.
- Popular Destinations: While snowboarding began in the US, it has gained worldwide popularity. One of the popular snowboarding locations sits at Niseko United in Japan, where tourists and snowboarders from all over the world come to enjoy the prime powder that falls on the slopes. Another popular destination is Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, and Vail Mountain and Breckenridge in Colorado.
Snowboarding Styles and Tricks
As mentioned, riders use a variety of styles and techniques when competing or freestyle riding, but the most popular styles are freeride, freestyle, and alpine snowboarding. Here’s some brief information on each style:
- Freeride: This category involves the rider exploring mountains, getting big air, while shredding down steep, powder-covered terrain. It is common on small hills to see those practicing this style.
- Freestyle: This style requires jumps and tricks on a predefined course that includes rails, jumps, and halfpipe. This style is more common in competitions and requires practice to get ahead.
- Alpine Snowboarding: This style is common in racing and on courses. The rider races between gates down the hill for the quickest time possible.
Famous Snowboarders
Snowboarding has become more and more popular since it was first introduced in the 1960s and 70s, and the sport has produced talented athletes. There are many snowboarders who have achieved global fame due to their prowess on the slopes. Here are three of the most famous:
| Snowboarder | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|
| Shaun White | 2006, 2010, 2018 Olympic gold medallist; X Games Superpipe Champion multiple times |
| Chloe Kim | 2018 Olympic gold medallist; X Games Superpipe Champion multiple times |
| Mark McMorris | 2018 Olympic bronze medallist; X Games slopestyle and big air champion multiple times |
These snowboarders have achieved worldwide fame due to their excellent performance and groundbreaking tricks on the slopes. It’s incredible what kind of talent can be found in this niche sport!
Hockey
Hockey is one of the most popular winter sports, played around the world on ice rinks. It is a fast-paced, physically demanding sport that requires skill, teamwork, and strategy. In hockey, two teams compete to score goals by shooting a small, hard rubber puck into the opposing team’s net using sticks. The game is played in three 20-minute periods, with a 15-minute intermission between the second and third periods.
- Equipment: Hockey players wear a combination of protective gear, including helmets, gloves, shin guards, and shoulder pads. They also carry sticks, which are used to pass and shoot the puck.
- Positions: There are six players on the ice for each team – a goalie, two defensemen, and three forwards. Each position requires different skills and responsibilities.
- Rules: Hockey has a wide range of rules, covering everything from offsides and icing to penalties and fights. Referees enforce the rules and determine when penalties are necessary.
In addition to traditional ice hockey, there are several variations of the sport played around the world, including field hockey and roller hockey. These variations have their own unique rules and equipment.
If you’re interested in playing hockey, many communities have local leagues and teams for both adults and children. Skating and stickhandling skills are important, so it’s a good idea to spend time practicing before joining a team.
| Important Terms in Ice Hockey | Definition |
|---|---|
| Faceoff | The start of play where the puck is dropped between two players from each team. |
| Power play | When one team has a penalty and the other team has an advantage of an extra player on the ice. |
| Slapshot | A hard shot taken by winding up and hitting the puck with a full swing of the stick. |
| Stickhandling | The skill of controlling the puck with the stick while skating. |
Overall, hockey is a thrilling and challenging winter sport that requires dedication and hard work to excel. Whether you’re playing in a local league or following your favorite NHL team, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a good hockey game.