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For many people, winter is synonymous with a lack of activity and usual hobbies coming to a halt. For others, winter provides an excellent opportunity to try something new, brave the tough weathers and take advantage of activities you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do during the summer.
There are of course the typical winter sports, like snowboarding and skiing. But then, there are those which you’ll probably never have even heard of, never mind tried. Familiar with skijoring? Probably not. Let’s explore that and other weird winter activities you can get up to.
Skijoring
This is skiing with a bit of a different slant. Originating in Scandinavia and Alaska, you’ll likely see this sport performed these days in Norway, USA, Canada and Russia. What was once a way to get around in the snow, has become a competitive sport, with tough races. In these races, you’ll be pulled along by a horse, possibly over jumps. However, there are people who also use huskies when participating in the sport recreationally.
Shovel/Wok Racing
Yes, it’s a wacky and straight forward as it sounds. What’s required? An icy/snowy slope and either a wok or a shovel which acts as your sled. By the looks of it, you’ll also need to pretty good protective clothing to avoid any serious injuries. Both of these sports can be enjoyed as they are, however they are actually taken very seriously by some, using luge and bobsled tracks.
Snow Kayaking
Another twist on the old ‘who can get down the hill the fastest’ kind of competition, snow kayaking takes the popular water sport onto the snow. Requiring the same gear as in the water, and a little added bravery at times, it’s a relatively easy sport to do. The hardest part is guiding yourself down the slope to make sure you avoid any objects.
Yukigassen
Not much more than an extremely well organized snowball fight, Yukigassen (you-key-goss-en) brings back some childhood memories. The sport originated in Japan and involves two teams battling it out in a very similar style to paintballing. You’ll usually have objects you can hide behind and need to complete objectives, like capturing the enemy’s flag. It’s not like your average childhood snowball fight though. Competitors will wear helmets and protective clothing.
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