Winter sports are activities or sports which are played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally such sports were only played in cold areas during winter, but artificial snow and artificial ice allow more flexibility. Artificial ice can be used to provide ice rinks for ice skating, ice hockey and bandy in a milder climate.
Alpine Skiing
Alpine skiing is a race between skiers, the mountain and the clock. Athletes must generally navigate a series of alternating red and blue gates down the hill. The fastest one through the course wins.
Biathlon
The biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It is treated as a race where the contestant with the shortest total time wins.
Cross-country
Cross-country skiing is a form of sport where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance.
Ice Racing
Ice racing is a form of racing that uses cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, or other motorized vehicles, takes place on frozen lakes or rivers, or on groomed frozen lots.
Ski Jumping
Ski jumping is a winter sport in which competitors aim to achieve the longest jump after descending from a specially designed ramp. Along with jump length, competitor’s style and other factors affect the final score.
Speed Skating
Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates.
Figure Skating
Figure skating is a winter sport and is competition between individuals or duos who perform figure skates on ice.
Luge
A luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first.
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four teammates make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sleigh.
Skeleton
Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled, down a frozen track while lying face down and head-first.
Bandy
Bandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks and ball.
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice and target area which is segmented into four concentric circles. It is related to bowls, boules and shuffleboard.
