Editing Winter sports

{{Short description|Sports or recreational activities which are played on snow or ice}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
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 | footer = Several winter sports. Left to right, top to bottom: [[bobsleigh]], [[curling]], [[figure skating]], [[ice hockey]], [[skiing]],  and [[snowboarding]]
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'''Winter sports''' or '''winter activities''' are competitive [[sport]]s or non-competitive recreational activities which are played on [[snow]] or [[ice]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?query=winter+sports&title=21st|title=winter sports, noun|work=Chambers 21st Century Dictionary|access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> Most are variations of [[skiing]], [[ice skating]] and [[sledding]]. Traditionally, such games were only played in cold areas during [[winter]], but [[artificial snow]] and artificial ice allow more flexibility. Playing areas and fields consist of either snow or ice.

[[Synthetic ice|Artificial ice]] can be used to provide [[ice rink]]s for [[ice skating]], [[ice hockey]], [[para ice hockey]], [[ringette]], [[broomball]], [[bandy]], [[rink bandy]], [[rinkball]], and [[spongee]] in a milder climate. The sport of [[speed skating]] uses a frozen circular track of ice, but in some facilities the track is combined in an enclosed area used for sports requiring an ice rink or the rink itself is used. Alternatively, [[ice cross downhill]] uses a track with various levels of elevation and a combination of bends. Long distance skating ({{aka}} "marathon skating") such as [[tour skating]] is only performed outdoors and uses the available natural ice from frozen lakes, ponds, and marshes. Tour skating at times includes speed skaters, though [[Ice skates#Tour skates|tour skates]] are more common.

Common individual sports include: [[cross-country skiing (sport)|cross-country skiing]], [[alpine skiing]], [[snowboarding]], [[ski jumping]], [[speed skating]], [[figure skating]], [[luge]], [[Skeleton (sport)|skeleton]], [[bobsleigh]], [[ski orienteering]] and [[snowmobiling]].

Common team sports include [[ice hockey]], [[ringette]], [[broomball]] (on either an indoor ice rink, or an outdoor ice rink or field of snow), [[curling]], [[rinkball]], and [[bandy]]. Based on the number of participants, ice hockey is the world's most popular winter team sport, followed by bandy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldbandy.com/newspost_7640.html |title=Bandy destined for the Olympic Winter Games! |access-date=17 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017132109/http://www.worldbandy.com/newspost_7640.html |archive-date=17 October 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Winter sports at times have their own multi-sport events, such as the [[Winter Olympic Games]] and the [[Winter Universiade]].

==History==
[[File:SCENEONICE.jpg|thumb|Skating in the 17th century]]
Snow and ice during the winter time has enabled sliding as a means of transportation, using sledges, skis and skates. This also led to different pastimes and sports being developed in the winter season as compared to other times of the year. Naturally, winter sports are more popular in countries with longer winter seasons.
[[File:Affiche_Davos_Jahres-Kurort_1560_m.jpg|thumb|1901 [[Davos]] travel poster]]
In the [[Alps|European Alps]], [[St. Moritz]] became a popular winter resort in 1864.<ref>{{cite news |last=Potter |first=Everett |date=21 November 2019 |title=St Moritz, The Birthplace Of Winter Sports |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/everettpotter/2019/11/21/st-moritz-the-birthplace-of-winter-sports/?sh=7f796e57330f |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date=4 March 2022 |quote=You can make a strong case that the origins of modern winter sports lie here, starting in the 1860’s with hotelier Johannes Badrutt, who welcomed a steady stream of well-heeled British guests to his small Kulm Hotel.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7UPqDwAAQBAJ | title=Travel Journalism and Travel Media: Identities, Places and Imaginings | publisher=[[Springer Nature]] | author=Ben Cocking | year=2020 | pages=9 | isbn=9781137599087 |quote=The launching of the Cook excursions in Britain (1841), the appearance of the first Baedekker guide (1843), the inauguration of a winter "season" in Saint Moritz (1864), the creation of Yellowstone (1877): these were the important markers of its growth path [mass tourism].}}</ref>

In the early days of the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]] there was not much differentiation between the summer and winter games. These confusions would span from around the late 1890s until the early to mid 1900s. During this time, some sports considered to be winter sports and played or performed during the Olympic Winter Games today, would be held during the [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic Summer Games]]. It was originally wanted to keep all of the Olympic sports together under one event and program, but due to environmental demands of some sports, it had to be separated.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Martínková |first1=Irena |last2=Parry |first2=Jim |date=2020-11-27 |title=Olympic Winter Games, 'Cold Sports', and Inclusive Values |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2020.1860942 |journal=The International Journal of the History of Sport |volume=37 |issue=13 |pages=1236–1251 |doi=10.1080/09523367.2020.1860942 |s2cid=233215108 |issn=0952-3367}}</ref>

While most winter sports are played outside, ice hockey, speed skating and to some extent bandy have moved indoors starting in the mid-20th century. Indoor [[ice rink]]s with [[artificial ice]] allow [[ice skating]] and hockey to be played in hot climates.

Outdoor winter sports will likely be [[Retreat of glaciers since 1850|severely impacted because of climate change]] in the next century.<ref>Bradford, Nick (2019) [https://www.neefusa.org/story/climate-change/future-winter-sports-and-recreation The Future of Winter Sports and Recreation] National Environmental Education Foundation</ref><ref>Bürki, Rolf (2003) [https://www.cipra.org/en/publications/642 Climate Change and Winter Sports: Environmental and Economic Threats] CIPRA.org</ref>

==List of winter sports==
'''''Note''''': the Olympic rings next to a sport indicates that this particular sport is included in the [[Winter Olympic Games]], as of the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in Sochi. The Paralympic logo indicates the same for a sport not in the Olympics but in the [[Winter Paralympic Games]].

===Ice skating===
* [[Figure skating]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Short-track speed skating]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Speed skating]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]

===Skiing===
[[Image:Jeremy Teela 2002 Olympics.jpg|thumb|right|United States biathlete [[Jeremy Teela]] at the [[2002 Winter Olympics]].]]
[[File:Salpausselkä 08.jpg|thumb|Ski jumping at [[Salpausselkä (ski jump)|Salpausselkä]] in [[Lahti]], [[Finland]] in 2010]]
* [[Ski Ballet|Acroski]] (no longer part of the Winter Olympics) [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Alpine skiing]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Biathlon]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Cross-country skiing (sport)|Cross-country skiing]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Downhill (ski competition)|Downhill skiing]]
* [[Freestyle skiing]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Jack Jumping]]
* [[Mogul skiing]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Monoskiing]]
* [[Newschool skiing]]
* [[Nordic combined]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Modern competitive archery#Ski archery|Ski archery]]
* [[Skiboarding]]
* [[Skibob]]
* [[Skijoring]]
* [[Ski jumping]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Ski mountaineering]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Ski orienteering]] 
* [[Snowkiting]]
* [[Speed skiing]]
* [[Speed riding]]
* [[Telemark skiing]]
* [[Winter pentathlon]]
* [[Ski-BASE Jumping]]

===Sledding===
[[Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-09740-0004, Oberhof, II. Wintersportmeisterschaften, Bobfahren.jpg|thumb|right|An East German bobsleigh in 1951, [[Oberhof bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|Oberhof track]], Germany]]
Sports that use sleds going down ice tracks or pulled by something:
* [[Bobsled]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Dogsled racing]]
* [[Ice blocking]]
* [[Luge]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Skeleton (sport)|Skeleton]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Wok racing]]

===Snowboarding===
* [[Alpine snowboarding]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Boardercross]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Para snowboard]]  [[File:IPC logo (2004).svg|24px]]
* [[Snowboard|Slalom]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Snowskate|Snowskating]]
* [[Slopestyle]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Snowshoeing]]

===Snowmobiling===
[[File:SnowmobilesYellowstone.jpg|thumb|A snowmobile tour at [[Yellowstone National Park]].]]
* Free style
* [[Snocross]]
* Recreation
* Cross-country
* Hill climbing

===Team sports===
[[File:Bandy in Medeu Kazakhstan.JPG|thumb|Based on the number of participating athletes, bandy is the second most popular winter sport in the world for men]]
* [[Bandy]]
* [[Broomball]]
* [[Curling]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Ice hockey]] [[File:Olympic rings with white rims.svg|28px]]
* [[Ice sledge hockey]] [[File:IPC logo (2004).svg|24px]]
* [[Ice stock sport]]
* [[Military patrol]]
* [[Moscow broomball]]
* [[Para ice hockey]]
* [[Ringette]]
* [[Rinkball]]
* [[Rink bandy]]
* [[Snow baseball]]
* [[Snow rugby]]
* [[Snow snake]]
* [[Snow volleyball]]
* [[Spongee]] {{aka}} Sponge hockey
* [[Synchronized skating]]
* [[Yukigassen]] (competitive [[snowball fight]])

===Other sports===
* [[Cold-weather biking]]
* [[Barrel jumping]] - (discipline of [[speed skating]])
* [[Ice canoeing]]
* [[Ice climbing]]
* [[Ice cricket]]
* [[Ice cross downhill]]
* [[Ice racing]]
* [[Ice speedway]]
* [[Snowbiking]]
* [[Snowshoe|Snowshoeing]]
* [[Tour skating]]
* [[Drifting (motorsport)|Snow drifting]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.athleticsweekly.com/0/admin/blog/cross-country-for-the-winter-olympics/|title=Cross country for the Winter Olympics|access-date=26 July 2016}}</ref>
* [[Snow golf]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Snow Golf|url=https://strictlysnowgames.com/snow-golf/|website=Strictly Snow Games|access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> (not to be confused with Crackgar, indigenous Kalash snow golf)
* Snow Bike (Cycling) 
* Snow Cross (Moto Cycling)
* [[Snowboard Cross]]
* [[Snocross]]
* Snow Polo
* Snow Volleyball

===Recreational sports===
[[File:Bonhomme de neige (MuseumBellerive).JPG|thumb|[[Snowman]]]]
Some sports are competed in (or simply enjoyed) on a more casual basis, often by children:
* [[Crackgar]] (indigenous Kalash snow golf)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1905171/snow-golf-means-joys-laughter-feast-chitral|title = Snow golf means joys, laughter and feast in Chitral|date = 6 February 2019}}</ref>
* [[Ice boat]]ing or [[ice sailing]]
* [[Ice fishing]]
* SheenAab Jung<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldsheenaabjung.com/ |title= World SheenAab Jung Federation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727013340/https://worldsheenaabjung.com/|archive-date=2021-07-27|access-date=2023-10-08}}</ref> (Jammu and Kashmir [[snowball fight|Snow Fighting]])
* [[Toboggan]]ing
* Snow bowling<ref>{{cite web|title=Snow Bowling|url=https://strictlysnowgames.com/snow-bowling/|website=Strictly Snow Games|access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref>

==Notable winter sporting events==
* [[Winter Olympic Games]]
* [[Nordic Games]]
* [[World Cup (disambiguation)#Winter sports|World Cup]]
* [[Arctic Winter Games]]
* [[Asian Winter Games]]
* [[Winter Paralympic Games]]
* [[Winter Universiade]]
* [[Winter Dew Tour]]
* [[Winter X Games]]
* [[Winter X Games Europe]]

==World Cup==
* [[Bandy World Cup]]
* [[Biathlon World Cup]]
* [[Bobsleigh World Cup]]
* [[FIS Alpine Ski World Cup]]
* [[FIS Cross-Country World Cup]]
* [[FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup]]
* [[FIS Nordic Combined World Cup]]
* [[FIS Ski Jumping World Cup]]
* [[FIS Snowboard World Cup]]
* [[Luge World Cup]]
* [[Short Track Speed Skating World Cup]]
* [[Skeleton World Cup]] (toboggan)
* [[Speed Skating World Cup]]
* [[World Cup in Ski Orienteering]]

==World championships==
* [[Ice Hockey World Championships]]
* [[Curling World Championships]]
* [[Bandy World Championships]]
* [[Biathlon World Championships]]
* [[IBSF World Championships (bobsleigh and skeleton)|Bobsleigh World Championships]]
* [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships]]
* [[FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships]]
* [[FIS Nordic World Ski Championships]] (cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined)
* [[FIS Snowboarding World Championships]]
* [[FIL World Luge Championships|FIL World Luge Artificial Track Championships]]
* [[FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships]]
* [[FIS Ski Flying World Championships]]
* [[World Figure Skating Championships]]
* [[World Ringette Championships]]
* [[World Speed Skating Championships|World Long Track Speed Skating Championships]]
* [[World Short Track Speed Skating Championships]]
* [[Skeleton World Championships]] (toboggan)
* [[World Ski Orienteering Championships]]
* [[FIM Snowcross World Championship]]
* UCI Snow Bike World Championships
* [[World Championship Snowmobile Derby]]

==See also==
* [[Winter carnival]]
* [[Outline of sports]]
* [[Outdoor activity]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* [[Edgar Syers|Syers, Edgar]]; [[Madge Syers|Syers, Madge]] (eds.) (1908) [https://books.google.com/books?id=v4k-AAAAYAAJ ''The Book of Winter Sports''] London: Edward Arnold  {{OCLC|4531800}}
* Dier, J. C. (ed.) (1912) [https://books.google.com/books?id=pAAjAAAAMAAJ ''The Book of Winter Sports, an attempt to catch the spirit of the keen joys of the winter season''] The Macmillan Company
* Jessup, Elon Huntington (1923) [https://books.google.com/books?id=VKEiAAAAMAAJ ''Snow and ice sports: a winter manual''] E. P. Dutton & Co.
* Cereghini, Mario (1955) [https://books.google.com/books?id=Azw_AAAAIAAJ ''Five Thousand Years of Winter Sports''] Edizioni del Milione
* Liebers, Arthur (1971) [https://books.google.com/books?id=eVkWAAAAMAAJ ''The Complete Book of Winter Sports''] NY: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan
* {{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/winter_sports/sport_guides/default.stm |title = Winter Sports: Sport guides |website=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=22 February 2010 |date = 20 February 2010 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Winter sports}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Winter Sport}}
[[Category:Winter sports| ]]
[[Category:Sports by type]]