There are many wonderful things about winter, whether it’s the quality family time, the holidays, or the snow. However, one of the most exciting things about winter is winter sports. There is a very diverse array of winter sports–from the popular skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating to skijoring and snow tubing. Many of these sports are showcased in the winter Olympics, which began in 1924 and takes place every four years.

Skiing is the oldest winter sport, with records of involvement dating back to 8000 BCE. Recently, downhill skiing or Alpine skiing has been very popular, originating in the 1800s. The first country to utilize Alpine skiing was Norway, and its purposes were mostly for military endeavors. The first ski jumper was a Norwegian man named Olaf Rye. He is best known for successfully jumping 9.5 meters in the air. Through time, many technological advances have made skiing a safer activity. Today, it is known as the most popular winter sport. 

The second most popular winter sport is snowboarding. Snowboarding was invented in 1965 in the United States by a man named Sherman Poppen. Poppen originally named what we now know as snowboarding “Snurfing”. This sport became wildly popular, particularly amongst surfers and skateboarders. Snowboarding was first introduced to the Olympics in 1998 at the Winter Olympic games in Japan. 

Winter sports have completely revolutionized the way people experience the season. Some people may look at winter and think “Oh great, it’s going to be cold every day, and I might have to shovel snow.” But with winter sports, you can make that time pass in no time and have fun doing it. Winter sports are also great for your mental health in a time when the sun seldom shines and the weather is often formidable. All of which to say, winter sports are a great hobby to try as we begin to settle into the colder months!