Top Weird Wintertime Sports

Winter is certainly one of those times of year that you can start to feel a bit of cabin fever from being snowed in. While there are plenty of traditional sports that cure the wintertime blues, there are still several stones left un-turned. When sledding and building snow forts becomes too boring, consider a few of the strangest snow sports in order to add some spice to your icy routine.

The figure skaters we are accustomed to seeing on the ice are graceful and dressed like ballerinas. However,full contact figure skatingwill remind you of what ninjas would do if they were wearing ice skates. Not unlike the1994 brawlbetween Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, this is a form of mixed martial arts gone wrong.

While this is certainly a weird sport, is it a real sport? Absolutely not. Instead, it is commonly referenced on the internet due to avideo gamecalled Gooch Grundy's X-Decathlon. This may be an inspiration to many, but playing with weapons while figure skating might not be the safest way to spend your Christmas break.

If you are one of the many Americans suffering from the downturned economy, there is still hope for your wintertime sports equipment budget. Instead of investing in luge and sledding equipment, consider using a regular shovel in order to take on the slopes. This certainly seems like aterrible idea, but consider that there is a grand prize involved.

Held almost every February since 1973, theAngel Fire Resorthosts the Shovel Race Championships and awards the cash prizes. Definitely considered an extreme sport, John "Shovelmeister" Strader was seriously injured at the Winter X Games in 1997. According to theWall Street Journal, his injuries were so bad that it caused him to declare bankruptcy.

If your dogs are sitting around and getting fat during this snowy winter, why not take them up on their pleas to go outside and play in the snow? As a matter of fact, if you are looking for a sustainable way to commute to work, consider using your dogs for skijorring. This sport is your basic dog sledding activity that uses skis instead of a sled.

Based on the Norwegian skikj?ring, you can also pull your skis with a motorcycle, ATV, or horses. This is certainly a lot of fun to do on your local hills and also has a contest you can enter. Held each year in City of Lakes Loppet, Minnesota, theSkijor USA National Skijoring Championshipis a 14K race led by dogs.

Who needs a lake for kneeboarding?

For some athletes, winter is simply a continuation of summer sports. This is especially true for water skiing activities that are transferred to land. Although it is classified as a new winter sport, online evidence shows that this form of kneeboarding in the snow has been filmed since2007.

Making headway in places likeColorado Springs, redneck kneeboarding uses the kneeboard but skips out on using the boat. Instead of a boat, it is common to use an ATV or motorcycle. One of the main challenges of this budding form of athleticism is trying to figure out how to do all of the tricks. While this board sport is still being perfected, it is a lot of fun to watch attempts at the Macisini, roadkill,jumps, and the frontroll.

As with any weird snow-related sport, always be sure to wear protective gear such as goggles and a helmet before you hit the slopes.

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