Wuzzup, winter-lovers?! One of the coolest parts about living in the Northeast is getting tons of snow in the winter. Sometimes it even snows so much that school actually gets cancelled. And, you know what happens then? I get to spend all day playing WINTER SPORTS. Awesome, right?
If you’ve never had the pleasure of participating in some of winter’s finer activities (like snowboarding, sledding, and hockey—woo-hoo!), worry not, my friend. I have compiled a list of winter sports you just GOTTA try, and I bet at least one will be a perfect fit for YOU! Oh, and if you live in a place where it doesn’t snow, don’t worry—I didn’t forget about you, dude. I found ways that we can all play! It’s cool—literally!
Snowboarding
This sport is my personal fave because this is one of the most extreme winter sports! Snowboarding is really adventurous and fun—if don’t mind falling down a lot, LOL. Snowboarding can be pretty hard to get the hang of at first—so take a few lessons at a local ski area before you start plowing down the slopes. Also, snowboarders need a lot of equipment, like a board—duh!—and also special boots, goggles, and some really warm winter clothing. That may seem like a lot of work just to slide down a mountain, but TRUST ME, it’s totally worth it!
Cool Pro: Hannah Teter became the youngest member of the U.S. snowboarding team in 2003 when she was only 16! She won an Olympic gold medal for the women’s half pipe competition in 2006, and she also runs a charity called Hannah’s Gold, which sells Vermont maple syrup to raise money for people less fortunate in Africa. She lives in Vermont and started snowboarding to be like her older brothers, who are also competitive snowboarders at the national level. What an awesome family!
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Skiing
There are two major forms of skiing—downhill and cross-country. That makes it double the fun! If you like sports where independence, coordination, and practicing balance matter, skiing is for you, pal. Just like snowboarding, downhill skiing is good for girls who don’t mind taking a spill. Cross-country skis are skinnier, more flexible, and used to glide along on flat, level trails. If you like running during the rest of the year, cross-country skiing is your PERFECT winter sport.
Cool Pro: Julia Mancuso’s nickname is “Super Jules,” and it makes sense because she’s an Olympic gold medalist in the giant slalom (a division of downhill skiing). She also plays my fave sport—soccer—and sometimes she wears a plastic tiara while skiing. I bet Maeve would do something like that!
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Sledding
The coolest part about sledding is that a lot of it can be improvised. You can use a local hill or just your back yard. You don’t need special equipment either—just your coat and something to slide on! Katani’s sister Candice told me that at her college, they even use the trays from the dining hall as sleds! Maybe sledding doesn’t SOUND like a sport to you, but if you call it luge, skeleton, or bobsledding, you can win a medal for it in the Olympics! Cool Pro: Katie Uhlaender was the ONLY female skeleton “slider” on the 2006 U.S. Olympic team who competed in Torino, Italy! Her first winter sport was skiing (she started when she was only two!), but she switched over to skeleton in high school when she met a bobsledder who showed her how much CRAZY fun it could be. Katie also enjoys skateboarding, photography, volunteering, and… BATMAN.
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Ice Skating
Learning how to ice skate is kinda like walking on banana peels… your feet can fly out from under you at any time! It takes A LOT of training and practice to be a competitive ice skater, but if you like to dance and glide around the kitchen in your socks, I’d recommend taking a spin at your local rink. Maeve says that slipping around on the ice is the perfect way to “accidentally” grab your crush’s arm. Uh, I don’t know about that, but it’s still a blast to skate—especially when the rink plays cool music!
Cool Pro: Emily Hughes has been skating since she was three years old! Emily competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, and came in ninth place this year at the World Championships. Not only is she a great skater, but she is smart too—she goes to Harvard University!
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Hockey
Women’s hockey has been around for over a century, but the sport has grown a ton in the last 10 years! Hockey is kind of like the winter version of my favorite sport, soccer. But, hockey also involves all the skill and balance needed for ice skating. Sounds complicated, right? Well, it is, but it is also SO EXCITING! There is never a dull moment in hockey!
Cool Pro: Chanda Gunn started out as a swimmer when she was little, but then she got diagnosed with epilepsy (which can cause sudden seizures), and her parents felt like ice hockey was a safer sport for her with the helmet and protective padding you have to wear anyway! Now, she has been a member of the women’s U.S. National ice hockey team since 2002 and is at her best guarding between the posts (aka, she’s the goalie!).
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Snowless?
• Check out your local ice rink to see if they have pubic skating—it’s always winter there!
• If your community doesn’t have a girl’s hockey team, start one! Ask an adult to help you organize and tell everyone at school about your plan.
• Did you know that Jamaica has an Olympic bobsled team? It almost NEVER snows there! They practice using sleds with wheels, similar to a soap box racer. If they can do it, so can you!
Safety!
As with all sports, it’s important to use the right equipment and to be careful at all times. Trust me, sports injuries stink and you can usually avoid them in the first place, if you’re careful. In cold weather, always wear enough warm clothing! Frostbite is NOT fun. Here are some other tips:
• Ask a parent if you can take lessons for the sport you have in mind. The advice you can get from a teacher or coach is really helpful—all the pros take lessons!
• Use equipment that fits right and is in good condition.
• Take a buddy along. Never skate, sled, ski, or snowboard alone! Always make sure an adult is nearby, too.
• Wear sun block if you’re outside. The sun reflects off of snow and ice and can leave you with a gnarly sunburn!
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