Top 10 Most Popular Winter Sports in The World – [Ice Sports]

Which are the most popular winter sports in the world? All you need to know about the most watched winter sports is here.

Winter sports are most played in the cold season naturally. But ice and artificial snow has made it possible to play it in the desired course than finding a far cold area. Some winter or ice sports are very expensive because of their equipment prices and safety requirements.

Some of the countries of the world remain cold throughout the year. Snowsports are basically played more in such countries. These sports have been developed through the years from the initial form of different ways to travel on snow.

Today these sports are popular all over the world and some of them are also a vital part of the winter Olympic games. Here we have ten of the most popular winter sports that are liked and watched all over the world.

Top 10 Most Popular Winter Sports in The World – [Ice Sports]

1. Ice hockey

Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in America and Canada. It is an official winter sport in Canada. Ice hockey is also played in the winter Olympics.

As the name suggests it is something like field hockey but on an ice field instead of a grassy field. It is usually played between two teams of six players each. each player holds an ice hockey stick to control and pass a rubber disc called a ”puck” into the other team’s goal.

Ice hockey evolved from an 18th-century stick and ball sport. It was first played in 1875 with the present rules with some variations.

2. Curling

Curling is the next popular winter sport on our list of ten most popular winter sports in the world. It is an indoor game that can be played without the winter season because artificial ice can be used for it.

In curling, players slide a polished stone on a sheet of ice towards a targeted area. They make a path in front of the stone by brushing on the ice sheet. As fast a player brushes, the stone moves in the desired direction of the player.

In curling, players use specially designed shoes to slide and grip the ice sheet. Curling is also a part of the winter Olympics.

3. Snowmobiling

Snowmobile is also known by different names such as snow scooter and snow machine. This is specially designed for traveling on snow. Basically designed for traveling purposes but it has now become a popular and serious sport for players and fans.

A modification in the design has been developed after accepting it as a regular sport. The snowmobile was accommodating two people in the past when its purpose was traveling. But as it became a competitive sport, now most companies manufacture a snow scooter that accommodates only one person.

A snowmobiling sport usually takes place in a permitted area. You can not go out of that area without proper license and safety measures.

4. Snowboarding

Snowboarding is also a popular Winter Olympics sport. It is a recreational and competitive activity in which a person or player slides on a snow-covered slope with the help of a board attached to his feet.

A resemblance with skateboarding, sledding, surfing, and skiing is because of snowboarding’s development from these sports. Snowboarding is now a part of the Olympic and Paralympic games.

5. Sledding

Sledding is also a popular winter sport that is similar to snowboarding and other ski sports. In Sledding a person slides on the surface of snow by sitting on a small vehicle that is called a sled.

This is a useful method of traveling for fishing and other activities on ice or snow. The use of sled is very ancient in the history of man. In the start, man has been using it for traveling in snowy areas. With the passage of time, it became advanced in equipment and people made it a competitive sport.

6. Skiing

Skiing is another most popular winter sport that is liked and watched all over the world, especially in cold areas. It is basically the use of skis to glide on snow for different purposes such as transportation, recreational activities, and competitive sports.

Like many other winter sports, skiing is also developed from the use of skis for traveling or transportation. It also has a very ancient history as mankind started its journey through the snow. It has different types such as Alpine, Nordic, and Telemark.

7. Ice skating

Ice skating is also a popular winter or icy sport in which a person glides on a surface of ice by using metal-bladed ice skates. Its history is also ancient because man has been using different strategies to travel on the surface of the ice.

Ice skating is now a popular winter sport and recreational activity that can be performed on natural snow or man-made ice rinks. There are a number of other winter sports that use ice skating.

8. Ringette

Ringette is a girls’ winter sport in which two teams of girls compete. It is also played on an ice rick with ice hockey skates. Ringette is one of the most popular female sports in Canada right now.

Though the ringette is not part of the Olympics and Paralympics it is still popular enough. Sooner or later we can expect its presence in the Olympic games. It was developed in Canada and first played in 1963.

9. Rinkball

Rinkball is also a winter team sport that is mostly played in Finland. It is also played with ice skates on the surface ice. The sport is not a part of the Olympic games yet.

Rinkball was first played in 1960 in Sweden. It is a team sport that requires equipment such as Ice hockey skates (less often), blue bandy ball, rinkball sticks, and protective gear.

10. Ski Jumping

Ski jumping is also a popular winter sport that is also listed among one of the most expensive sports because of its expensive equipment and practicing requirements.

In ski jumping a person needs to jump high and long after skiing on the surface of the ice. It is just like long jumping or high jumping but on snow. The aerial style also matters in the winning of an individual.