Sports
Winter & ice sports
Sports that need snow, ice, or a very convincing substitute.
Nothing written up in this category yet
These activities are classified and searchable, and the hobby finder can already recommend them. We have not written them up in depth yet.
Also in this category
Classified but not yet written up.
35 activities in the catalogue.
Alpine ski racing
SportGate racing in slalom through downhill, with masters categories that adults genuinely enter.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bandy
SportAn eleven-a-side stick-and-ball sport played on a football-sized sheet of ice.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Biathlon
SportCross-country skiing interrupted by rifle shooting at a racing heart rate.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Broomball
SportA team game on ice played in shoes rather than skates, with brooms and a ball.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cross-country ski touring
SportTravelling on skis over rolling country rather than descending pistes.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cross-country skiing
SportTravelling over snow under your own power, classic or skating.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Curling
SportSliding stones down ice towards a target, sweeping to steer them.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dry slope skiing
SportSkiing on brush matting, which is how most British skiers actually learn.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dry tooling
SportClimbing rock with ice axes and crampons, competed indoors and used to train for winter routes.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Figure skating
SportJumps, spins and edge work, choreographed and judged.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Freestyle skiing
SportPark, pipe and mogul skiing, judged on tricks and technique rather than time.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice carving
CraftCarving blocks of ice with chisel and chainsaw, largely a competitive and event craft.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice climbing
SportClimbing frozen waterfalls and winter gullies with axes and crampons.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice fishing
HobbySportFishing through an augered hole in lake ice, usually from a shelter, and entirely dependent on ice thickness.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsGentle
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice hockey
SportSix a side on ice, at considerable speed and expense.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice sailing
SportSailing bladed craft across frozen lakes at several times wind speed.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice skating
SportSkating on a rink for its own sake, before any discipline is chosen.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice swimming
SportSwimming in water near freezing, a governed sport distinct from ordinary cold-water dipping.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Nordic tour skating
SportSkating frozen lakes and fens on long blades, judging the ice as you go.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skeleton and luge
SportSliding a track head-first or feet-first, entered in Britain through a talent and taster route.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ski jumping
SportJumping from a graded hill to a measured distance, scored on distance and style together.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ski mountaineering racing
SportTimed racing up and down mountains on light touring kit, with transitions as a discipline of their own.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skiing
SportDescending snow on two skis, on piste or off it.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skijoring
SportBeing pulled on skis by dogs or a horse, which is two sports learned at once.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sledging
HobbyThe only winter sport most British people ever do, and the one nobody explains.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snowboarding
SportDescending snow sideways on a single board.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snowkiting
SportCrossing snow on skis or a board under a traction kite, which can climb as well as descend.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snowmobiling
HobbySportRiding tracked machines on trails and open snow, licensed and regulated differently in every country.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snowshoeing
SportWalking over deep snow on frames that keep you on the surface.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Speed skating
SportRacing on long or short track blades.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Splitboarding
SportTouring on a snowboard that separates into skis for the climb and reassembles for the descent.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Telemark skiing
SportSkiing on a free heel with a lunging turn, harder than it looks and defended fiercely by its adherents.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Winter camping
HobbySportCamping in cold conditions, where the margin for equipment and judgement errors narrows sharply.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Winter climbing
SportMixed snow, turf and ice climbing on axes and crampons, graded separately from summer rock.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Winter hillwalking
SportHillwalking in snow and ice, which is a different sport wearing the same boots.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet