Winter Sports Unusual Ice Participating Participate Snow Objects

Many Americans like to participate in "traditional" (common; with a long history) winter sports, such as skiing, sledding, ice skating, "snowshoeing" (walking over snow with large, flat objects attached to one's shoes) and, more recently, snowboarding. But there are some more unusual winter sports that are becoming popular with "thrill-seekers" (people who look for excitement by participating in more dangerous activities).

For example, "ice diving" is the sport and recreational activity of "diving" (going underwater) under ice. Usually, the area is covered with a thick sheet of ice, so the diver has only one "point of entry" (where one enters something), which "doubles as" (is also) the only "point of exit." If the diver becomes "disoriented" (not able to navigate; not sure where one is), he or she could have trouble finding the point of exit. That is why most ice divers are "tethered" (tied with a rope or cable) to something above the surface. Ice diving is also challenging because of the very cold temperature of the water and the air.

Another unusual winter sport is "skijoring," where a person wearing skis is pulled over the snow by a strong dog, a horse, or a motorized vehicle. Sometimes this sport is complicated by "slaloms" (flags or other objects placed on a snow-covered course for the athletes to "maneuver" (move) around and/or "jumps" (ramps that the athlete moves over quickly so that he or she is in the air after leaving the highest point).

And some people even participate in "ski biking," which is like bicycling, but the bicycle wheels have been replaced with skis, and the bike is pointed down a snow-covered mountain. The sport is "growing in popularity" (becoming more popular and common).