The Weirdest Winter Olympic Events We No Longer Play

People who live in nations that deal with ice and snow have come up with a lot more ways to get around than simply skiing, skating, and sledding. The Winter Olympics could have a bunch more events if they'd include those many other activities, like snowmobiling and dogsledding. Some of the odder sports have been included in Olympics past, often as exhibition sports. Remember skijoring?

Skijoring is a race in which skiers hang on to the reins of a horse (or dog) and get pulled along over the ice and snow. It only showed up as a demonstration sport once at the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where participants raced each other with horses over a frozen lake.

Skijoring is still practiced today with both horses and dogs in Europe and North America. The dog version looks a bit like a combination of two other events that have made the Olympics: Cross-country skiing, which is an official medal event; and dog sledding, which also appeared as a demonstration sport at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.

Even though it isn't an Olympic sport, skijoring still has competitions. Read about other snow sports that won't be included the Winter Games at National Geographic News.


Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 0 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"The Weirdest Winter Olympic Events We No Longer Play"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More