What to do in the winter: icefish, snow diving and other sports
Text: Ksenia Obukhovskaya
The onset of cold weather is not reason to limp and occupy the sofa, but the best time to devote themselves to fitness, especially since in winter it is almost more fun to do than in summer. We are talking about ten classes, for which it is not too lazy to get out of the house, even in the cold.
Skiing
The most obvious and favorite sport in Russia. Even if at school a fizruk drove you through the nearby forest parks and remembering it painfully, you shouldn’t write off this sport. First, skis, like running, provide aerobic exercise - after all, the skier has to move almost without stopping for a long period of time. Hence, all the familiar advantages: increased endurance, improves the cardiovascular system, strengthens the muscles of the hips, abdomen and arms. In addition, it is a great way to lose weight, because during a ski trip you can not only enjoy the white splendor around, but also burn up to six hundred calories per hour. However, you should not forget about the correct and warm sports form, as you can freeze something too.
Where to do: in the park near the house, sports complex "Kant", slopes "Tseleevo", "Golden Valley".
Snowboard
If the conquest of forests on grandfathers skiing seems to you not too exciting pastime, you can always go on a slope or go to the mountains with a snowboard. During training, all muscle groups are involved on the board, the vestibular apparatus develops, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are strengthened. Another snowboard hardens the character and nervous system - the courage to descend from the mountain, I must admit, not enough for everyone. As with all sports, a side effect in the form of a taut figure will only be felt if you regularly snowboard. And of course, you need to take care of the protection and special glasses so that the conquest of the mountains does not end badly.
Where to do: school "ProBoard", club "Ermine", center "Svoboda".
Skates
Perhaps the most beautiful winter activity is figure skating. Of course, graceful pirouettes do not work for everyone and not always, but considering all the possibilities that nature has given us, never lazy can never get up on skates in our area. Skating trains flexibility, balance, helps strengthen the immune system and leg muscles. You can ride in the conditional Gorky Park on the district, and on the skating rink in the yard - everything depends on the desire to be alone or among people. In any case, you will have to repeatedly face a hard surface (perhaps not even one part of the body), so do not forget about protection. And a hat.
Where to do: skating rinks in Gorky Park, Sokolniki, "Planet of Summer".
Snowkiting
Winter version of kiting, which is just gaining its popularity in Russia. As you might guess, winter kiting is different from the usual kitesurfing in that instead of water skis it uses ordinary (or snowboard). This sport originated in the Alps in the 70s and has since spread throughout the world. Convenience snowkiting is that you can ride both from the mountains and across the plain - enough wind, sail or a kite, and all sorts of tricks are easier to do than on a snowboard. The only negative, perhaps, is that you need to spend money on equipment and sign up for classes, but we are sure that it is worth it.
Where to do: Schools "Windschool", "KiteClass", "Kite BRU", "Wind - yes!".
Sled
Not only a great way to remember childhood and a proven way to improve your mood, but also a rather useful thing: during descents and ascents, the body receives cardiovascular activity, cardiac muscle is strengthened and blood pressure is normalized. It is worth noting that the sled now is a very popular activism in the Alpine resorts, so you should forget about the constraint, take a sled and go to the hill he loved since childhood. And do not forget to take care of waterproof warm clothes, and then catch a cold.
Where to do: anywhere.
Buer
The most unobvious sport from our list, whose history dates back to the time of Peter I, when he had already cut through the window to Europe and saw there a lot of interesting things. The emperor asked to clear the snow in front of the Winter Palace and amused himself by cutting through a special boat on the ice in front of his house. Now it is not necessary to be royal in order to master the ice-bulls, you only need a strong desire to enroll in the club and fully devote your weekends and yourself to this business. A buer is a skating sailing boat, very much like a yacht. It is certainly unusual to ride it, but to learn how to manage it, you need to go through a briefing or even a course - this is not an easy task.
Where to do: sailing academy, yacht clubs "Emerald", "Baltiets", school "WindRider".
Eistock
Eistock is called Bavarian curling - it was born, of course, in Bavaria and its surroundings, that is, areas with a large number of reservoirs that freeze in winter. The game of ice stock is different in that brushes are not involved in it and, in general, the rules are much easier. The essence of the competition is that the participants throw sports equipment on the ice so that they slide as close as possible to the target. Eight people take part in the game, therefore ice stock develops social skills, besides that it helps to keep muscles of hands in good shape and improves stamina.
Where to do: skating rinks "Russian Winter", Moscow City Golf Club.
Run
Frost on the street is not a reason to stop running, we have already said. It makes all the muscles of the body work, strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and, let's not forget, burns calories. In favor of the winter run, you can bring a lot of arguments. For example, the frosty air ventilates the lungs and strengthens the immune system, you temper and lose weight much faster, because the body burns more calories because it is also actively trying to warm up. However, it is very important to get a warm sports suit and in general not to overdo it - if it is colder outside, -15, it is better to move to the gym, otherwise classes are fraught with pneumonia.
Where to do: one by one - in the park, or join one of the many running communities - “Moskva River Runners”, “Girl & Sole”, “Nike Running Russia”, “Mint Running Club”, “adidas Running”.
Yukigassen
If you didn’t suspect that a snowball game is called by that name, and is officially considered a sport, then we have news for you - this is true. It was in the Yukigassen sporting competition that the usual children's game transformed in Japan (a way to attract tourists to the Seva-Shinzan mountain resort) and became a team sport that was widespread in the snowy European countries: Norway, Sweden and Finland, and of course Russia. However, the goal of the game is not only to shower the passing snow, but to seize the enemy’s flag and capture it.
Where to do: St. Petersburg group Yukigassen promised to arrange something for Muscovites, but nothing prevents to organize the game by the rules on their own.
Hockey
Hockey is almost always associated with aggressive men and broken teeth, but we recognize that professional hockey is much more dangerous than an amateur game. To begin with, vac will require only the ability to stand on skates, and dexterity and endurance will be developed in the process - but until you get them, you will strengthen all the muscles of the body, both the lower and upper ones. Of course, it is worthwhile to take care of the necessary equipment and protection: it is clear that only a coward does not play hockey, but his teeth will still be useful to everyone.
Where to do: at the district stadium, in Gorky Park, hockey schools like "Ice Profy".
Photo: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, cover image via Shutterstock