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Ice Skating: A Few Useful Tips

Ice skating can be both leisurely and strenuous. While it can be difficult to initially get the hang of, in the end ice skating can be great fun and great exercise. If you’ve never gone skating before, you won’t be Kristi Yamaguchi the second you put on a pair of skates and hit the ice. You’ll probably fall on your butt a bunch of times, but don’t fret…it happens to all of us.

Ice skates are believed to date back as far as over 3,000 years ago in Finland. Originally they were sharpened pieces of bone that were attached to one’s feet. There was no real figure skating as we know it back then; these types of skates were mainly used for transport where people actually glided across the ice instead of skating. Bone would be replaced with steel sometime in 14th century Holland; these skates featured sharpened edges making it easier to move on the ice. Figure skating, didn’t really come into vogue until the late 19th century. As more people skated as a pastime, it eventually became more popular and evolved into a competitive sport around the turn of the century.

Skating isn’t just relegated to the winter months, some cities and towns have year round skating rinks, yet many could argue that there’s something really exhilarating about skating on a frozen lake or pond when it’s cold outside.

Finding the Right Pair of Skates

The first step is finding the right kind of skates. It’s important to pick a pair that are comfortable and fit your feet properly. Also, owning your own skates will make it easier compared to relying on rental skates, which can be very uncomfortable if they don’t fit properly. Figure skates tend to have greater flexibility and will fit your foot better than say ice hockey skates, which are usually heavier and more bulky.

Once you’ve got your skates, try walking on them (keep the plastic skate guards on while doing this, so the blades don’t get dull). Maintaining a balance on skates, is similar to riding a bike. Sure, you’ll experience some wobbling at first, but that’s normal. Your feet and body need time to adjust to the skates, so if you can balance yourself in this manner, you’ll have less difficulty when you tackle the ice for the first time.

Hitting the Ice

Like a skier hitting the slopes for the first time, you need to feel comfortable and familiarize yourself with how to walk and move on the ice. If you’re at an ice rink and it’s not terribly crowded, try walking along the walls so as to get a feel for the ice. There’s no need to rush things…you’ll probably fall on the ice at first, so go at a pace that you feel comfortable with. It’s best to keep your body loose instead of rigid. You should also keep your knees slightly bent while skating, which will also help you to move along with reduced effort. As you get the hang of it, you’ll find yourself getting a rhythm going, and negotiating will be relatively easy.

And while on the subject of hitting the ice, it’s probably not a bad idea to practice the proper way to fall. Everyone falls on the ice and if you should slip and try to brace yourself from the impact; pushing your arms out to break the fall will help cushion your body as it hits the ice. It wouldn’t hurt to invest in knee, wrist and elbow pads as well as a helmet as a preventive measure.

How to Stop on the Ice

Sure, you can start skating, but how do you stop? It takes some practice but the best way is to bend your knees slightly inward and then gradually push out either one or both feet. A little pressure will create some snowy residue and overall keep your feet from sliding out from underneath you and landing on your butt.

With a little preparation and practice, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to master the ice…so give it a whirl, if you’re up for the challenge.

Snowshoeing: While There’s Still Some Snow on the Ground

As winter is nearing its end and there’s still some snow on the ground, you’ve probably taken advantage of all the winter sports and activities that are available. But, have you showshoed?

You may think that snowshoeing isn’t in the same league as skiing or snowboarding, or that it’s downright lame. Surprisingly enough, snowshoeing can be great exercise. You can go at your own pace much like cross-country skiing, and still feel rejuvenated afterwards. Basically, it’s a great workout.

Snowshoes: A Little History

Not much is really know about who created the first snowshoe, but some believe that they date back as far as 6000 years ago in Asia. These were very crude and primitive, but extremely functional devices, made out of leather and wood; quite different from the style that we’re used to. The more traditional style, which is called ‘webbed’ originates from Native American tribes such as the Cree, the Huron, the Inuit and the Plains Indians. They were very practical and prevented ones feet from sinking into the snow. As different as the tribes were, there existed the commonality in that they all made snowshoes for winter weather.

European settlers in the US and Canada quickly picked up on showshoes. They were worn by fur traders and even British soldiers wore them in two battles during the French and Indian War near Lake Champlain and Lake George.

There have been different varieties designed since then. Shapes such as the teardrop, which resembles a tennis racquet and the bearpaw style, were and still remain, extremely popular.

Snowshoes have obviously been modernized and are for the most part made out of aluminum today, instead of wood. The aluminum shoes are very lightweight and have been around since the early 1970s. This variation uses cleats on the bottom to help grip hard snow and ice.

Different Types of Snowshoes

There are three basic types of snowshoes available on the market.

The smallest of the bunch are the aerobic style. Believe it or not, there are snowshoe races held through out the world. This type of shoe is extremely light, so if you’re keen on running, then you may want to try these.

The recreational are probably the most popular type. Larger than the aerobic style, these are geared toward people who want to take easy, moderate walks on trails at their own pace.

More adventurous snowshoers will probably use the mountaineering style, which is handy if you want to do some off trail hiking and climbing.

If you’re trying snowshoeing for the first time, you should invest in a pair of ski boots to help keep your feet snug and warm. Regular boots and thick socks will work just as fine, but ski boots will help keep out any stray snow should it try to get into your shoes. Trekking poles are also important, just as if you were going downhill or cross country skiing, you need to keep your balance and the poles will definitely come in handy.

Walking in Snowshoes

While you may think that snowshoeing is a piece of cake, you need to adjust your method of walking. You have these big, flat platters on your feet, and you can easily trip over them. It’s important to lift your shoes slightly and try to slide the inside of each shoe over one another while walking; this will help you avoid straddling as you walk. Your shoes will probably bang into each other at first, but, you’ll get the hang of it.

If you find yourself climbing hills, you can kick the front of your shoes into the snow to make a natural staircase which will help you ascend easier. Poles will also help you during an ascent…always have them with you! If you’re bundled up you may also run the risk of chaffing, so be sure to use some Doc’s All Natural Chafe Stick™ and some Doc’s All Natural Cool Weather Embrocation™ to help protect your face, especially if it’s cold out there.

If you’re walking on fresh, untainted snow, you’ll be ‘breaking’ a trail. It’s a workout as you’re creating a path from scratch and there’s a tendency to sink a bit into the snow, but you’ll be a trailblazer of sorts and will make it easier on the return trip and an easier walk for other snowshoers as well.

Snowshoeing has never really gone out of style. While it may not be as popular as other winter activities, it’s definitely a great way to exercise if you’re not entirely active and it’s also good for kids and families.

Weird and Wacky Winter Sports

Winter usually means cold temperatures, hot cocoa and roaring fires. It also means it’s time to get out and play in the snow. Most winter activities are focused around sports such as skiing, snowboarding, skating and ice hockey. While these tend to be the most popular of winter sports, there are many others that are variations of the more popular sports, some which aren’t as popular and some that are just weird. So, before winter ends, here are some lesser known, and downright wacky winter sports that you may want to try.

Snow Rugby

Rugby in the snow? Well, football is sometimes played in the snow, so why not Snow Rugby? While known as a warm weather sport, there are leagues in Argentina, Canada, the Baltics, India and even in the US that play rugby in the snow. There have been scattered tournaments throughout the world, but since the game is played in deep snow, these appear to be very sporadic. It’s not entirely clear as to when snow rugby really started, yet some games were played as far back in the 1930s. The coldest recorded game took place in Russia in 1978, where the temperature was nine below zero. Be sure to wear long johns if you take the plunge!

Bandy

Bandy is similar to ice hockey, yet predates it by at least two hundred years. While wildly popular in Russia (where its origins date back to the 10th century), it also has a following in England where it has been played since the early 1800s. Played on an ice rink roughly the same size as a soccer field, Bandy uses a ball instead of a puck. Players wear the same type of protective equipment as in hockey, yet in some cases the Goalie doesn’t have a stick and can freely use their hands when the ball comes within the penalty area of the goal. Bandy was an exhibition sport at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway and will be part of the upcoming 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. World Championships have been held since the late 1950s with Sweden, and Russia being the most victorious nations.

Ringette

Created in 1963, Ringette also bears a strong relationship to ice hockey, but, the difference here is that the sticks are straight and not hooked as they are in hockey and instead of a puck, there’s a rubber ring involved, which is used to score points when flipped into the opponent’s goal. Originally designed for high school girls in Canada, ringette is primarily played by women and there are leagues in the US, Sweden, Finland, Russia and the Czech Republic. World Championships have been held every three years, since 1990.

Snowkiting

While it’s considered to be somewhat dangerous, Snowkiting has great appeal to more adventurous types. An interesting mix of hang gliding, parasailing and snowboarding, snowkiting uses kites to skate across the ice, based on the direction of the wind. A popular sport since the 1960s, it has a tendency to be incredibly risky compared to other winter sports. While snowkiting equipment has greatly improved over the years, severe wind turbulence is the most serious element to deal with, so you should take the time to learn how the kites work prior to giving it a whirl.

Skijoring

Skijoring is a winter sport where an individual on skis is pulled by either a team of dogs, a horse or a vehicle such as as a snowmobile. Similar to dog sled racing, skijoring has over time become a competitive sport, with several competitions held in colder climates, such as Russia, Norway, Sweden and Canada, the longest being the 270 mile long Kalevala race held annually in Kalevala, Russia.

Wok Racing

Probably the most bizarre of all winter sports is Wok Racing, which was created by German TV host Stefan Raab in 2003. More media stunt than actual sport, Chinese woks (yes, the ones you use for stir frying) are modified into one and two person wok sleds, which are run on a bobsled track. In most cases the woks are mounted into a frame and coated with foam to protect against injuries. Riders usually wear ice hockey gear and wear cooking ladles on their feet…seriously! To make the woks move fast down the track, the bottoms are heated with a blowtorch. Wok Racing appears to be mainly a European phenomenon with tournaments held annually in both Germany and Austria. Perhaps one day it will be part of the Olympics.

And you probably thought sledding down a hill in a beat up inner tube was fun?

Some Valuable Snowboarding Tips

When you think of snowboarding, you probably think of going down a hill with your feet attached to a giant sled and no poles to help guide you. Yes, that’s part of it, but there’s much more involved. It’s a very different sport altogether that’s part surfing, skateboarding and skiing. Snowboarding actually dates back to the 1920s, and while it has evolved over the years, it wasn’t until the 1970s that it started to take off when manufacturers created the first professional snowboards. Its popularity gradually increased in the 1980s and it became an official sport at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan in 1998. The popularity of snowboarding has attracted professional skateboarders and surfers, and the many tricks involved such as twirling, have given the sport an extreme edge, making it extremely challenging.

Finding the Right Snowboard and Style

Snowboarding can be downright dangerous if you’re not properly protected (always wear that protective gear!) and if you’re not fitted for the right board. There are different types of specialized boards of various designs to accommodate different types of styles and terrain.

As there are different types of boards, there are also different types of snowboarding styles, like jibbing for instance, which is a freestyle type of riding that can incorporate objects such as trees, rocks, etc, much like in skateboarding.

While most boards tend to be heavy, the freestyle snowboard is often lighter but incredibly stable. Freestyle is where all the acrobatics come into play; it’s a bit like Jibbing, but even more extreme as more foreign objects can be incorporated into a routine. This will definitely come in handy if you’ve never gone snowboarding as it’s perfect for beginners. Freestyle boards have also been designed for the more adventurous snowboarder, allowing for such tricks as spins, yet their design will not allow for very sharp turns or fast runs.

Most snowboarders tend to use the freeride or all mountain board as it adapts to different varieties of snow and has greater flexibility in different types of riding. Freeriding is seen as an amalgamation of different styles that gives greater flexibility to riding on a groomed trail to a man made environment, such as a half-pipe or jump. This gives the board greater maneuverability for both the novice and the experienced rider.

If you’re venturing into more intense snowboarding, then you’ll want to give the freecarve board a try. Freecarve is a style that is more akin to downhill skiing, usually done on firmly packed snow and rarely involving any jumping, but hard curves instead.Where the aforementioned boards have a wider design, the freecarve is more narrow, which works better if you’re traveling at a fast speed. The design also allows you to do quick turns, especially in hard snow. Don’t try this board if you’re new to snowboarding, as these are designed for more advanced riders.

Snowboarding Stances

Before you even consider getting a board, you need to figure out your snowboarding stance. For example, you want to determine which foot should be in front; the left foot is called the regular stance, whereas the right foot is often called the ‘goofy’ stance. You can figure this out by determining which is your dominant foot as well as your stance width and stance angle. The width is the distance of where your feet are placed on the board; it may take a while to get it down right as will the angles. The best way to determine this is to consult a professional snowboard dealer and try out different boards and related equipment to get a feel for everything, as well as helping to explain things like balancing, edging, skating, stopping and traversing, to help you manipulate the board better with your feet and body.

Safety

Like any winter sport, make sure that you’re properly protected by wearing a helmet, goggles, wrist guards, elbow pads and most important: proper snowboarding boots as well as bindings, which help keep your feet connected to the board. Wear layers if you have to, but be sure to give yourself enough room to move freely…and have fun!

Swimming in Winter? But of Course!

When you think of swimming during the winter months, you probably think of groups like the Polar Bear Club who are known for their annual New Year’s Day dip in the ocean, regardless of the temperature. You probably think that they’re crazy for doing something like that…what’s wrong with them. Well, nothing actually, as it’s been done for centuries with some claiming that it actually has positive health benefits.

Swimming in cold weather can jump start your system, so to speak, but overall it’s a mental configuration of getting acclimated to the temperature of the water.

The Appeal of Swimming in Winter

Why? Because it’s there…and who seriously doesn’t like a challenge? Even despite the cold weather, some may just slap on a pair of swim trunks and take the plunge for the heck of it. Aside from the apparent “Hey, I did it!” appeal of winter swimming, there are actually many religious connections involved. In Eastern Europe, many do it as a way of celebrating the baptism of Jesus, while others claim that it’s a way of purifying the soul, which may be why many jump into freezing water on New Year’s Day as way to start from scratch.

How Cold Water Can Affect You

Ice cold water can be a jolt to your system at first. However, if you haven’t swam for a while, or aren’t in the best shape, it can have serious effects. If you’re not adjusted to the temperature, you can start to get cold and have issues with losing your body heat; your muscles can actually slow down causing weakness in your limbs.

This is one reason why you may want to limit the amount of time you actually spend in cold water. Hypothermia can occur when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees, which can lead to additional heart issues as well as respiratory failure.

You can also run the risk of shock, hypothermia, cramping and even heart attacks, if you’re not prepared. If you do happen to have heart issues, then you should avoid swimming in cold water entirely…the shock of the cold water alone could actually kill you.

If you’re not sure that this is for you, then you should consult a doctor to make sure you’re in the best shape for winter swimming.

Equipment

But before you turn yourself into an ice cube, be sure that you have the appropriate equipment for cold water swimming. In this case you want to get yourself a full body wetsuit, that will help keep you warm.

Most wetsuits are made out of neoprene and you’ll find overall that most wetsuits will have small bubbles that help insulate between the water and your body. Small traces of water may seep seep through the wetsuit at first, but the water will eventually adjust to your body temperature.

You also don’t want to get your head wet (although that may be inevitable), so it’s not a bad idea to invest in a neoprene diving hood which comes in a variety of thicknesses ranging from 3-7mm. You could also wear a diving cap underneath the hod, to help keep water out of your ears, with the main goal of keeping your head warm. Also neoprene dive booties (pull-ons are more effective than zip ups, as they can come undone and even rip your wetsuit) and gloves (also in different thicknesses) will be a great benefit in cold water swimming, with no adverse reactions to whatever strokes you plan on using. Then there is eyewear…nobody likes cold eyes; in fact there are several face masks as well as goggles that work wonders in cold water….it just depends on what works for you.

Even with these simple precautions and preparations, winter swimming can still be a blast!

Tea tree oil is extracted from a tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) that is indigenous to Australia. Contrary to what the name implies, it is not related to the plant from which we typically get black and green tea to drink. Sailors in the 18^th century did make a “tea” from the leaves of the Tea Tree that smelled like nutmeg hence the name “Tea Tree”. Tea Tree Oil has a naturally pleasant and mildly “medicinal” smell.

Topical application of Tea Tree Oil has been known for its anti-fungal properties for many years. In fact, several studies have indicated that Tea Tree Oil works as well as drugs like Tinactin for relieving symptoms of athlete’s foot. Additionally, concentrations as low as 0.5% have been shown to inhibit bacteria and concentrations of 3% can even kill the hardy bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Doc’s Skincare uses an industry leading concentration of Tea Tree Oil in Doc’s All Natural Chamois Cream. This provides you with a safeguard against overgrowth of grunge that can promote the skin breakdown.