Before you head off to the slopes or rink this winter, be sure you know the following things.
The rules of your activity.
First of all, before you participate in any winter sports, it pays to know the proper rules. In fact, not only will the rules keep you and anyone watching safe, but they will ensure that you can do as well as possible when competing.
There are some pretty weird winter sports rules you’ll need to be aware of as well, including that backflips are illegal in figure skating because they land on two feet and not one. Also, if your sport is ski jumping, it’s pretty important that you know you can’t touch the ground at all with your hands. Even if you do it for less than a second, you can still be disqualified! Lastly, in bobsled, you have to pass the finish line on your sled, which means you can get off your sled during the course!
What safety equipment will you need?
Next, every winter sports athlete should know which safety equipment they will need. For example, in skiing you’ll need proper boots, a helmet, sunscreen and goggles for starters. It’s also a good idea to use knee pads, a back protector and a transceiver so others can track your location in case of avalanches.
How to warm up your body before your activity.
Warming up before exercise is vital in every sport, but it’s particularly important for sports done in very cold weather. This is because cold muscles are much more likely to get injured.
The cold can affect more than your muscles.
Another thing that winter sports aficionados need to know is that the cold can affect more than just the way your muscles work. Indeed, it can impact a range of things from narrowing your blood vessels and increasing blood pressure to impacting the way medical devices like hearing aids work.
When it comes to hearing and winter sports, it’s a good idea to have a decent understanding of using aids during winter, whether you use them yourself or you have a teammate who does. Then you can be aware of any potential issues and get ahead of them.
Similarly, when it comes to blood pressure, staying/dressing warm and being more cautious as you move can help avoid any issues.
How to stay hydrated.
Lastly, winter sports lovers need to know how to stay properly hydrated. The issue here is that the colder weather can make it harder to consume drinks, and harder to tell how heavily a person is sweating.
You can improve things by making sure you drink regularly throughout the day, including hot drinks, which are usually easier to consume in cold weather. It’s best to take in some electrolytes throughout the day, too, and leave the alcohol for the apres ski, as it can be very drying.
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