Skiing. Sports - Pros and Cons Pros of Skiing

All winter sports are undoubtedly very healthy. They strengthen and heal, give energy and joy to life. Which winter sport should you choose: trendy skiing or classic skiing? In the article you will find information on the health effects of downhill and cross-country skiing. Comparing the two sports will help you choose the best one.

In recent years, Europe and Russia have been "covered" by a wave of fashion for alpine skiing. Many do not even think about the impact of this sport on health and the existence of worthy alternatives. The commercial racing of downhill skiing and snowboarding requires huge amounts of money every year for equipment and the use of mountain trails. Meanwhile, the good old cross-country skiing is left out. In recent decades, their health-improving and recreational potential has been underestimated.

Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of each of these sports.

The fashion for downhill skiing came from Europe. The climatic conditions of European countries do not allow cross-country skiing to develop as a mass sport. The relatively high air temperature in winter shortens the snow cover time. This forces ski lovers to climb the high parts of the mountains, the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians.

Russia, in turn, is simply created for cross-country skiing. The length of the season, excellent snow cover and the landscape predisposition of most of the territory create ideal conditions for this sport.

Effects on the body

The main difference between cross-country skiing and alpine skiing is their effect on body functions. Cross-country skiing is a fitness classic. They provide long-term, uniform physical activity for endurance. Alpine skiing is a power, extreme sport.

Cross-country skiing is comparable to swimming or running. They activate many muscle groups, joints and ligaments, strengthening and developing them. In this sense, cross-country skiing helps a young body develop properly and is great for children and young people. It is important that this sport is useful at any age.

Cross-country skiing ensures the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal system, stretching the muscles, and additional moisture to the joints. One of the features of cross-country skiing is that it does not involve sharp, bumpy movements, unlike cross-country skiing or downhill skiing. If you have sensitive joints, skiing is a great way to maintain an active lifestyle.

Security

Cross-country skiing is safe. With the right approach, they do not overload the joints and the work of the heart. Cross-country skiing strengthens the immune, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, normalizes blood pressure, and speeds up metabolism.

As an aerobic sport, it is a great way to shed extra pounds and improve your overall well-being. A skiing trip in a winter forest is healing, prevention and a boost of positive energy for a long time.

In alpine skiing, as in every extreme sport, the risk of injury is significantly increased. When we are on the slope, we often forget that this sport needs to be learned. Possession of skiing technique makes it possible to control them. This often preserves not only health, but also life.

For problems with joints or disorders of the cardiovascular system, skiing is contraindicated. There is no balanced load on the musculoskeletal system during riding. At the same time, in contrast to running, fewer muscles are involved in the work.

What should you choose?

The advantage of alpine skiing, like cross-country skiing, is an improvement in well-being, the development of certain muscle groups, and an improvement in the functioning of the immune system. Downhill skiing produces more adrenaline. As a result of skiing, we get more "hormones of joy" - endorphins.

In terms of financial costs, cross-country skiing undoubtedly benefits from multiple cost savings.

Each type of skiing is unique in its own way. It remains for us to give preference to the most suitable and interesting for us.

Sports, especially for hyperactive children, are a great way to channel their energies into a peaceful path. But, you need to choose the sport wisely in order to benefit your health. Winter sports are traditionally developed in our country. How to choose what suits to whom and when it is optimal to send the child to the section - the advice of the portal "I Buy".

Oleg Bogdanov

Please note that the child should be placed in a sport that has a long teaching tradition, intergenerational continuity and a well-developed sports infrastructure. Taking these factors into account, you should carefully look at the following areas:

• Skiing (cross-country skiing disciplines and biathlon)
• Figure skating
• Skating
• Alpine skiing (snowboarding)
• Hockey (ball hockey)

Each of these types has its own pros and cons associated with the intensity of training, the requirements for the child, financial investment and further health benefits.

Medical indications for winter sports

When giving a child to the sports section, it is important to remember that not every organism can withstand the loads expected for a particular sport. Winter sports, in most cases, are training in the open frosty air, which creates additional stress on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Thus, before enrolling in the section, be sure to go through all the necessary examinations and get the permission of the doctors.

Contraindications for sports activities

Skating:

• myopia;
• asthma;
• lung disease;
• disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
• head trauma;
• kidney disease;
• circulatory diseases.

Hockey:

• connective tissue problems;

Snowboard:

• increased fragility of bones;
• asthma.

Skiing:

• asthma;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• problems of the cardiovascular system.

skiing

From what age: from 5-6 years old.

For the first few years, students are engaged in general groups without a specific specialization. Many sections teach children free of charge, at public expense. First of all, kids are taught to stand on skis and how to ride them correctly. At first, the loads are moderate, training several times a week for several hours. In many sections there is a certain fund of sports equipment, that is, skis and poles will be given to the child. It is important to understand that it is not right to train for a long time on someone else's equipment and you will have to purchase your own set of skis, poles, boots and bindings. In the future, if the child decides to continue skiing, it will be necessary to purchase a professional ski suit.

We have a multi-million army of biathlon lovers in our country, and many dream of raising new Bjoerndalen, this is a completely natural dream. Remember that a child, as a rule, comes to the biathlon section from skis at an older age, when biathlon coaches notice the abilities they need and invite the child to try himself in this discipline.

Excellent biathlon schools have developed in the Tyumen, Sverdlovsk, Moscow regions and Khanty-Mansiysk.

The health benefits of skiing for your child:

• correct formation of breathing;
• hardening;
• development of the vestibular apparatus;
• strengthening the cardiovascular system;
• increasing endurance, performance and tone of the body;
• developing leg muscles and strengthening the abs.

Figure skating

From what age: from 4 years old.

Figure skating is one of the most difficult and traumatic sports. Teaching a child to skate should begin at the age of three. You can enroll in the section from 4-6 years old. Note that these numbers are far from arbitrary. A child of 8-9 years old may no longer be taken, citing the fact that it is very late.

Unfortunately, figure skating sections are not available in all cities. Classes in the sections are paid and depend on the qualifications and regalia of the coach. When training with a world championship medalist or champion, get ready to fork out.

The training process is very intense from the very beginning. Several workouts per day are possible. The first is before school at 7 am, and in the evening. Also consider the ongoing cost of performance costumes and travel expenses.

The health benefits of figure skating:

• strengthening the muscles of the legs;
• improving metabolism;
• hardening;
• improvement of thermoregulatory processes;
• development of artistry and musical ear.

Skating

From what age: from 6 years old.

A strong speed skating school gives you every reason to be confident that your little one can grow into a brilliant athlete. In skates, as in many other sports, a child should be given at the age of 6-8. This is the optimal age for further fruitful professional and physical development.

Free skating schools are successfully operating in many cities. The intensity of training at first is the same as in skiing, several times a week. From parents, without fail, you will need to buy special ice skates and a speed skating suit, they are not cheap, but without them, skating is impossible.

The health benefits of speed skating for your child:

• development of balance and dexterity;
• strengthening the muscles of the legs;
• improving metabolism;
• improving the activity of the circulatory system;
• hardening;

Alpine skiing (snowboarding)

From what age: from 7 years old.

Alpine skiing includes downhill skiing or boarding (snowboarding). Anyone familiar with alpine skiing knows that going downhill is very exciting and dangerous. Are you ready to put your child in potential danger? It should also be remembered that alpine skiing is impossible without the presence of a ski track not far from the house.

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to go skiing or snowboarding at public expense. The price of classes with a trainer starts from 500 rubles per hour. Add to this the paid lift and the cost of ski equipment. Not many people will often succeed in attending training sessions, since most likely they will have to travel out of town. If you are not afraid of such difficulties, then it is worth starting training with a child from 7-8 years old.

Benefits of skiing for children:

• development of the cardiovascular system;
• development of the respiratory system;
• improving metabolism;
• strengthening the calf muscles and quadriceps;
• improving the sense of balance;
• development of coordination of movements;
• strengthening the abdominal muscles.

Hockey

From what age: from 8 years old.

In spite of everything, hockey remains a purely male sport, and it will be difficult to find a hockey section for a girl. One way or another, it is customary to send children to the hockey section from 8-9 years old. Lucky for those in whose cities there are large hockey teams playing in the KHL, as a rule, they have children's schools where a change is being prepared for an adult team. Unfortunately, not everyone is accepted to such clubs. Already at the stage of admission to the school, a selection is carried out according to certain criteria.

Before you take your child to the hockey section, you should teach him how to stand on skates on his own, hold a stick and not give in to difficulties. At first, all the ammunition will have to be purchased independently. The workouts will also be quite intense from the very beginning.

Don't look down on bandy. By the way, Russia is a trendsetter in this sport. Bandy is also called bandy. By giving your child to such a section, you are guaranteed to get high-quality coaches and excellent sports prospects.

Advantage of hockey for children:

• development of balance and dexterity;
• strengthening the muscles of the legs;
• improving metabolism;
• improving the activity of the circulatory system;
• hardening;
• endurance;
• improvement of thermoregulatory processes.

Winter is the perfect time to go skiing. There are many different directions known, so many will be able to find for themselves something that will bring pleasure. In addition, outdoor exercise has a wide range of human benefits.

Goals and objectives of skiing

One of the most popular is skiing. Many of the directions included in it are represented at the Olympic Games. The importance of skiing for humans is enormous:

1. Wellness... During exercise, the body does a tremendous amount of physical work, which has a beneficial effect on health.
2. Educational... Going in for skiing, a person develops and improves many important skills in himself, for example, endurance, agility, strength, endurance, and so on.
3. Applied... Skis are used in various work activities, in the army, in everyday life and in other areas.

How does skiing affect human health?

Regularly going in for sports, you can get a huge positive effect, and this is due to the fact that almost all muscle groups take part in the work. The effect of skiing on the body is similar to running or jumping, but the load is sparing, so even older people can do many areas. Training is allowed for both young children and retirees.

The health benefits of skiing

It is possible to talk about the positive effect that a person receives by regularly getting on skis for a long time. This is due not only to the fact that you have to work with your arms and legs, maintaining balance, but also because the training takes place in the fresh air.

1. Walking outside in winter is similar to hardening, which contributes.
2. The heart and blood vessels are strengthened, and all because skiing is a cardio load.
3. The benefits of skiing are associated with the concept of landscape therapy, which involves healing and strengthening the body through training in the fresh air. This allows you to cope with insomnia, stabilize the nervous system, improve mood, etc.
4. Promotes pulmonary ventilation, which increases the amount of oxygen entering the body.
5. Skiing can help you lose weight and strengthen your muscular system.

Skiing harm

In some situations, skiing can cause many health problems. Injuries in skiing are a common occurrence, and all due to non-compliance with safety precautions, improperly similar equipment and riding on tracks that are not salted for this. When describing the pros and cons of skiing, it is important to pay attention to contraindications.

1. Serious pathology of the musculoskeletal system or spine.
2. Diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory system.
3. Pregnancy period.
4. Weakened immunity and joint problems.
5. Recent diseases and operations.

Types of skiing

As already mentioned, the presented sports direction is considered the most massive. The main types of skiing and their brief description:

1. Ski race... It is a cyclical sport that races at different distances. These include: split start, mass start, pursuit race and others.
2. Skiing... Descent from the mountain takes place along a certain route, which is indicated by a special gate. The duration of the course, the height jumps and the number of gates are always clearly defined. There are different types of skiing: slalom, super giant, giant slalom, downhill and so on.
3. Ski jumping... In this sport, special wing skis are used, which help the athlete, taking off the ground, to regulate the flight.
4. Ski nordic... In this direction, ski jumping (2 attempts) and 15 km races are combined.
5. Snowboard... This skiing involves doing exercises on one ski, which is called a "snowboard". There are several types: giant and parallel slalom, snowboard cross and others.
6. Freestyle... This direction involves performing various tricks and jumps. There are several disciplines: ski acrobatics, mogul, ski cross and half-pipe.

How to go skiing?

There are several important conditions for beginners to pay attention to.

1. You need to choose the right equipment. Important details are taken into account, for example, the type of sport, height, and so on.
2. In addition, you should buy the right clothes that should not hinder your movements, but at the same time keep warm well.
3. It is necessary to undergo an examination and exclude possible contraindications.
4. Beginners should start with minimal loads and be sure to ride the prepared tracks. If possible, work out with a coach.
5. If a person wants to practice professionally, then preparation for skiing should take place in special schools where training programs have been developed.

Probably, in every area you can find information that is unknown to a large number of people. There are interesting facts about skiing:

1. Skis began to be used even at a time when animal skins were used instead of clothes. The found rock paintings prove this.
2. People who want to lose weight will be interested to know that about 350-400 kcal can be thrown off in an hour's drive.
3. It is believed that skiing originated in the days of the ancient Scandinavians, and so they had a patron deity of skiing - Ullom.
4. Sports skiing was first included in the Olympic Games in 1924, and then the Norwegian team took almost all the awards.
5. The first skis for sports were up to three meters in length.
6. Arthur Conan Doyle became the pioneer of skiing in Switzerland.

Ski legends

Competitions are held in almost every sports direction, which helps to distinguish the best among all the participants. Ski champions have received medals in various competitions, including the Olympic Games, more than once.

The minimum age for professional sports should be 6 (gymnastics) to 13 (women's weightlifting) years. All other sports fit into this gap.

Team sports(football, volleyball, basketball, hockey, etc.) from 5-6 years old.
Pros:contribute to the development of endurance, speed, good reaction; strengthen the visual and musculoskeletal systems, improve the functioning of the lungs and heart; allow you to throw out emotions and aggression; teach teamwork and peaceful resolution of conflicts in a team; inexpensive equipment (except for hockey).
Minuses:relatively high injury rate.
Who is suitable for:mobile, talkative, sociable choleric children without a pronounced desire for individual superiority, who love team games.
Contraindications:instability of the cervical vertebrae; flat feet; peptic ulcer; asthma.
A worthy example.Famous football players Andrei Arshavin and Igor Akinfeev entered the football section at the age of 7 (both fell in love with this sport from an earlier age). Hockey player Pavel Bure joined the children's hockey team at the age of 6. Later, these athletes switched to professional sports and achieved significant success in it.

Martial arts (karate, aikido, boxing, taekwondo, sambo, judo, etc.) from 5-6 years old.
Pros:contribute to the development of endurance, accuracy of movements, flexibility, good reaction; develop self-defense skills necessary for any man; allow you to throw out emotions and aggression; teach - paradoxically, but this applies to most martial arts - the peaceful resolution of conflicts and self-control; have a healing effect on the body; relatively inexpensive equipment.
Minuses:the likelihood of injury.
Who is suitable for:practically any child - both a boy and a girl - with any character, tk. in these classes, each child finds something of his own. However, with a high probability, martial arts will suit a child - an individualist, because during them "every man for himself."

Contraindications: any aggravated illness; chronic diseases of the spine; chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system.
A worthy example.The famous actor, as well as the European karate champion Jean-Claude Van Damme came to the karate section at the age of 11 from the ballet club, in which he studied at the age of 5 and which proved to be very useful for further progress in martial arts. And a good command of karate and kickboxing provided Van Damme with the opportunity to take his own niche in the ranks of the heroes of Hollywood action films.

Gymnastics (sports or artistic), sports dances from 3-4 years old.
Pros:contribute to the development of grace, flexibility, endurance and accuracy of movements; form a slender, fit figure and correct posture; allow you to show creativity; relatively inexpensive equipment.
Minuses:the likelihood of injury (when practicing dancing, it is much less).
Who is suitable for:almost any child - both a boy and a girl - with any character and temperament, but preferably an artistic one.
Contraindications:myopia; scoliosis; some diseases of the cardiovascular system.
A worthy example.The world champion and multiple European champion in gymnastics Alina Kabaeva was brought to the gymnastics section by her parents at the age of 3.5 years.

Swimming with 3-4 years old.
Pros:help to strengthen the musculoskeletal system, improve blood circulation; improve the functioning of the nervous system; have a hardening effect; inexpensive equipment; very useful for myopia, diabetes, scoliosis, obesity.
Minuses:practically not, apart from the possible reaction to the quality of the water in the swimming pool.
Who is suitable for:any child who loves to fiddle with water (and there are most of them); as well as those who, for psychological reasons or health-related contraindications, should not be involved in other sports.

Contraindications: some eye diseases; tendency to frequent otitis media; skin diseases.
A worthy example.Multiple Olympic medalist Alexander Popov came to the swimming section at school, and although the first results were poor, he fell in love with this sport and did not refuse to train further. Life shows that it is not in vain.

Track and field athletics (running, race walking, javelin throwing, long and high jumping, etc.) from 5-6 years old.
Pros:help to strengthen the musculoskeletal system; form agility, speed, strength, endurance and will to win; inexpensive equipment.
Minuses:are not always interesting for children.
Who is suitable for:a child who is really interested in these sports - then he can do everything!
Contraindications:some diseases of the cardiovascular system; chronic kidney disease; diabetes; progressive myopia.
A worthy example.An athlete in pole vaulting, who set world records in his sport 35 times, Sergei Bubka entered a sports school at the age of 11 and until the age of 37 he successfully participated in various competitions, winning victories from time to time.

Figure skating and skiing from 4-5 and 7-8 years, respectively.
Pros:improve the work of the cardiovascular system; strengthen the musculoskeletal system; develop endurance and (figure skating) grace, artistry; have a hardening effect on the body; useful for children with osteochondrosis, metabolic disorders, scoliosis.
Minuses:relatively expensive equipment; injury; a stable snowy winter in the region of residence is desirable.
Who is suitable for:children who love winter and winter fun; easily tolerant of cold; active and mobile; in the case of figure skating, artistic.
Contraindications:some lung diseases; asthma; myopia.
A worthy example.Famous Russian figure skaters Alexei Yagudin and Evgeny Plushenko came to the figure skating section at the age of 4 and since then have won many victories and medals for Russia.

Tennis from 5 years old.
Pros:develops agility, strength and speed of reaction; forms the will to win and the ability to win; improves coordination and work of the respiratory system; big prize money for winning prestigious championships; useful for children with metabolic disorders and osteochondrosis.
Minuses:high cost of classes.
Who is suitable for:ambitious, agile and well-coordinated children.
Contraindications:asthma; myopia; instability of the cervical vertebrae; flat feet.
A worthy example.“The first racket of the world” at the end of 2012 Maria Sharapova came to the court at the age of 4 and, despite her quiet and calm nature, turned out to be - according to the coach - a real fighter, and even moving to another country did not frighten the future sports star in the future.

Horseback riding from 10 years old.
Pros:does not imply serious physical exertion, but makes the muscles of the back and legs work actively; treats mental disorders and is useful for cerebral palsy; gives vivid emotions from communication with animals.
Minuses:possible injury.
Who is suitable for:nervous, restless, insecure children; as well as children of any character and temperament, but especially those who love animals.
Contraindications:asthma; allergy to wool, sweat and dandruff of horses; instability of the cervical vertebrae; scoliosis; congenital fragility of bones.
A worthy example.Famous horse jumping rider Rodrigo Pessoa mounted a horse at an early age and competed in his first competition when he was 9 years old. Since then, he has won 50 grand prizes and has won cash prizes of around € 6 million. 5.http: //www.rusathletics.com/nov/news.12863.htm
6.http: //family.by/spravka/sport/dussh/
7.http: //vmnews.ru/sport/2009/11/26/tennis-bolshoy-eto-horosho
8. http://www.reiten-lernen.org/reiten-lernen-fuer-kinder/

Pediatrician, Candidate of Medical Sciences Chernysheva Natalia Vitalievna

There is not a single city dweller who would not dream of being surrounded by snow-covered fir trees on a mountain slope covered with dazzling white snow, breathing in deeply the crystal cold air.

When asked why he chose this particular sport, everyone sees their advantages and priorities:

• one argues that going downhill makes all the muscles of the body work when they, by straining, maintain balance;
• another loves alpine skiing because it gives a surge of adrenaline, positive emotions, strengthens the nervous system, and develops the lungs;
• the third one likes that, breaking away from the computer desk and performing great physical activity, he normalizes the entire musculoskeletal system;
• the fourth chooses a ski vacation in order to raise immunity, protect himself from atherosclerosis, hypertension, bronchitis, and get rid of extra pounds.

But everyone agrees on one thing that mountain skiing causes a surge of strength, prolongs youth, has a "temporary effect": a single day spent in the mountains in winter will save you from ARVI diseases in the spring. Alpine skiing has become an indispensable and most popular way of active recreation. For lovers of winter holidays in the mountains, preparing for a vacation is a whole ritual with the purchase of bright and comfortable equipment, checking the reliability of special skis.

Cons of skiing

Despite its many advantages, skiing has some disadvantages:

1. One of them is the high risk of injury, which poses a threat to the life and health of vacationers. Although the correct equipment of the ski slopes, good equipment and the presence of experienced instructors significantly reduces it;
2. Excessive passion for this sport, hours of training wear out the body, overload the heart and do not add health. Everything is good in moderation;
3. And the third disadvantage is the high cost of skiing. Not everyone will master the purchase of equipment, reliable alpine skis, the use of lifts, the services of an instructor, accommodation in a winter resort and the purchase of a ski tour.

Alpine skiing

Modern alpine skiing has several types, including Olympic ones:

• Downhill- is the passage of a mountain route at high speed for a while;


• Slalom- this is a high-speed zigzag-like movement along a mountain slope with overcoming control points in the form of special gates or flags;


• Giant slalom- differs in the long track length from 800m to 2 km, the height difference between the start and the finish line from 200 to 500m and the presence of gates, the number of which and the distance between them are stipulated by the rules;


• Combined event- consists of two races, including such types of wrestling as slalom and downhill;


• Freeride- the descent takes place outside the prepared tracks on untouched snow and is becoming more and more popular;


• Freestyle- in the process of descent, the athlete makes jumps, coups and other acrobatic stunts;


• Easy skiing downhill.

As a rule, amateur athletes choose such types of alpine skiing as simple skiing, mastering downhill skiing from low mountains. More skillful skiers learn freestyle and slalom.