The UK’s most popular winter sports

We love to complain about the weather here in the UK, but all in all we are quite an outdoorsy nation even if that only extends as far as family picnics or some hiking in the summer. As winter draws in we often retreat indoors to avoid the worst of the weather and this means we often aren’t as active as we should be throughout the colder months. Watching the Winter Olympics and other winter sports from the comfort of our homes might be enough for some, but for those who want a first-hand piece of the action there are lots of ways to join in with winter sports and activities.

Snowfall in the UK may not be quite enough to rival that in the French Alps, but if you know where to look you can find all the thrills and spills of the ice and slopes right on your doorstep or just a few hours away. ACME Whistles has long been an advocate for getting everyday people to be more involved with sports, especially young people, and is proud to be a supporter of many different sporting initiatives in England. Whether ice hockey takes your fancy or you’d prefer a solo winter sport like skiing, we are all fortunate to have access to some brilliant clubs and facilities.

Curling

The sport of curling has a somewhat grandfatherly reputation. It is indeed an old sport, with roots that can be traced back to 16th Century Scotland, and today it is a feature on a local level as well as on the international stage at the Winter Olympics. This is a game of skill rather than stamina, so it’s perfect for anyone who prefers a more relaxed pace of play.

Ice hockey

While it is not the most popular sport in the UK, ice hockey is certainly very popular among people who love winter sports and is always an exciting feature of the Winter Olympics. As a long time supporter of ice hockey in England, ACME Whistles is proud to be a supplier of ice hockey whistles that are used to command control during high octane games on the ice. Our whistles are perfect for ice hockey refs because they are designed to cut through the background noise to grab attention and deliver clear direction. The shatterproof plastic Thunderers we manufacture are ideal for use in the cold conditions of the ice hockey rink because they are durable and comfortable to use in temperatures close to freezing.

Skiing

You may associate skiing with more far flung places like France, Italy and Austria, but if you don’t already ski it can be expensive to fly out to such places to learn. There are many facilities all over the UK where you can get lessons before booking yourself into a more exclusive ski resort such as dry slopes and indoor facilities with real snow. During the winter time, there is wonderful outdoor skiing to be had in locations such as the Cairngorms, Aviemore, and Glencoe, all of which offer plenty of choice for beginner to advanced skiers.

Ice skating

A true test of skill and control, ice skating is such a lot of fun for people of all ages. Anyone new to ice skating will find that their confidence grows quite quickly and it won’t be long until they can try some simple tricks or become more proficient and confident when moving at speed on the ice. There are lots of locations all over the country that offer ice skating lessons and freestyle sessions all year round so you can easily make a habit of this thrilling winter sport.